Explore the world without leaving New York! The New York International Children’s Film Festival returns in March 2023 at locations across New York for its first fully in-person festival since 2020. This year’s lineup includes an all-new slate of the best films from around the world for kids and families, with film screenings taking place at Scandinavia House on March 4 and 11.

Screenings on March 11 include a “Shorts for Tots” screening (11 AM), the Belgian/Norwegian animated feature film Titina (12:45 PM), and the Danish live-action feature film My Robot Brother (3 PM). See Weekend 1 screenings here.

New York International Children’s Film Festival takes place at locations around New York from March 3-5 & 11-12. For complete lineup and tickets visit nyicff.org/tickets.

SCHEDULE:
11 AM: Shorts for Tots: Ages 3-6

Created for NYICFF’s youngest and first-ever moviegoers, but beloved by grown-ups, “Shorts for Tots” is sure to delight all audiences. Shorts in this program include The Smeds and the Smoos (Animation, dir. Daniel Snaddon & Samantha Cutler, UK, 2022; 27 min., in English), Don’t Blow it Up/Odpusť (Animation, dir. Alžbeta Mačáková Mišejková, Czech Republic, 2022, 8 min., no dialogue), Konigiri-Kun Parasol (Animation, Mari Miyazawa, Japan, 2021, 5 min., no dialogue), Luce and the Rock (Animation, dir. Britt Raes, Belgium/France/Netherlands 2022, 13 min., in English),  and To Be Sisters/Entre deux sœurs  (Animation, Anne-Sophie Gousset & Clément Céard, France, 2022, 7 min., no dialogue). Recommended ages: 3 to 6.

12:45 PM: Titina
(dir. Kajsa Næss; Belgium/Norway, 2022)
*East Coast Premiere*

“More or less based on true events” — so begins the mostly true-to-life story of Titina, an intrepid fox terrier, and her companions on their aerial expedition to the North Pole. When Italian engineer Umberto Nobile is invited to build and airship for Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, he knows he’s embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. And who better to accompany him on his dirigible to the top of the world than the trusty street pup he rescued in Rome? With colorful animation mixed with live action documentary footage, Titina captures all of the real, high-altitude antics that made history—all from the vantage point of one lucky dog. (90 min. In Norwegian with English subtitles). Recommended ages: 9+.

3 PM: My Robot Brother /Robotbror
(dir. Frederik Nørgaard; Denmark, 2022)
*East Coast Premiere*

The future is now in this hilarious vision of a slightly absurd high-tech world not far off from our own. There, robots serves as kids’ personal assistants, leaving adults to a life of leisure hanging (quite literally) around the house in body suits and VR headsets. It’s not a perfect world, especially for 12-year-old Alberte, whose sweet but super embarrassing android Robbi is the oldest model there is, light-years behind the 15.0 version of all her classmates. So when she gets the perfect birthday present—Konrad, the newest humanoid that’s not even on the market—her popularity spikes and things start to look up. Konrad’s AI makes him slick and amazingly human-like, and loyal but bumbling Robbi gets shoved to the side. But can the connection between Alberte and Konrad hold up to a real friendship? (84 min. In Danish with English subtitles)

New York International Children’s Film Festival is dedicated to inspiring, entertaining and educating through innovative film programs that cultivate an appreciation for the arts, stimulate critical thought and promote media literacy.

Each year, the Festival invites New York families to travel the globe, discover new ideas and gain a deeper understanding of the world they live in — all from the comfort of their theater seats.