The USA Film Festival’s 27th annual KidFilm® Festival announces the schedule of events taking place Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23, 2011 at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas.

KidFilm is the oldest and largest 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, along with free books and DVDs.

This year’s highlights include:

 Tribute to children’s book author Mike Thaler and illustrator Jared Lee celebrating their 30th anniversary working together on the popular early reader “Black Lagoon” book series (“The Teacher from the Black Lagoon,” “The Principal from the Black Lagoon,” etc.)
 Special guest young actor Zachary Gordon, star of the popular Wimpy Kid films will be in attendance to present Diary of a Wimpy Kid
 Screening of Summer Wars by local anime company FUNimation Entertainment
 Screening of locally shot film Grand Prix: A Winning Tale
 Screening of Disney’s Gnomeo and Juliet (with special recorded introduction by director Kelly Asbury)
 Screening of Carlitos and the Chance of a Lifetime, presented in Spanish with English subtitles
 Special sing-along screening of The Wizard of Oz on the big screen

Free books, DVDs and tickets!

Kids will receive a free copy of a Black Lagoon book for the author and illustrator to autograph and a free Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD with their KidFilm ticket (while supplies last). All programs on Sunday during KidFilm will be presented at no admission charge. (Saturday programs are $3 per ticket.)

USA Film Festival Board President Dave Perry-Miller said, “We are so pleased to receive a special grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year to support the Festival’s KidFilm outreach programs. The Academy grant will enable us to present all KidFilm programs on Sunday at no cost to the community.”