Story
As screen time gets out of hand, the bright virtual world turns to a dark reality.
Age Range: 12
The Blue Cape
A young boy faces the challenge of saving his ailing grandfather during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
The Butterfly Affect
Before “the change,” Jesse didn’t think she was any different from her friends. Now she’s a young worm trying to find her place in a butterfly’s world.
The Hedgehog’s Dilemma
A father has been training his daughter to become a champion diver until, on the day of an important competition, an unexpected development changes their relationship.
The One You Never Forget
A 14-year-old excitedly prepares for his first dance, but will his date live up to his parents’ expectations?
Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days
A quirky uncle’s unusual tics are a bit unsettling in this portrait of a poet that marches to a different beat.
Wash Day
Join Zoey as she goes through her weekly grueling routine of washing and styling her hair.
Beetle & Bean
When small Bean challenges the mighty Naiwag to a duel, her reluctant best friend Beetle must help her train to become a powerful knight, and fast!
Eaten
On a mysterious, unknown planet, a rabbit-like creature is eaten, but that’s just the beginning of the story.
The Club of Ugly Children
This action-packed thriller unfolds in a world led by a new president whose motto, “Keep it Clean,” means rounding up kids who don’t meet his view of ideal citizens. Paul, his big sister, and their band of friends aren’t going to simply stand by. They mobilize with energy and ingenuity in this pulse-racing tale that will have you cheering from the edge of your seat!
*Some mature language
Children of the Sea
Adapted from the acclaimed manga comes this visually dazzling, mind-bending aquatic mystery. Ruka’s dad is so absorbed in his studies at the aquarium that he hardly notices when she befriends Umi and Sora. Like Ruka, the mysterious duo has the unique ability to hear the call of the sea and its endangered creatures. Together, can they save them?
Note: Depicts alcoholic parent
Note: Depicts alcoholic parent
Forward: Tomorrow Belongs to Us
Meet seven incredible young activists from around the world with unwavering courage to transform our future. While vying for an international prize for his innovative recycling program, José guides us from his native Peru to introduce pioneering kids from France, Bangladesh, Africa, the US, and beyond, demonstrating that you don’t need all the answers to fix a problem—just a brave first step.
*References to challenging real-life circumstances
Fahim, the Little Chess Prince
In this true-to-life story, Fahim journeys from Bangladesh to France with his father and seeks to train with a chess grandmaster. When coach Sylvain (Gerard Depardieu) accepts Fahim into a challenging chess class, he transforms his fate in more ways than one in a heartwarming testimony to a father’s determination, the kindness of strangers, and one boy’s courageous will to succeed.
Note: Some mature language; scenes of political persecution and refugee hardship, including some violence
Note: Some mature language; scenes of political persecution and refugee hardship, including some violence
Days of the Bagnold Summer
A warm, deadpan hilarious tale of parenting and heavy metal, Days of the Bagnold Summer features Earl Cave (son of legend Nick) and an original soundtrack by Belle and Sebastian. When his vacation plans tank, Ben faces another dull summer in his quiet town. Battling boredom, he auditions for a rock band whose members turn out to be a little, well, littler than expected.
*Some mature language; alcohol and drug references
On-Gaku: Our Sound
From grunge to genius, On-Gaku turns it up to eleven musically and visually! Kenji and his two buddies are considered the toughs in their high school. Only clever Aya knows their too-cool-for-school attitude is a total act, until a bass guitar unexpectedly ends up in Kenji’s hands. With its deadpan humor, fresh animation style, and upending of the high school musical genre, there’s no wonder this film won the Ottawa Int’l Animation Festival’s top prize.
Note: Some mature language and threat of menace
Note: Some mature language and threat of menace
Hilda
She’s clever, kind, witty—and rocks a pair of red boots like nobody’s business. Hilda is back, rescuing elves, dodging trolls, and exploring Trolberg’s strange history and stranger personalities. The BAFTA award-winning Netflix Original series inspired by Luke Pearson’s hugely popular graphic novels returns to NYICFF with the world premiere of Season Two. Join us for sneak peeks of “Troll Circle” and “The Witch,” two truly enchanting adventures!
