An audience favourite, the KIDS’ REEL selection of animated short films is especially suitable for preschoolers. With a total running time of under an hour, this selection of shorts brings together works from the best and most tradition-rich animation studios in Europe. Masterfully designed, reflecting a variety of moods, and different from anything you see daily, these animated works will move and delight you.

The RIGA IFF KIDS’ REEL Feature Film Competition seeks to highlight quality European children’s films that use the cinematic medium in an eloquent and considerate way to convey themes that are relevant to children. Entries must be suitable for audiences up to 14 years of age.

Entries

The KIDS’ REEL Feature Film Competition programme comprises 6 feature films (live action, or animation) with a minimum running time of 60 minutes for which the majority of production credit has been sourced in a European Union or European Economic Area member country, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland.

The submitted films have to have been completed no earlier than 30 June 2020, and their Latvian premiere must take place during RIGA IFF. There is one exception to this rule – although it is preferable that Latvian films premiere at RIGA IFF, this is not a requirement.

Prize

The selected titles are judged by two juries – an international ECFA jury (made up of members of the European Children’s Film Association) and a children’s jury (composed of at least five members between the ages of 8 and 12).

Each jury selects a winner. The film that wins the ECFA prize will be added to a shortlist of nominated films, competing for the overall award voted on by all ECFA members and presented during the Berlinale each February. The filmmakers will also compete for a prize awarded by the festival’s children’s jury – the winning film’s screening rights will be purchased by Latvian Television.. The RIGA IFF Award Ceremony takes place on the second Saturday of the festival.

Deadline

The call for submissions opens on 22 March 2022 and closes on 30 June. The submission fee is EUR 10 per entry and all submissions are free of charge for the first month, until 22 April. The results will be announced by 10 September.