The Children’s Film Festival Seattle isn’t just for the feature film lovers. Festival organizers have curated a magnificent slate of short films, sorted by theme and age-appropriateness. Each pod of short films is available for viewing online with a festival pass, and several have in-person screenings, free with a pass or an a la carte paid ticket.
Films for ages 6+
“Warm and Fuzzy” (ages 2+; in-person Feb. 11 at 12:30pm) and “With a Little Help from My Friends” (ages 6+; in-person Feb. 12 at 12pm) feature some adorable content appropriate for younger viewers. They consist of predominantly animated shorts with sweet, uncomplicated plots and themes. There is nothing that will shock or scare viewers new to the silver screen experience. For older kids who want a feel-good series of live-action and animated films, “Hi, I’m Home!” (ages 10+) focuses on familial relationships that will leave viewers in a state of fervent joy.
Films for ages 8+
Kids are, obviously, at the center of the festival, and these blocks of short films focus on the magnificent nature of ordinary children. “Literal Sunshine” (ages 8+), as the title implies, collects stories of optimism and happiness. They feature kids who code, manage their disabilities and make the world an overall happier place. For curious kiddos, “Against the Odds” (ages 10+; in-person Feb. 11 at 4pm) is a pod that highlights the adventures undertaken and mysteries solved by bold youngsters from around the globe. Finally, “Growing Pains” (ages 12+; in-person Feb. 12 at 4:30pm) takes on the trials and tribulations of growing up, from mundane learning curves to some of life’s harsher lessons.
Reflective of the magic associated with childhood, there are three different pods that push imagination to the forefront. “Hopeful Harmonies” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 11 at 2pm) is a series that showcases musical journeys, from guitar-playing raccoons to children making street music along a concrete wall. “Living Fantasies” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 12 at 2pm) is a wonderful set of films that inject whimsy and dazzling visuals onto the screen to transport viewers to fantastic woodland fields, mystical forests and ancient realms where dragons exist. “Everyday Magic” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 12 at 2:30pm) shows the oft-impossible, totally mystical ways that everyday life and everyday items can veer towards enchantment and magic thanks. There is beauty in an overriped lemon and a child telling a fairytale about a whale in a hot air balloon.
For the kids with political activism, diversity and inclusion in their interests, “Dream Black” (ages 10+) co-presented with LANGSTON features a selection of thoughtful and thought-provoking, black-led shorts. “The Colors of Community” (ages 12+) celebrates the relationship between gender and sexuality with its community. “Folklore for a Future” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 11 at 12pm) focuses on the traditions passed on through generations in cultures around the world. For the climate change activists, “It’s Up to Us!” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 12 at 12:30pm) illustrates the many ways that today’s youth are involved in making long-lasting environmental changes for future generations.
Films for ages 12+
Bilingual kiddos can flex their second language with two special blocks, “Peliculas de Espanol” (ages 12+) co-presented with Seattle Latino Film Festival and “Petites et Grandes Aventures” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 11 at 2:30pm) co-presented with Alliance Francaise de Seattle which are exclusively in Spanish and French, respectively.
Films for ages 14+
On Friday, February 10, get your teen out of the house with the festival’s Teen Night! (ages 14+) where teens pay just $5 for the evening’s festivities. The night opens with a demonstration on the art of printmaking with silkscreens at 6pm, hosted in the NWFF lobby. Directly after at 7pm, “Figuring It Out” premieres, a series of short movies that feature subjects young adults can relate to most: mental health, ADHD, body positivity and relationship angst.
Finally, “The Young Rebels” (ages 8+; in-person Feb. 11 at 4:30pm), co-presented with the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, highlights the next generation of budding young filmmakers. These 14 short films by young artists include stop motion and live-action narratives and truly showcase the ingenuity and creativity of this new generation of visionaries.
More information on the films and ways to watch can be found on their website.
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