Courage and creativity collide at this family-friendly event featuring some of this year's best short films for kids from around the world! With work by over 50 filmmakers, one of Brooklyn's favorite BAMkids traditions returns for the 26th year with the latest and greatest animated, live action, and documentary gems. Let kids' imaginations run wild as heroes of every kind boldly forge their own path in these outrageously fun and inspiring tales.

Includes films with English subtitles. This year's festival is entirely film focused and does not include any live performances or workshops.

Schedule of Events

What a Wonderful World (Ages 3—5)

Featuring aliens, robots, and a very awkward cactus, these sweet and silly shorts celebrate all the wonder and curiosity our world holds.

Hello! (2023)
Dir. Dakyoung Lee, 3min
Republic of Korea
Nonverbal
East Coast Premiere
In a world where no one greets each other, a child says hello to the world.

Master of Hide and Seek (2022)
Dir. Hsing-Fang Lin, 3min
Taiwan
In Mandarin with English subtitles
East Coast Premiere
Mao Mao is a long-haired dog in Grandpa's house who loves to play hide-and-seek with everyone. We thought we would find Mao Mao quickly, but instead we found things that looked like Mao Mao, like a mop, a colored pencil, and a scarf. Can you guess where Mao Mao is hiding?

I Hear You Singing (2023)
Dir. Charlotte Sophie Blacker, 2min
UK
In English
East Coast Premiere
This preschool animated music video was created for Seattle based singer/songwriter Charlie Hope using wool and kindergarten crafting techniques. It follows two young children as they explore the various sounds the world around them has to offer.

To Make Something Wonderful (2022)
Dir. Todd Davis, 2min
US
In English
New York Premiere
This visually poetic manual inspires everyone to create via three easy steps: Gather, make, and wait!

Stan and Sven: A Plan to Help Stan (2022)
Dir. Amber Stacey, 3min
Australia
In English
New York premiere
Fun-loving alien Sven is on a mission to cheer up his buddy Stan, a robot who has been walking around with a frown for far too long. Sven quickly realizes this is going to be harder than he thought.

Starlight Soup (2023)
Dirs. Su-a Cho, Seung-min Nam, Yerim Cheon & Seo-eun Ju, 5min
Republic of Korea
Nonverbal
East Coast Premiere
One starry night a child lets their imagination run wild thinking about what mom's soup might be made of!

Hug Me (2023)
Dir. Yunjeong Jeong, 7min
Republic of Korea
Nonverbal
East Coast Premiere
A stranded water balloon meets a lonely cactus in the desert, resulting in a very unlikely friendship.

Weiqi Fantasy (2023)
Dir. Yuanru Liu, 1min
China
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
13 year old filmmaker Yuanru, uses stop motion animation techniques to express her imagination. The Chinese chess-like board game Weiqi is a competition between black and white. Experiencing the game and learning about the culture of Weiqi can fire your imagination and bring you wisdom.

Dormouse (2022)
Dir. Julia Ocker, 4min
Germany
Nonverbal
East Coast Premiere
The dormouse overslept and missed his birthday party!

When it Rains (2023)
Dir. Saeyeon Park, 2min
Republic of Korea
Nonverbal
East Coast Premiere
When it rains in the forest, the animals wake up and start their day.

Starforger (2022)
Dirs. Maëlle Horellou & Clémentine Lejeune, 5min
France
Nonverbal
East Coast Premiere
Every night the Starforger travels the world and covers the sky with stars. But one day, one of the stars doesn't want to go.

Bloom In (2023)
Dir. Avery Robinson Rouda, 4min
US
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
An awkward cactus judges herself and compares her truth to the Poppy flowers around her. When the Sun comes out to remind the Cactus how to open her heart and trust in her own unique soul's expression, she finally learns the power of self-love, softening the walls around her heart so she can bloom.

Cake Ballad (2022)
Dir. Meike Fehre, 4min
Germany
Nonverbal
In German with English subtitles
East Coast premiere
It's the little green cactus' birthday and Charlie bakes him a cake. But, fresh out of the oven, someone has already taken a bite!

