New York International Children's Film Festival Is Back for 2024
New York is home to numerous film festivals. The New York International Children's Film Festival is unique in that it centres films suitable for an audience of children and families. The festival led to the founding of distributor GKIDS Films, and celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. This year's event runs from March 2-17, 2024.
The line-up typically features a decent amount of animation, and that is certainly true this year. The Centrepiece Spotlight Screening is Chicken For Linda from directors Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach. The French feature is receiving its East Coast Premiere.The film's screening on March 9 is accompanied by a Q&A with the directors. Meanwhile, receiving its New York Premiere is director Yoshimi Itazu's anime feature The Concierge.
A special double feature screening of Magic Candies and The Klutzy Witch will be accompanied by a filmmaker Q&A for Magic Candies and a Science on Screen Talk on Kawaii, Cuteness, & The Klutzy Witch with Cute Studies expert and Emory University assistant professor Erica Kanesaka.
Dounia – The Great White North is a follow-up to past NYICFF screening Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo. The French-language Canadian film is receiving its US premiere at the festival.
Another New York Premiere is the UK/France/Luxemburg production Kensuke's Kingdom. Based on the beloved children's novel by Michael Morpurgo. The screening on March 3 is accompanied by a filmmaker Q&A.
Making their theatrical debut is another three episodes of the Moominvalley TV series, following the success of screenings of episodes at past festivals. Also making the jump from the small screen is Cartoon Saloon's Puffin Rock and The New Friends. The March 17 screening is accompanied by Science On Screen: Habitat Chat with director Jeremy Purcell and animation director Loraine Lordan.
Danish animated feature Rosa & The Stone Troll is screening as a New York Premiere. Sirocco And The Kingdom Of Wind, a Belgian/French production will feature the World Premiere of the English-language version. A filmmaker Q&A will accompany the screening on March 2.
Belgian-French-German production Toby Alone is making its North American Premiere, with a filmmaker Q&A following the March 9 screening. Making a return to the festival is Ari Folman's Where Is Anne Frank?
Pablo Berger's Oscar-nominated, New York set Robot Dreams is also screening, ahead of its national release from Neon this May.
The festival will also screen 10 programs of shorts, most of which feature a mix of animation and live-action. The Shorts For Tots are all animated though, and there's definitely more animated than live-action shorts showing.
Tickets and passes for all events are available via the festival website. Screenings take place at various venues across the city. Tickets to most events are $17 or $20 for special event screenings (including Q&As), with discounts available to members.
