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The Providence Children’s Film Festival presents the best of independent and international children’s cinema to inspire, delight, educate, and connect a diverse community of children and families from Rhode Island and throughout New England. The 9th annual Providence Children’s Film Festival takes place February 16-25 at main venues within walking distance of downtown Providence and at satellite venues across Rhode Island, with over ten days of screenings, filmmaking workshops, and conversations and activities that help deepen the film-watching experience.
During the Festival, PCFF screens an average of 16 feature-length and 75 short films—including live-action, documentary, and animation—made by filmmakers from around the world. Films are selected for their compelling stories with a global perspective that challenge young audiences to better understand the world. PCFF believes in providing enriching shared film opportunities for youth from an early age, inspiring and cultivating a new generation of filmmakers, storytellers, and engaged citizens. With PCFF Cinema Passports in hand, young filmgoers travel on the magic carpet of film, learning about other countries, cultures and people.
“… a fantastic tradition. I enjoy going with my family and seeing familiar faces each year. Love your community emphasis. You don’t talk down to kids but offer wonderful films for kids and adults of all ages.”–PCFF Festival patron
Youth are Filmmakers and Jurors
To nurture and promote the work of young filmmakers from around the world, the Festival presents the Youth Filmmaker Showcase, a juried show of international youth-made films. At PCFF, young people have a voice from beginning to end. At most youth-focused film festivals, children only serve on award juries, but PCFF’s Film Selection Jury is composed of young film enthusiasts ages 5 to 17 who have a unique opportunity and responsibility: selecting the Festival program from among hundreds of films submitted each year.
PCFF offers clear parental guidance
PCFF-curated films are not always appropriate for all ages. To help parents make informed decisions about what their children see and to provide context for discussions, PCFF film listings include recommended ages, notes on thematic elements, and descriptions of potentially challenging content.
Schedule and ticketing details will be announced in mid-January.
PCFF still has opportunities for sponsors to get involved in the 2018 Festival. Sponsorships begin at $500 and include excellent exposure to enthusiastic family audiences of over 5,000 attendees. Interested businesses and organizations can visit www.ProvidenceChildrensFilmFestival.org/Sponsor for details. For more information or to get involved, contact Megan Fischer, PCFF Development Manager, at Megan@ProvidenceChildrensFilmFestival.org.
More about PCFF
The Providence Children’s Film Festival (PCFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2009. Our mission is to present the best of independent and international cinema to inspire, delight, educate, and connect a diverse community of children and families from Rhode Island and throughout New England. The new PCFF FILM HUB connects the community year-round with a collection of resources—including a film directory of past festival films and film guides with discussion questions and activities activity reel with—designed to promote film education and access to the best of independent and international children’s cinema.
* The 2018 YFS Film Submission window has closed. We will accept submissions for the 2019 Youth Filmmaking Showcase beginning in May 2018.
(To submit films to the main Festival, click here for General application guidelines.)
YOUTH FILMMAKER SHOWCASE (YFS) 2018
As part of our annual Festival, PCFF is committed to nurturing the work of young “amateur” filmmakers. The 2017 Youth Filmmakers Showcase, curated in partnership with the RISD Museum teen program, the RISD Art Circle. This collection of youth-produced films presents inspiring films from near and far about the fun and challenges in the lives of young people today. Both shows includes Q&A with the RISD Art Circle teen jury and some youth filmmakers.
Click to download 2018 YFS Application.
Invite other friends to submit their films. Click here to download and print flier.
Selections from past Youth Filmmaker Showcases:
Click here to view full selection of past YFS short film collections.
2018 YOUTH FILMMAKER SHOWCASE (YFS) GUIDELINES (Please read carefully.):
- Films created / produced by youths, age 6 to 17, are considered to be “youth-produced”. An adult supervisor is allowed; however, the entire film MUST be conceived and created by the youth(s) submitting with minimal adult input.
- Youth-made films within a school setting and/or with a community organization are eligible. Please specify submitting school or organization on application form.
- Proof of student status is required. Youth applicants(s) must include a photocopy of valid, current student identification card OR provide a letter from the school’s administrator confirming current student status.
- Maximum film length is 15 minutes. PCFF accepts films of all genres.
- Films submitted to the Youth Filmmakers Showcase are not eligible for Festival Awards. The YFS presentation is designed to be a non-competitive category of the Festival.
- Full payment fee must be submitted with film entry (payment information below).
- All “accepted” youth filmmakers will receive a 2018 ALL-ACCESS* Filmmaker Pass that allows them entrance into ALL films being screened during the 2018 film festival. (*Space permitting. Opening Night excluded.)
- All accepted short films are to be shown on a digital file. Any film that is not supplied in HD may be kept in the film’s original resolution. (Our preferred format is Quicktime: h.264 codec, 1920×1080 frame size at 30fps.)
- PCFF will email all entrants no later than January 10, 2018 whether films have been selected for the festival or not.
DEADLINES AND FEES:
- “Early Bird” Submission Deadline: September 15, 2017 YFS Fee: $20.00
- Regular Submission Deadline: November 15, 2017 YFS Fee: $25.00
- Late Submission Deadline: November 28, 2017 YFS Fee: $30.00
PAYMENT
Please pay your submission fee by:
- Send Check/Money order made out to “Providence Children’s Film Festival”.
Mail to: Providence Children’s Film Festival, 24 Corliss Street, P.O. Box 6724 Providence, RI 02940 - Pay by PayPal. Visit our online 2018 Submissions Page and use the PayPal button. Indicate film title in Memo Line when paying.
THE SUBMISSION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED for the 9th Annual Providence Children’s Film Festival. We will begin accepting submissions for the 2019 Festival in May.
PCFF welcomes international films including documentary, live action, animated, experimental and youth-made films that inspire our viewers to think about the world in a new way.
The Providence Children’s Film Festival (PCFF) presents the best of independent and international children’s cinema to inspire, delight, educate and connect a diverse community of children and families from Rhode Island and throughout New England.
The 9th Annual Providence Children’s Film Festival will return February 16 – 25, 2018. The annual Festival brings the world to our children and community through important films made from extraordinary, often unrecognized filmmakers from all over the globe. Each year we search for films appropriate for youth and children with interesting stories that offer wisdom and multiple cultural perspectives and connections across all ages. Through our thoughtfully selected films, we hope to demonstrate the artistry and craft of filmmaking and provide opportunities to discuss the stories, people and connections from near and far.
The PCFF Film Jury selects films with content that speaks positively to young audiences and families from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please consider submitting if you have created work that can speak to all, including children and/or teens. We seek films that are entertaining and/or challenging to young minds with serious, true-to-life topics and narratives that may span a range of emotions. The film need not have a “storybook” ending to find a place in our Festival. PCFF welcomes foreign films with subtitles, documentaries, live action, animation and even experimental films that may inspire our viewers to think about the world in a new way.
SUBMISSION OPTIONS:
Or submit using the 2018 PCFF online submission entry form:
- For 2018 General Festival Film Submissions Application (Download 2018 General PDF).
- Are you a Youth Filmmaker (age 17 and under)? Please consider submitting your film to the 2018 Youth Filmmaker Showcase (YFS). Click here for the 2018 YFS submission details. (Download 2018 YFS PDF).
Paypal is available for film submission payment. Click PayPal button below: