A children's film festival will be held in New York City, featuring dozens of films.

28th New York International Children's Film Festival (NYICFF) The festival will run from February 27 to March 15. The program will include full-length films, short film selections, and special screenings for audiences of all ages—from toddlers to teenagers and adults.

NYICFF celebrates outstanding films and filmmakers that inspire, surprise, delight, and challenge audiences of all ages.

The festival is an internationally recognized and sought-after event that allows for participation in the Oscar selection process.

Over the course of nearly a month, the festival will feature special screenings, director forums, receptions, and informative Q&A sessions.

Events will take place in theaters across New York City, as well as virtually in audiences' homes.

Program and audience

NYICFF programs are designed for audiences of all ages. ages.

Films are judged by a world-class jury.

The screenings are aimed at viewers who value innovative and original content.

Opening Spotlight

Hoppers

Special program. USA. Pre-premiere screening.

• Recommended age: PG rating.
• English language.

On the subject: Steam on the waterfront: New York City will host its first-ever sauna festival.

Animation. Directed by Daniel Chong. Running time: 105 minutes.

Viewers are invited to see the new comedy adventure film from Disney and Pixar before its release in cinemas 6 March.

Full-length movies

Bird Boy

South Africa, USA. Festival premiere in the USA.

• Recommended age: 6+.
• English language.

A feature film. Directed by Joel Soisson. Set in 2025. Running time: 74 minutes.

When August finds a giant egg, it hatches into more than just an ostrich chick.

Ghost School

Germany, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. Premiere in the USA.

• Recommended age: 9+.
• Language: Urdu. English subtitles.

A feature film. Directed by Simaab Gul. Set in 2025. Running time: 88 minutes.

Rabia arrives at school and finds it closed.

Without giving up, she begins to search for answers.

Kaiju Guy!

Japan.

• Recommended age: 9+.
• Language: Japanese. English subtitles.

A feature film. Directed by Junichiro Yagi. Set in 2025. Running time: 80 minutes.

A dynamic and funny declaration of love for monster movies and being true to yourself.

lampie

Netherlands. Premiere on the US East Coast.

• Recommended age: 7+.
• Language: Dutch. English subtitles.

A feature film. Directed by Margien Rogar. Set in 2025. Running time: 94 minutes.

The film has it all: lighthouses, seascapes and a whole world of circus performers.

Mary Anning

Belgium, Switzerland. US premiere.

• Recommended age: 8+.
• Language: French. English subtitles.

Animation. Directed by Marcel Barelli. Set in 2025. Running time: 72 minutes.

A brave fossil hunter tries to solve a big mystery.

Moominvalley

United Kingdom.

• Recommended age: 6+.
• English language.

Animation. Directed by Steve Box, Nigel Davis, and Augusta Zurelidi. 2018. Running time: 66 minutes.

Your favorite funny Scandinavian creatures are back.

My Grandfather is a Nihonjin

Brazil. North American premiere.

• Recommended age: 8+.
• English language.

Animation. Directed by Celia Katunda. Set in 2025. Running time: 84 minutes.

After learning about an uncle he never met, Noboru decides to reunite his family.

Viewers' Choice

My Life in Versailles

France, Luxembourg. US premiere.

• Recommended age: 7+.
• English language.

Animation. Directed by Clémence Madeleine-Perdriat and Nathanaël Khlimy. Set in 2025. Running time: 78 minutes.

A vibrant and touching story based on the short film that won the 2020 NYICFF Grand Prize.

The main film of the festival

Remaining Native

USA.

• Recommended age: 10+.
• English language.

A documentary-fiction film. Directed by Paige Bethmann. Set in 2025. Running time: 87 minutes.

For promising track and field athlete Koo Stevens, running is part of his heritage.

Animated films without dialogue

Papaya

Brazil. North American premiere.

• Recommended age: 5+.
• Language: no dialogue.

Animation. Directed by Priscilla Kellen. Set in 2026. Running time: 74 minutes.

Bold colors, polka dots and palm trees come together to tell the story of a lost papaya seed.

The film was created by the team that worked on the Oscar-nominated film "Boy and the World."

Space Cadet

Canada. Premiere on the US East Coast.

• Recommended age: 7+.
• Language: no dialogue.

Animation. Directed by Kid Koala. Set in 2025. Running time: 86 minutes.

An astronaut and a robot caretaker, separated by millions of kilometers, maintain contact through memories.

Short film collections

Short Films Two

• Recommended age: 8 to 14 years.
• Duration: 80 minutes.

Big ideas for big kids.

Short Films Three

• Recommended age: 12+.
• Duration: 105 minutes.

A selection for older viewers – teenagers and adults.

Heebie Jeebies Shorts

• Recommended age: 9+.
• Duration: 90 minutes.

Wild, creepy, weird and unusual movies.

Girls' POV

• Recommended age: 9+.
• Duration: 80 minutes.

Stories about girls who break stereotypes.

The selection is not only for girls.

Celebrating Black Stories

• Recommended age: 8+.
• Duration: 70 minutes.

On the joy, resilience, and complexity of childhood in the Black community.

¡Hola Cine!

• Recommended age: 8+.
• Duration: 75 minutes.

A celebration of Latin American cultures, histories, identities and languages.

Centerpiece: Native Stories

• Recommended age: 8+.
• Duration: 80 minutes.

Funny, touching and forward-looking stories of indigenous peoples.

Student Showcase

• Recommended age: 12+.
• Duration: 90 minutes.

A collection of work by a new generation of student filmmakers and animators from universities across New York and around the world.

Special program

Best of the Fest

Special program.

Recommended age: 8+.

Even the organizers don't yet know which films will be included in this selection. But they are confident the program will be outstanding.