Done with Dragons? Finished with Frozen? We say yes, time to teach the kids that there is more to the movies than your local theatre’s latest family flick. No better place to inspire your little cinephiles than TIFF Kids International Film Festival.

The annual children’s festival starting this week – April 7 to 19, 2015 – is one of the world’s largest with over 100 Canadian and foreign films for kids 3 to 13. The celebration of kids’ films is more than just movies and popcorn. On the weekends April 11-12 and 18-19, TIFF ups the action with free on-site activities such as face painting, photo booths, button making and appearances from the Peanuts gang and Maya the Bee.

And if you haven’t already, you must explore digiPlaySpace before it closes April 19.

It’ll be our inaugural festival with six-and-unders in TOw. While the bulk of the films are geared to the 7 to 13 range, we’ve found a super selection of films for the youngsters. (TIFF makes it extremely simple to find films according to age, watch the trailers and book tickets online.)

Our must-see list for first-time movie-goer:

Shaun the Sheep: The Moviethe latest claymation feature length film from the creators of Wallace & Gromit, is guaranteed adventure and laughs for all-ages. It opens the Festival on Friday, April 10 at 7pm and a premium ticket includes a party starting at 5pm. (It also screens on the next Saturday, April 11 at 12:30.)

Maya the Bee Movie is a perfect flick for the 3-6-ers. This 3D animated film has four screenings (one of which is for school groups) and Maya the Bee will be in attendance on April 18-19 weekend.

REEL RASCALS: BIG and SMALL, SHORT and TALL is a series of shorts that will keep the kids (3 to 5) entertained in all languages.

Yellowbird, geared to a wee bit older crowd (7 to 13), is a story about an anxious orphan bird who ventures outside for the first time.

Inspector Gadget  – four new episodes – will have the parents walking down memory lane. (Director in attendance on Sunday, April 19 at 11am.)

TRIP TIPS:

Getting there: TIFF Bell Lightbox is on King St. at John. There is lots of paid street parking ($4/hr) and private parking in the area. On TTC, it’s just west of St. Andrew Subway Station and along the 504 King St. Streetcar route.

Get tickets: Screenings during the week before 5 pm are reserved for school groups (public tickets are subject to availability and can only be purchased day of at the box office. Call ahead about availability box office at 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433. Tickets are Adults ($13); Student/Seniors ($10.50) and Children ($9). There is special combo price when you go for digiPlaySpace and a film $20 for Adults and $15 for Children.

Food: CANTEEN at TIFF has dine-in and grab & go items. Lots of restaurants on King St. West.

Sneak in some shopping: The TIFF Shop has some kid-friendly items. MEC is a block west (kids’ area has a little house to keep them occupied.)

In the hood: South you’ll find the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. En route to these attractions is the CBC building on John St. Its Museum is open weekdays 9 am to 5 pm and is free.

DETAILS:

www.tiff.net
350 King St W
Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
Tel: 1.888.599.8433 or 416.599.TIFF
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