The Prince’s Voyage
Celebrated filmmaker Jean-François Laguionie (The Painting, NYICFF 2012) returns to the Festival with yet another beautifully animated, mesmerizing film. When a monkey prince washes ashore, Tom and his scientist parents take him in. It turns out everyone has a lot to learn, and it’s not all scientific, in a tale of intrigue and understanding, with plenty of echoes of classic primate films.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Go all-out for Aardman’s big screen excitement with a NYICFF exclusive presentation of Shaun the Sheep’s latest feature adventure, including new and classic Aardman shorts! In Farmageddon, an alien named LU-LA crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm. Her magical powers, irrepressible mischief and galactic sized burps soon have Shaun the Sheep and his flock enchanted. But when Shaun takes his new extraterrestrial friend on the road to find her lost spaceship, little does he know that a sinister alien-hunting agency is on their trail. Now Shaun and the flock must avert Farmageddon before it’s too late.
Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef
Narrated by Natalie Portman, Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef features Echo, a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who’s more interested in exploring his coral reef home, and its intriguing inhabitants, than learning to survive in it. But lessons from family—and close encounters with some of the ocean’s greatest predators—may encourage Echo to master his vital role in the marine community after all. Catch the majesty of this ocean story exclusively on the big screen before its highly anticipated debut on Disney+.
Disneynature’s Elephant
Disneynature’s Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo as their herd make an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their great matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestors’ footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise. Be the first to see the story of these great and gentle creatures in the theater before their premiere on Disney+.
Bento Harassment
Can food speak louder than words? With Futaba’s mother tired of her teen’s icy attitude, she’ll try an unusual tactic to get her to talk—by way of her bento lunch box. For an entire school term, Futaba opens box after box, each designed with its own cringe-worthy message. An offbeat story of growing up, Bento Harassment will leave audiences laughing…and hungry.
Rocca Changes the World
A modern-day, punk rock Pippi Longstocking, Rocca comes from a family of astronauts—but she’s no space cadet. Smart, intrepid, and ready to save the world—from protecting the littlest squirrel to challenging the biggest bully—there’s virtually nothing she can’t handle. Well, except maybe missing her dad while he’s on a space mission. Somehow, we think she’ll even ace earthly matters.
Magic Boy
Anime? Check. Disney-inspired cute critters? Check. Beautiful colors? Do you even have to ask?! Our Festival Flashback is a groundbreaker: the first-ever anime film released in the US (from renowned Toei Studios), and quite possibly the inspiration for the lovably goofy ninjas-in-training of Naruto. Step back in time and follow Sasuke’s adventures from the very beginning!
SamSam
It’s never too early to find your superpower in SamSam’s fantastical world, and he can’t wait to discover his. Thanks to Mega, the mysterious new kid, SamSam finally uncovers an “anti-monster” power! Let’s hope it’s the real thing: SamSam is about to find himself in a whopper of a showdown, battling to keep the planet laughing—and happy.
The Size of Things
Diego and his dad live a life of simple means in the forest, so when Diego comes across an unexpected find, its magnitude grows curiouser and curiouser.
Moominvalley
Whether you’re already mad for Moomins or you’ve yet to meet these hilarious and cuddly creatures, you can catch their newest capers as NYICFF once again offers an exclusive look at the latest goings-on in Moominvalley. Tove Jansson’s beloved books come to glorious life with a new take and season of their fairy-world tales and some of the biggest British stars voicing our favorite Moominfamily.
ShalaBonBon
Bop alongside kitties, flowers, dancing purple guys, and more with groovy lo-fi graphics and a pop-inspired Japanese beat.
Ailín on the Moon
A mother and daughter’s love is orbited by joys and challenges.
Quarantine
Badgers have had enough fear-mongering and plot their dark-of-night escape.
Sheep, Wolf and a Cup of Tea…
Bedtime routines turn truly bizarre when a child opens a box hidden under his bed in this fantastically illustrated short.