Napier’s First Children’s Film Festival

Napier’s First Children’s Film Festival

Screenies is an international film and media festival for New Zealand children. The annual three to four-day festival screens a selection of features from New Zealand and around the world curated by Little Big Shots in Australia, a successful children’s film festival.

The past two festivals have been held in Auckland at TAPAC (The Auckland’s Performing Arts Centre). This year, for the first time, Screenies Film Festival is extending its wings and will be held at Napier’s MTG Century Theatre, a city renowned for being the centre of art and culture. The festival coincides with the School Holidays and begins on the 19th to the 21st of April 2018.

Screenies aim to bring a diverse cultural cinema and new digital experiences to Kiwi children by creating a space where they can see stories from around the world, share their ideas and create their own stories. The past two festivals have been a success in Auckland and Screenie’s festival Director Janette Howe, is keen to engage a new audience with the up-coming Napier-based festival.

Howe hopes this year’s programme of international children’s films will be a hit in Napier and encourage young people to seek out and experience the positive aspects of other cultures.

“Media today is a challenging environment for kids so it is important to offer a choice of films in a safe environment where they can experience different cultures, worlds and storytelling techniques. Stories are an essential part of growing our imaginative horizons and understanding of each other and a festival is one way to celebrate this”, says Howe.

The Screenies team have created a packed program of amazing international award-winning films to bring to Napier adding to New Zealand’s finest local productions.

Highlights include a total of 15 film sessions for children and families to view over the three-day festival. Films include local shorts Thunderbirds are Go and new digitised favourite stories from Hairy Maclary. International shorts like the Moon and You suitable for ages 3+ and Kindness is Important for older viewers.

Feature films will also hit the screen like The Changeover, based on the Carnegie Medal winning novel by New Zealand’s very own, the late Margeret Mahy. Following the film will be a short questions and answers session with the director Stuart Mckenzie.

Screenies Children’s Film Festival launched in 2015 to engage children with diverse stories on screen. A New Zealand festival dedicated for children like other children’s film festivals around the world. As well as engaging and entertaining children and families with quality international films made for kids, Screenies also hope to inspire children to become content creators.

For more information about Screenies, the films featuring in the festival and Screenies events, visit www.screenies.nz or emailhello@screenies.nz.

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