Children's International Film Festival 2023

Featuring daring adventures in the Himalayas, a journey through the fascinating world of art, heartwarming friendships, and an exciting blend of live-action and animation, the Children's International Film Festival (CHIFF) returns for its fifth year, showcasing a program filled with family friendly films.

Screening in Sydney (Ritz Cinemas, Randwick) and Melbourne (Classic Cinemas, Lido Cinemas and Cameo Cinemas) from 27 May – 12 June 2023, the CHIFF program features 21 Australian premiere titles and one retrospective feature tailored to young filmgoers aged from 3 years old and up.

The 2023 festival line-up includes films in English, as well as a two French films with English subtitles.

Festival Director Thomas Caldwell said, "The high quality of contemporary cinema and television for kids these days is a huge motivating force behind the Children's International Film Festival. We are back for a 5th year of delights from all around the world to entertain, engage, and mesmerise children from 3-years-old to young teens. With CHIFF, Australian children no longer have to miss out on amazing stories of alien visitors, adventures, fairies and trolls, and our old friends the Moomins."

At CHIFF, kids can enjoy hands-on fun at various screenings, including dancing with disco lights and glowsticks at Auntie Rita's Party, attending teddy bear picnics for Hug Me - The Movie, creating galaxy artwork at Headspace, dressing up as cowboys for Billy the Cowboy Hamster, and wearing princess attire for Dragon Princess. Prizes are available for best-dressed attendees.

The Children's International Film Festival program for 2023 is a celebration of creativity, imagination, and adventure. One of the highlights of this year's program is The Tiger's Nest, directed by Brando Quilici from Italy. This epic adventure, set and shot in the majestic Himalayas, tells the story of a young orphan boy, Balmani, who rescues a tiger cub from ruthless poachers.

Moominvalley: Lonely Mountain, directed by Darren Robbie from Finland and the UK, is another standout in the 2023 program. Based on Tove Jansson's beloved works, this Australian Premiere features three brand-new episodes from the acclaimed series. With the voices of Rosamund Pike, Matt Berry, and Jennifer Saunders, Moomintroll and his daring companions take the audience on a series of exciting adventures.

Icarus and the Minotaur is a beautifully animated retelling of the myth of Icarus that was Luxembourg’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category of the 95th Academy Awards in 2023.

Other noteworthy films in the festival include Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy, a Vietnamese science-fiction comedy, Billy and the Cowboy Hamster, a series based on the popular books by Catharina Valck, Alma's Way, a Canadian and American animated series created by actor and writer Sonia Manzano, who positively impacted the lives of generations as Maria on Sesame Street, and Babe: Pig in the City, a special screening of the Australian hit film sequel to mark its 25th anniversary, directed by George Miller.

The CHIFF program caters to younger kids with fun international animations. In Hug Me - The Movie, Teddy and Papa Bear embrace change on a quest for honey in the Golden Land, while in Rosa and the Stone Troll, fearful flower fairy Rosa overcomes her fears to rescue her adventurous butterfly friend Silk from an evil Stone Troll. Pim & Pom at the Museum is playful animation series consisting of 13 episodes that take children on a discovery journey through the fascinating world of art.

The full program of films is on sale now at www.chiff.com.au

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