Make It Myself (2023)
Dir. Mélissa Smith, 4min
US
In English
East Coast premiere
Packed with energy, creativity, and concrete ideas for educational and sustainable projects, this upbeat video encourages kids to think about what they can make themselves, rather than buying new.

Three Trees (2022)
Dirs. Mathias Richard Horhager & Aaron Hong, 5min
Canada
New York Premiere
As the seasons change, three little trees learn about friendship, themselves, and their place in the world.

The Sound Collector - Mood Music (2023)
Dir. Chris Tichborne, 5min
UK
In English
Explore the sights and sounds of the world you love through the eyes and ears of a little Sound Collector, who adventures into the woods and discovers that music and sound can change how he feels about the world around him.

Time and Date:
Sat, Feb 3 at 10:20AM
Sat, Feb 3 at 11:40AM
Sun, Feb 4 at 10AM

Magical Friendships (Ages 6—8)

Lighthearted short films celebrate those special bonds we make with others and prove that together we can accomplish just about anything.

Hi! (2022)
Dir. Narjes Mohammadi, 7min
Netherlands
Nonverbal
Some of us need a little bit of extra special help to make each day as good as it can be.
 
Befriend the Wind (2021)
Dir. Aneta Paulíny, 2min
Czech Republic
Nonverbal
Sometimes what we consider our enemy can become a means to something much better.
 
Shuffle/ Schoenmaten (2022)
Dir. Quita Felix, 6min
Netherlands
Nonverbal
Have you ever wondered what it would look like if everybody in the same building started to dance at the same time?

Pond (Tümpel) (2022)
Dirs. Eva Rust & Lena Von Döhren, 9min
Switzerland
Nonverbal
A fish gets lost in a tidal pool and must win over the sea creatures that dwell there in this underwater adventure painted with the colors and sounds of the sea.
 
Explore Your Feelings with Art | Tate Kids. (2022)
Dir. Jenny Wright, 3min
UK
In English
Art is a wonderful way to explore so many things that are so good—and maybe a bit mysterious—about life.

Cold Lunch (2023)
Dirs. Insun Park & Jin Pei Lua, 3min
US
In English
Nari is worried her lunch isn't like everybody else's—and it turns out she is right!
 
As the Sun Goes Down (2023)
Dirs. Laurine Bocquet, Ilona Caucal, Indes Fechner, Jahnice Laurent, Sarah Robert, Emma Roussel & Kevin Vandenbeuck, 6min
France
Nonverbal
Lost in the night, a little rabbit who is afraid of the dark must face up to his fears to get his special light back.
 
Starcatcher (2023)
Dirs. Christian Ishimwe, Daniel Rodriguez Aguileta, Iara Patino Dias, Petr-Daniel Rechtacek, Yeon Sang Yun & Yuan Zhen Tsai, 4min
France
Nonverbal
Legna and her cat Mira set off on a journey into space, determined to catch a star.
 
Coquille (2023)
Dirs. Justine Aubert, Cassandra Bouton, Gregoire Callies, Maud Chesneau, Anna Danton, Loic Girault, Gatien Peyrude & Justine Raux, 6min
France
Nonverbal
Bernard, a small hermit crab, finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime after he suddenly loses his shell on a beach.

Go Away Alfred (2023)
Dirs. Célia Tisserant & Arnaud Demuynck, 11min
France
Nonverbal
Alfred has definitely been having a tough time, and it seems like he is not having much luck fixing things until, one day, he meets Sonia.
 
You Are Not Small (2023)
Dir. Lucy Hawking, 2min
US
In English
Some of the problems in the world might look pretty big, but together there is almost nothing we can't do.

Furever After (2023)
Dir. Doan Thu Nguyen, 4min
Nonverbal
An orb of golden light entangles a stray cat in a world of mischief.

Date and Time:
Sat, Feb 3 at 11AM
Sat, Feb 3 at 12:40PM
Sun, Feb 4 at 10:40AM

Home Sweet Home (Ages 3—5)

Loveable characters learn to overcome small challenges, share and care for one another, and find time to enjoy nature in these gleeful, sweet stories of home.

Somni (2023)
Dir. Sonja Rohleder, 3min
Germany
Nonverbal
When it's time to sleep and we close our eyes, what do we see when we enter the realm of dreams?
 
