The USA Film Festival will again put children and their parents in movie theater seats for its KidFilm Festival this Jan. 21 and 22 at the Angelika. Free programming includes appearances by children’s book authors along with a slate of new international features and shorts, plus a 35 mm screening of the classic 1977 dog-adventure film, Benji, which just so happens to have been shot in North Texas.
Other movies on the schedule include the animated The Mice War, and the live-action Fiddlesticks, a German take on The Little Rascals, while children’s author Beth Ferry is among the guests making appearances.
The press release from the USA Film Festival is copied below:
DALLAS – The USA Film Festival announces the schedule of events for the 33rd Annual KidFilm® Festival/Presented by the USA Film Festival Dallas taking place Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22, 2017 at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. All programs will be presented FREE to the community.
KidFilm is the oldest and largest-attended children’s film festival in the United States, featuring an entertaining, educational, and diverse line-up of new and classic films for both children and adults. KidFilm is an annual outreach program of the USA Film Festival/Dallas, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the recognition and promotion of excellence in the film and video arts.
This year, the Festival pays tribute to favorite children’s book authors and illustrators, celebrates diversity and tolerance, classic tales and films, magical journeys, and salutes environmental awareness with a program featuring live-action and animation, short films and feature-length works in a program for audiences of any age.
Honorary Co-Chairs for KidFilm are USA Film Festival Board of Directors members Kristin Carter Schor, Gail Terrell, David Dummer and Board President Laura Williamson. “We are so pleased to be able to offer this year’s program as a free-admission event thanks to support from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and from the Festival’s Sponsors,” said Laura Williamson. “We are particularly pleased that so many of the films we are presenting this year feature themes of self-empowerment, education and appreciating differences in others,” said Williamson, “timely and important messages for children of all ages.”
Highlights of this year’s program include:
MEET THE AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS! Screenings and read-alongs with all guests — kids can receive a FREE book to have signed!
A Salute to author and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld. The program will include a screening of Groovy Joe: Ice Cream & Dinosaurs, his collaboration with Eric Litwin, followed by a reading and sing-a-long. Free copies of “Groovy Joe: Ice Cream & Dinosaurs” will be distributed at the show (while supplies last). After the on-screen program and reading, Tom will sign books for the kids.
A Salute to author Anna Kang and illustrator Christopher Weyant. The program will include a screening of You Are (Not) Small, followed by a reading of their new book “Can I Tell You a Secret?” Free copies of “Can I Tell You a Secret?” will be distributed at the show (while supplies last). After the on-screen program and reading, Anna and Chris will sign books for the kids.
A Salute to author Beth Ferry. The program will include a screening of Stick and Stone, followed by a reading of her new book “Land Shark.” Free copies of “Land Shark” will be distributed at the show (while supplies last). After the on-screen program and reading, Beth will sign books for the kids.
Free healthy snacks for all kids will be provided at the authors program by KidFilm Sponsor Whole Foods Market.
NEW ANIMATED FEATURE FILMS to be presented include The Mice War (U.S.), Kikoriki: Legend of the Golden Dragon (Russia), The Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice (Russia); Sheep & Wolves (Russia); and Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom (Canada).
NEW LIVE-ACTION FEATURE FILMS include My Friend Raffi (Germany), Fiddlesticks (Germany) and a special 35mm KidFilm Classics presentation of Benji (1974) (U.S.), as we revisit the beloved pooch who starred in five feature films just before he gets a remake by original writer/director Joe Camp’s son, Brandon Camp.
In addition to SHORT FILM PRESENTATIONS of beloved children books adapted for the screen, an additional twenty-two short live-action and animated films from around the world will be presented this year.
A full schedule of KidFilm programs may be viewed on the USA Film Festival’s website at
www.usafilmfestival.com beginning 1/5/17. Printed KidFilm flyers may also be picked up at the Angelika Film Center Dallas beginning January 11th.
Ticket & Location Information:
Tickets for all shows are FREE for children & adults!
Programs are free but you must have a ticket for admission; Tickets and seating are limited.
Tickets for all shows are available day of show only, beginning one hour before each showtime.
For additional information, please call the USA Film Festival at 214-821-FILM (3456) or visit www.usafilmfestival.com
During KidFilm, please inquire in person at the KidFilm Information Desk at the theater.
All programs will take place at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas.
KidFilm is a program of the USA Film Festival/Dallas.
