New York International Children's Film Festival


New York International Children's Film Festival is an annual Oscar-qualifying film festival founded by Eric Beckman and Emily Shapiro in 1997 "to support the creation and dissemination of thoughtful, provocative, and intelligent film for children and teens ages 3-18." In addition to the annual four-weekend event in March, the Festival presents year-round programming and filmmaking camps in New York City, satellite festivals in Miami, FL and Westchester, NY, and a touring program at independent theaters and cultural institutions nationwide.

Annual Festival

The flagship New York City Festival has grown from one weekend of films into the largest film festival for children and teens in North America. Screened over the course of four weeks at venues throughout NYC, the Festival program – narrowed down from roughly 2,500 international submissions – consists of approximately 100 short and feature films, filmmaker Q&As, retrospective programs, parties, and premieres. Audience members of all ages vote on the Festival-winning films.

Festival Jury

Winners of the Festival's juried prizes are eligible for Academy consideration in the Best Animated and Best Live Action Short Film categories.

2010

  • Adam Gopnik
  • Frances McDormand
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Michel Ocelot
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Evan Shapiro
  • Uma Thurman
  • John Turturro
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant

    2011

  • Adam Gopnik
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Michel Ocelot
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Evan Shapiro
  • Uma Thurman
  • John Turturro
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant

    2012

  • John Canemaker
  • Adam Gopnik
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Tomm Moore
  • Michel Ocelot
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Evan Shapiro
  • Uma Thurman
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2013

  • John Canemaker
  • Geena Davis
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Tomm Moore
  • Michel Ocelot
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Evan Shapiro
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2014

  • John Canemaker
  • Geena Davis
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Richard Peña
  • Bill Plympton
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Henry Selick
  • Evan Shapiro
  • Uma Thurman
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2015

  • John Canemaker
  • Geena Davis
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Richard Peña
  • Bill Plympton
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Henry Selick
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2016

  • John Canemaker
  • Sofia Coppola
  • Geena Davis
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Julianna Moore
  • Richard Peña
  • Bill Plympton
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2017

  • John Canemaker
  • Sofia Coppola
  • Geena Davis
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Richard Peña
  • Bill Plympton
  • Dana Points
  • James Schamus
  • Uma Thurman
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Nadine Zylstra
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2018

  • John Canemaker
  • Sofia Coppola
  • Geena Davis
  • Lynne McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Julianne Moore
  • Richard Peña
  • Bill Plympton
  • Dana Points
  • Susan Sarandon
  • James Schamus
  • Christine Vachon
  • Gus Van Sant
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright

    2019

  • John Canemaker
  • Melissa Cobb
  • Sofia Coppola
  • Geena Davis
  • Hope Davis
  • Madeleine Di Nonno
  • Jorge R. Gutiérrez
  • Elizabeth Ito
  • Kyle MacLachlan
  • Lynn McVeigh
  • Matthew Modine
  • Mark Osborne
  • Ira Sachs
  • Zoe Saldaña
  • Uma Thurman
  • Nora Twomey
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jeffrey Wright