Explore the world without leaving New York! The New York International Children’s Film Festival takes place March 2-17 throughout New York City in 2024, with 10 screenings at Scandinavia House. For complete lineup and tickets visit nyicff.org/tickets.
Fill out a ballot at every screening, and your votes will determine the Festival award winners.
SCHEDULE
SAT—MARCH 2
11 AM: Coco Farm /Coco Ferme
89 min. Ages 8+ | Dir. Sébastien Gagné | Canada, 2023
East Coast Premiere, in French with English subtitles
Max, an enterprising 12-year-old, is crestfallen when he must close up shop on his garage-based “business” and move to the countryside. Though he’s now closer to his cousins, the bustling life of a farm family is a shock to his quiet, city-kid existence. But not all hope is lost: when he discovers free range chickens in his cousin Charles’ abandoned barn, a new business plan is born. And with the help of their social media savvy neighbor, Alice, their animal-friendly egg farm takes off and brings the whole community together.
3:45 PM: Short Films 3
Multiple screenings. Ages 12+
SAT—MARCH 9
11 AM: Puffin Rock and the New Friends
80 min. Ages 3+ | Dir. Jeremy Purcell | Ireland, 2023
In English
In this new story for our youngest audiences from Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea), Puffin Rock, a small island off the coast of Ireland, is a warm community and habitat for all creatures big and small. An especially calm respite in the storm of migration, it’s here where we find puffin Oona, who looks after her baby brother, Baba, shielding him from any possible dangers the gorgeous flora or fauna may pose. When Puffin Isabelle and her step-brother Phoenix arrive on the Rock, Oona knows all the things to do and games to play to help fend off their homesickness; but there are still serious matters at hand, like protecting a puffin egg that brings the promise of a new generation. Their pals Flynn the Fox, May the Rabbit, and Mossy the hard-working Shrew are on the job.
3:15 PM: Dounia – The Great White North
51 min. Ages 7+ | Dir. André Kadi & Marya Zarif | Canada, 2023
U.S. Premiere, in French with English subtitles
Audiences might recognize the little girl with the big hair who made her way from Syria to Canada in NYICFF 2023’s poignant Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo. Now settled, Dounia and her grandparents slowly get to know Canada, the new home that welcomed them: its intense seasons, its special foods, its languages (three and counting!). Dounia’s grandparents are sure to keep their Syrian traditions alive at home, while her new friends share traditions of their own, like Rosalie’s French-Canadian lifestyle or Miguizou’s vast indigenous folklore. So while she still misses her dad who stayed back in Aleppo, Dounia now has new ways to keep him with her, especially when Miguizo’s grandmother Kukum teaches Dounia to call to her father with all of her heart.
5 PM: Frybread Face and Me
83 min. Ages 10+ | Dir. Billy Luther | United States, 2023
In English and Navajo with English subtitles
It’s the summer of 1990 and Benny has been unceremoniously shipped from San Diego to his grandma’s on the Navajo Nation. Instead of seeing Fleetwood Mac with his mom, he’s thrust into the dusty daily life of sheep herding. Between insults from his uncle and unintelligible conversations with Grandma (she only speaks Navajo), he charts his escape back home. That’s until Frybread Face, his bossy cousin Dawn, is similarly ditched on the rez — but unlike Benny, Fry’s familiar with the ways of Diné, and what starts out as leeriness toward her city cousin soon gives way to genuine affection. And when it’s time for Benny to head back home, he’s bringing with him a proud connection to his cousin and his culture. Executive produced by NYICFF alum Taika Waititi, this hilarious and touching slice-of-life story is a warm portrait of cultural awakening and the adolescent summers that stay with us not because of what happened, but because of what they made us feel.
Note: like many tweens who consider themselves wise beyond their years, characters use some harsh language, and one out-of-touch uncle uses a homophobic slur.
SAT—MARCH 16
11 AM: Rosa and the Stone Troll /Roselil og stentrolden
75 min. Ages 6+ | Dir. Karla Nor Holmbäck | Denmark, 2023
New York Premiere, in English
Rosa is an adorable flower fairy who plays by the rules in her brightly colored, Marimekko-inspired world, where she happily gets by in her little rosebush. She’s also eager to spread her wings, but while she dreams of having a friend, going farther afield can be a little scary — and traversing Summerland would be a very tall order! But when she makes friends with the butterfly Silk, they hit it off immediately, even though Silk is as cheeky and curious as Rosa is timid and cautious. So when Silk is kidnapped by an evil Stone Troll, Rosa has to let go of her fears and set out on a dangerous journey to save her new best friend.
1 PM: Moominvalley
66 min. Ages 6+ | Dir. Jay Grace & Darren Robbie | United Kingdom, 2023
North American Premiere, in English
The adorable Moomintrolls and their whimsical and harebrained adventures at this year’s NYICFF! In Homecoming, the Moomins find the community at odds and under the spell of a charismatic leader denouncing all rules. The road to friendship is not always they straightest route when Moomintroll tries to help the valley’s latest resident, Snork (new character alert!), make friends in Inventing Snork. Finally, when Moomintroll learns of Moominmamma’s love of hot air ballooning, he’s determined to see her wildest dreams take flight in Moominmamma’s Flying Dream. Featuring the voices of Rosamund Pike, Matt Berry, Warwick Davis, Rhys Darby, and Bel Powley.
2:45 PM: Toby Alone /Tobi Lolness
68 min. Ages 7+ | Dir. Camille-Elvis Théry & Florian Thoure | France/Germany/Belgium, 2023
North American Premiere, in English
At 13 years old, Toby Lolness is only 1.5 millimeters tall, living in The Great Oak Tree with his father Sim, Treetop Village’s most promising inventor. When Sim discovers he can use the tree’s sap to power his latest contraption, he vows to keep it a secret in order to protect their beloved home — but when word gets out, wealthy bigwig Joe Mitch uses his influence to imprison Toby’s parents, sending Toby running for the Lower Branches. But though he might be tiny, don’t count Toby Lolness out just yet! Awash in beautiful water color foliage and based on the novel by Timothée de Fombelle, Toby Alone reminds us it’s the little ones who can protect our planet.
4:30 PM: Short Films 3
Multiple screenings. Ages 12+
ABOUT NYICFF
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.