Snif and Snüf (2023)
Dir. Michael J. Ruocco, 5min
US
In English
Two characters discover an interesting new object that teaches them a lot about themselves and what it means to share.

Kids in Winter (2023)
Dir. Maing Caochong, 3min
US
In English
Two characters discover an interesting new object that teaches them a lot about themselves and what it means to share.

Kids in Winter (2023)
Dir. Maing Caochong, 3min
China
Nonverbal
In the cold winter, an unexpected snowstorm can be an inescapable challenge. At the icy mouth of a cave, a group of rabbits realize they'll need to make a concerted effort if they want to make it home. Little do they know they will have guests.

Peculiar and Strange (2023)
Dir. Hanna Kim, 3min
US
In English
Two eccentric girls discover the power of finding a friend who really gets you!

What's In That Crate (Wat zit er in die kist?) (2023)
Dir. Bram Algoed, 9min
Belgium
Nonverbal
Meet a pilot, a captain, a train driver, a van driver, a mail person, a little girl, and one giant mysterious crate. What's in that crate?

Cat And Moth (2021)
Dir. India Barnardo, 7min
Canada
Nonverbal
A fluffy white cat wants nothing more than to find the most comfortable spot in the universe, but little does she know someone else has their eye on it too.

Babies and the Bear: Summer (2022)
Dir. Maja Garmulewicz, 4min
Poland
Nonverbal
The children are tired of the heat, so a bear takes them to the sea. There, they learn to respect nature and experience empathy.

Yellow Light (2023)
Dir. Tal Kantor, 2min
Israel
Nonverbal
The children's game “Red Light, Green Light” affects the routine of a girl as she rushes with her dog to reach her destination.

The Turnip (Nagris) (2022)
Dirs. Piret Sigus & Silja Saarepuu, 7min
Estonia
Nonverbal
This story is based on a Slavic folktale, which has been told through the ages from the peasants' point of view. Now told from an underground perspective, “The Turnip” imagines what happens to all the things living underground when we start growing vegetables.

Blueberry (2023)
Dir. Stephanie Glover, 5min
US
Nonverbal
A practical, determined boy has a change of heart when his favorite food comes to life.

Princess Aubergine (2023)
Dir. Dina Velikovskaya, 7min
Germany
Nonverbal
A king and a queen have almost everything: love, castles, horses, gardens, and pets. But something is missing. Where is the princess?

Kiri and Lou: Rockaroonie (2023)
Dir. Harry Sinclair, 5min
New Zealand
In English
Deep in a New Zealand forest, Kiri and Lou plan an extra, extra special surprise party for their new friend Rockaroonie. What could possibly go wrong?

Date and Time:
Sat, Feb 3 at 10AM
Sun, Feb 4 at 10:20AM
Sun, Feb 4 at 11AM

Free To Be Me (Ages 9+)

These bold, inspiring shorts explore moments in which brave characters dazzle the world by showing their true colors.

Head in the Clouds (2023)
Dir. Rémi Durin, 10min
France
In French with English subtitles
New York premiere
Alfonso, a young squirrel, always has his head in the clouds. He loves watching them float by and sometimes even takes snapshots. His parents and friends find it hard to take this hobby seriously, but cloud-gazing is not always easy. In fact, Alfonso sometimes has to be as brave as some of the great explorers of our times.

Gaps (2023)
Dir. Ruth Carnegie, 11min
US
In English
New York premiere
A young girl from a close-knit family finds herself at a crossroads between keeping her gapped front teeth or risking it all for the seemingly “perfect” smile.

A Tiny Voyage (2022)
Dir. Emily Worms, 8min
France
In French with English subtitles
New York premiere
John sees an extraordinary sight: Titi, his parakeet, is opening the door of his cage all by himself! Yet the bird doesn't fly away… So John decides to help Titi overcome his fears and the pair set out on a tiny voyage.

Jojo - A Toad Musical (2022)
Dir. Chelsea J. Jolly, 9min
US
In English
New York premiere
This creative and musical portrait follows JoJo Nyaribo, a young nature lover and wildlife advocate, as he explores the meaning of biodiversity and stewardship in his own backyard.

