Fun and Culture Collide at the San Diego International Kids Film Festival

San Diego is always a popular vacation destination for families looking for fun and entertainment. With the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Legoland and more, there is definitely no shortage of ways to engage and entertain kids of all ages.

This August, kids have even more reason to love this Southern California paradise. The San Diego International Kids Film Festival will give guests a glimpse of what’s new in the children’s film industry with their very own festival — complete with foreign film screenings and awards. This annual event has delighted audiences and showcased young filmmakers and children’s cinema since 2013.

Throughout the course of the festival, kids can view a variety of local and foreign films. Entries are submitted from more than 30 different countries and let kids discover cultural influences and different perspectives firsthand. Films range from short films to full-length features and cover a wide range of genres including science fiction, drama, animation and documentaries. After screening films, audience members will be encouraged to critique them and discuss what they have seen, allowing children the opportunity to have their voices heard and their opinions respected.

The goal of the festival is to provide an environment that supports aspiring young filmmakers, promotes the importance of the arts from an early age and encourages the idea of “entertainment with education.” For many young artists this is a chance to interact with the filmmaking community on an international level and present the works to audiences they would not ordinarily be able to reach. For young movie fans, the festival offers the opportunity to experience a world otherwise dominated by adults and offers a glimpse into the future talent of the film industry with the movers and shakers of tomorrow.

In addition to the films being screened, there will also be fun events to round out the celebration. An Opening Gala, a Red Carpet Fashion Show and an Award Ceremony are all expected to be part of the festivities, giving kids a chance to take part in a true film festival experience. Panels and forums will offer incredible opportunities for kids to learn more about the industry, the countries represented and the cultural contexts of the films being presented.

Films will be shown Aug. 26–28 at different venues across the San Diego area.