BAM Slates 20th Annual BAMkids Film Festival Lineup

The BAMkids Film Festival, now in its 20th year, returns to BAM Rose Cinemas on February 3 & 4, 2018. This year's impressive lineup, tailored for children ages 3-11, showcases 76 films from 31 countries, in nine languages. Many of these films are East Coast or New York premiere screenings.

This is the first year the BAMkids Film Festival is presenting a shorts program with Dream Chasers, programmed by the North West Film Festival, and My Story, My Way, programmed by TIFF Kids. The festival will also present The Jim Henson Foundation's Puppets on Film, showcasing innovative puppetry work.

The 20th annual BAMkids Film Festival includes eight shorts programs curated by Northwest Film Forum and TIFF Kids International Film Festival and The Jim Henson Foundation. It includes an eclectic array of films including the UK short We're Going on a Bear Hunt, an animated version of the cherished children's book; the Turkish short Can You See the Future about the power of imagination in the minds of children living in conflict regions; and The House of Colors from Argentina, about a young girl who longs to live in a television show. This year's feature film is Floyd Norman: An Animated Life, a documentary about the first African-American animator to work at Disney, directed by Michael Fiore and Erik Sharkey.

Children will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite short films immediately following each program. Their participation determines the winners of the annual "BAMmies," to be awarded in two categories: Best Animated Short and Best Live-Action Short. BAMmie awards will be announced at a later date on BAM.org.

In addition to film programs, this year's festival will include various free activities in the Peter Jay Sharp Building, including face painters, balloon artists, master puppeteer Tarish "Jeghetto" Pipkins and his hybrid puppets, as well as Rogue the Magician and juggling stilt walker Billy Schultz. There will also be interactive activities for families in the BAMcafé including crafts, button-making, and digital games by Shawn Pierre. BAMcafé will also have two VR 360 experiences from Baobab Studios and Google Spotlight Studios, and special performances from MOVE(NYC) and the Fire Flame Steppers, students from Performing Arts and Technology High School.

Tickets (per screening) are $10 for children ages 13 and under, $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $9 for BAM Members and Patrons. Tickets will be available January TK at the BAM Rose Cinemas box office, online at BAM.org, or via phone at 718.777.FILM. Tickets can be ordered by name of shorts program or feature film title. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the day. For more information call 718.636.4100 or visit BAM.org/kids.

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