Blèh (2022)
Dir. Tim Alards, 4min
Netherlands
Nonverbal
New York premiere
In the eyes of an imaginative preschooler, telephone users are like zombies.

Joyce's Neighborhood (2023)
Dir. Richard O'Connor, 3min
US
In English
Mary Mills grew up as an only child in the 60s in a quiet neighborhood near Santa Monica, California. Although Mary didn't have siblings to play with, she was never lonely. There were plenty of children nearby and they all wanted to be at her house to hang out with Mary's mother, Joyce Carter Mills.

One Week To Go - Emilie (2023)
Dir. Eva Krol, 15min
Netherlands
In Dutch with English subtitles
East Coast premiere
Emelie has been almost completely blind for six months due to a brain tumor. She really wants to walk to school on her own again. However, she can only do so with a white cane, and she has to cross a few dangerous intersections. Will she be able to walk to school safely all by herself?

The Rainbow Dung Beetle (2022)
Dirs. Ellen Mowat & Cole Dupzyk, 7min
US
In English
New York premiere
Accustomed to camouflaging himself with mud to hide from predators, Desmond the dung beetle learns from his new neighbors that his true colors can be used to his advantage.

Shark or Hyena (2023)
Dir. Britt Dunse, 15min
Germany
In German with English subtitles
East Coast premiere
Set on a fictional North Sea island, a young girl sets out on an adventure to look for the invisible elf who guards her family's farm in this courageous story about the power of trust and magical connection.

The Girl with the Red Beret (2023)
Dir. Janet Perlman, 5min
Canada
No dialogue, singing in French
New York premiere
A girl takes a wild ride on the metro in Montreal.

The Rock Pool Waltz (2021)
Dir. Marlon Denning, 8min
Australia
In English
During Covid lockdown, 14 year old filmmaker Marlon, records his affinity with nature to ease his loneliness, which leads to an incredible friendship.

Date and Time:
Sat, Feb 3 at 1:40PM
Sun, Feb 4 at 1PM

All Together Now! (Ages 6—8)

Lighthearted short films celebrate those special bonds we make with others and prove that together we can accomplish just about anything.

Battery Mommy (2023)
Dir. Jeon Seung-bae, 9min
Republic of Korea
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
On a snowy day at a daycare center, the battery inside a thermometer discovers that the Christmas tree in the nursery has caught fire. The heroic battery runs to find the fire alarm and rescue the sleeping children.

Bouquet (2023)
Dir. Cécile Robineau, 3min
France
In French with English subtitles
New York premiere
Sometimes friendship is born from a bouquet of flowers... and from the encounter between childhood and old age.

Himal (2023)
Dir. Najam Subba, 4min
UK
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
A yeti father has to face his fears and prejudices when his son befriends a human girl from the village.

Shelter (2023)
Dir. Julie Daravan Chea, 3min
France
In French with English subtitles
New York premiere
Two kids find comfort in shadow puppetry on a camping trip.

Alpha Generation (2023)
Dirs. Débora Resendes & Iuri Moreno, 11min
Brazil
Nonverbal
New York premiere
Rebeca, a girl who is passionate about reading, tries to convince her neighbor and best friend Marcelo to read a book.

Le Château Des Chats (2023)
Dir. Ottilie Collingridge, 4min
UK
Nonverbal
New York premiere
A cat cafe in the heart of Paris becomes a secret city hotspot as the cats who live there open a jazz cafe in the middle of the night.

Ouléou? (2023)
Dir. Alice Juan, 5min
France
In French with English subtitles
New York premiere
Little Ethel is moving and everything is ready, except that someone is missing. Ouléou, her stuffy, cannot be found. Leave without him? Never! Ethel is determined to find him.

Bike Lane Ends (2023)
Dir. Noah Glenn, 8min
US
In English
New York premiere
An anxious 8-year-old must rescue her adventurous BFF from an alternate dimension.

Cowboy Kevin (2023)
Dir. Anna Lund Konnerup, 6min
Denmark
In English
East Coast premiere
Kevin and his horse have almost reached the destination of the lady who sent him a love letter. Kevin is eager to finally meet her, but love is not always what you expect.

