Editor

January 19-20, 2019

DALLAS – The USA Film Festival announces the schedule of events for the 35th Annual KidFilm® Family Festival taking place Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20, 2019 at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas.  All programs will be presented FREE to the community.

KidFilm is the oldest and largest-attended children’s film festival in the United States, featuring an entertaining, educational, and diverse line-up of new and classic films for both children and adults.  KidFilm is an annual outreach program of the USA Film Festival/Dallas, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the recognition and promotion of excellence in the film and video arts.

This year, the Festival pays tribute to a favorite children's book author, illustrator and television series creator; celebrates diversity, equality, family and friendship; and features magical journeys celebrating courage, perseverance and self-reliance, along with other important lessons in a program that includes live-action and animation, short films and feature-length works for audiences of any age.

Honorary Co-Chairs for KidFilm are USA Film Festival Board of Directors members David Dummer, Gail Terrell, Yvette Ostolaza and Board President Laura Fox.  “We are so pleased to be able to offer this year’s program as a free admission event thanks to support from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and from the Festival’s Sponsors,” said Fox.  “We are particularly pleased that so many of the films we are presenting this year feature themes of equality, courage and perseverance” said Fox, “Timely and important messages for children of all ages.”

Highlights of this year’s program include:

MEET AUTHOR, ILLUSTRATOR, and CREATOR of “ARTHUR” MARC BROWN!  Screenings and a reading with our special guest MARC BROWN -- kids will receive a FREE book to have signed!

A Salute to Marc Brown, author, illustrator, and creator of the PBS television series “Arthur.” The program will include a screening of R.L. Stine’s Mary McScary and Brown and Judy Sierra’s Wild About Books -- both illustrated by Marc Brown -- followed by a world premiere reading of his upcoming book “Everyone Counts” (the sequel to “Wild About Books,” expected to be released in Fall 2019).  Free copies of “Wild About Books” will be distributed at the show (while supplies last).  After the on-screen program and reading, Brown will sign books for the kids.

NEW ANIMATED FEATURE FILMS to be presented include DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (USA), written/directed by the series writer/director Dean DeBlois; Cinderella and the Secret Prince (USA), written by Francis Glebas (The Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and directed by Lynne Southerland (Mulan 2); Tito and the Birds (Brazil); and Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness (Canada).

NEW LIVE-ACTION FEATURE FILMS to be presented include Twentieth Century Fox’s The Kid Who Would Be King (UK/USA), written/directed by Joe Cornish (Ant-Man, The Adventures of Tintin, Attack the Block); Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (Germany), based on the novel by Michael Ende (“The NeverEnding Story”); Hero Steps (Colombia); and Wendy: Best Friends Forever (Germany).

NEW SHORT FILM PRESENTATIONS of beloved children books adapted for the screen, as well as live-action and animated short films from around the world including works from Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, UK, and USA.

The full schedule of KidFilm programs may be viewed online via the USA Film Festival’s website at www.usafilmfestival.com.  Printed KidFilm flyers may also be picked up at the Angelika Film Center Dallas beginning January 7th.

Ticket & Location Information

Tickets for all shows are FREE for children & adults!

Programs are free but you must have a ticket for admission; Tickets and seating are limited.

Tickets for all shows are available day of show only, beginning one hour before each show time.  (Note: Lines can form earlier.)

For additional information, please call the USA Film Festival at 214-821-FILM (3456) or visit www.usafilmfestival.com

During KidFilm, please inquire in person at the KidFilm Information Desk at the theater. 

All programs will take place at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas.

KidFilm is a program of the USA Film Festival/Dallas.

Sponsors

KidFilm programs for the public and the Dallas Independent School District are made possible thanks to support from Sponsors -- Carol and Alan J. Bernon Family Charitable Foundation, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater North Texas, Moody Fund for the Arts, Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, Sidley Austin LLP, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Mary Fox & Laura Fox, CASHSTORE.COM, Gaedeke Group, Headington Companies, Dallas Film Commission, Jackson Walker, L.L.P., Dallas Producers Association, The Downtown Business News, DFW Child magazine, and the Angelika Film Center.

The USA Film Festival is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

About KidFilm DISD Outreach Programs

In addition to the KidFilm public weekend, special outreach programs are presented for thousands of Dallas Independent School District students (grades K–6) and educators.  Students attend programs selected especially for them.  Many of the films presented are book-based and designed to be curriculum-interactive including relevant topics and issues (cultural awareness and diversity, compassion and tolerance, history, math, geography, the importance of education and reading, etc.)

About the USA Film Festival

Now celebrating its 49th year, the USA Film Festival is a Dallas-based, 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in the film and video arts.  The Festival’s year-round programs and events include KidFilm, special monthly programs and premieres, TexFest, and the USA Film Festival held each spring.  The USA Film Festival is supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts.  More information about the Festival is available online at www.usafilmfestival.com