Flea Finds a Friend? (2022)
Dir. Ceci Harader, 4min
US
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
Flea is a spirited but lonely child struggling to survive in paleolithic times. She catches a lucky break when she discovers fire. But will she use this power for good or evil?

To Be Sisters (2022)
Dirs. Anne-Sophie Gousset & Clément Céard, 8min
France
Nonverbal
Being sisters is about sharing a special bond, laughing together, and being propelled by love. But these particular sisters share something extra that is a bit different.

Date and Time:
Sat, Feb 3 at 1:20PM
Sun, Feb 4 at 1:20PM

Adventurous Creatures (Ages 6—8)

These warm and fuzzy short films follow friends who prove that with determination and passion they can do just about anything.

Pufferfish (2022)
Dir. Julia Ocker, 3min
Germany
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
In an ocean full of big, bad fish, the pufferfish is trying to seem as big and strong as possible.

The Sound Collector - Float Your Boat (2023)
Dir. Chris Tichborne, 5min
UK
In English
When the Sound Collector travels in his boat on the stream, things get a little out of hand—and so does his ukulele playing!

Feeling the Flow (2021)
Dir. Cloe Coutel, 7min
France
Nonverbal
New York premiere
A little girl slips out to go and play in the sand dunes while her dad has an afternoon snooze. Feeling bored, she watches a hermit crab as it passes by. Imitating its strange sideways steps, she starts to dance and finds the joy of her movements liberating.

Choo-Choo (2022)
Dir. Yewon Lee, 3min
Republic of Korea
Nonverbal
East Coast premiere
Created using unrefined colored pencil-textured artwork, this short film follows the relationship between two unfamiliar characters as told through the eyes of children.

What's Up With the Sky? (2022)
Dir. Irene Iborra, 10min
Spain
Nonverbal
New York premiere
The sun rises happily over the horizon, welcomed by the most beautiful landscape. The humans also wake up and do what they always do: cut down trees, construct aimlessly, and pollute without shame. What they do not realize is that whatever they do will affect them sooner or later. However, the cosmos is not that patient…

Upside Down (2023)
Dir. Dace R?d?ze, 12min
Latvia
Nonverbal
New York premiere
Andulis the little bat wakes up at the wrong time and discovers that, unlike his fellow bats, he loves sunlight and warmth.

Goro Goro (2023)
Dirs. Ryoto Sawada & Agatha Tiara Christa, 3min
US
Nonverbal
New York premiere
Daigoro, a baby thunder god, dreams of being as powerful as his father. Through his thunderous journey, he realizes that he can achieve his dreams in his own unique way.

Ham (2022)
Dir. Rudy Martinez, 8min
US
In English
The year is 1961 and Ham, a chimpanzee, has been chosen to represent earth as the first ape in space, but a malfunction aboard his ship threatens his return home. Based on true events.

Moon Mole (2022)
Dir. Laura Gonçalves, 3min
Portugal
Nonverbal
New York premiere
A curious mole explores the world around it.

Swing to the Moon (2022)
Dirs. Marie Bordessoule, Adriana Bouissie, Nadine Der Boer, Elisa Drique, Chloé Lauzu, Vincent Levrero & Solenne Moreau, 7min
France
Nonverbal
Living in the forest, little spider Temi dreams of catching the moon. She will do anything to make it happen.

Date and Time:
Sat, Feb 3 at 12:20PM
Sun, Feb 4 at 11:40AM

Online - February 3-11, 2024

Young Filmmakers Showcase

The virtual showcase returns with awesome animated and live-action shorts created by kids, for kids!

You're never too young to start making movies! Join us for a unique virtual opportunity to celebrate young artists from around the world—the potential future filmmakers of the BAMkids Film Festival. The Young Filmmakers Showcase returns with more awesome animated and live-action shorts created by kids, for kids.

Cost: Free
AGES 3+

Date: February 3-4, 2024

Cost: Adults: $14; Member: $9; Children: $10

Location:
Brooklyn Academy Of Music,
30 Lafayette Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11217.

Click Here for information