Unleash Your Imagination: Atlanta's Children Film Fest

Posted on July 9th, 2025

The Atlanta Children’s Film Festival is more than just an event — it’s a dynamic celebration of creativity, learning, and family connection. For 18 years, Kids Video Connection (KVC) has used this festival to open doors for young minds to explore the art of filmmaking in an engaging, supportive environment. With carefully curated screenings, hands-on workshops, and opportunities for young storytellers to share their ideas, the festival empowers kids to grow as confident creators while giving families unforgettable memories they’ll cherish long after the final credits roll.

The Magic of Atlanta’s Children Film Festival

The Atlanta Children's Film Festival stands as a lively celebration of youth creativity and family entertainment. Kids Video Connection (KVC), a dedicated non-profit 501(c)(3) educational media arts organization, is thrilled to mark 18 years of guiding young minds through this unique event. From October 10 – 26, 2025, families can experience two weeks of exciting film screenings, engaging workshops, and meaningful activities that leave a lasting impression.

This festival is much more than watching movies on a screen — it is a hands-on exploration of storytelling, media literacy, and video production. Young attendees don’t just sit back and view films; they learn about what goes on behind the camera too. Through the festival’s diverse programming, children and parents gain a fresh view of how ideas come to life on screen. Each year, KVC’s mission to educate and empower youth through media continues to grow, and since its inception, the festival has reached over 10,000 children from diverse communities.

Thanks to strong partnerships and generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Georgia Council for the Arts, Emory University, the Tyler Perry Foundation, South Arts, and DeKalb Entertainment Commission, the festival has become a well-loved part of Atlanta’s arts scene. The focus remains the same: to promote positive, educational, and entertaining children’s films that help kids grow as independent thinkers and creative content creators. KVC inspires youth to Think – Dream – Create, and this festival is one of the many ways they bring that vision to life.

What to Expect: Activities and Events

The 2025 festival will once again showcase an exciting mix of workshops, screenings, and interactive sessions. This composition helps kids discover the craft of filmmaking in an enjoyable, accessible way. Here’s what makes the activities and events so special:

• Hands-On Workshops: Kids can look into scriptwriting, storyboarding, shooting scenes, and even editing their own short videos. These practical lessons teach media literacy skills and reinforce their confidence in sharing ideas.

• Curated Screenings: Carefully selected films entertain and educate, touching on themes like friendship, diversity, and teamwork. The films never exceed 45 minutes, making them just right for young attention spans.

• Opportunities to Pitch Ideas: Through KVC’s partnership with iPitch.tv, independent child producers can connect with industry insiders. This opens doors for talented kids to showcase their work to studio executives and Hollywood producers.

These activities nurture not only technical know-how but also valuable communication and critical thinking skills. Every workshop, screening, and pitching opportunity helps children see the bigger picture of storytelling. Parents benefit too, watching their children blossom creatively and leaving the festival with plenty of ideas to encourage at home.

Experiencing a Film Festival: A Journey of Creativity

Stepping into the Atlanta Children's Film Festival is stepping into a world alive with imagination. For many families, this is the first time they see their children interact so deeply with the art of filmmaking. The environment is designed to be welcoming and uplifting for kids of all ages, blending entertainment with learning.

Throughout the festival, unexpected surprises add to the fun. Interactive exhibits, digital installations, and pop-up performances bring stories to life in ways that captivate young minds. Children can wander from one corner to the next, discovering small screenings of student-produced shorts or meeting guest speakers who share insights about the film industry.

This vibrant atmosphere encourages connection too. Families and budding young filmmakers mingle with industry professionals, sparking conversations that often lead to lasting mentorships and friendships. Parents can pick up ideas for supporting their child’s creative interests year-round, while kids gain encouragement from peers who share the same passion for storytelling.

Making the Most of Your Festival Visit

Planning ahead can make your family’s experience even more rewarding. Here’s how to get the best out of your time at the Atlanta Children’s Film Festival:

• Review the Schedule in Advance: Check KVC’s website in July 2025 for workshop details and screening times. Mapping out the day’s events helps you catch the sessions that align with your child’s interests.

• Prep Kids for New Concepts: Introduce simple filmmaking topics through short videos or books. This gives children some context for what they’ll be learning.

• Balance Fun and Downtime: Mix hands-on workshops with film screenings and free exploration time to keep kids engaged and avoid fatigue.

During the festival, encourage your kids to capture moments with photos, jot down ideas, or sketch their favorite scenes. This keeps them connected to what they’ve learned and extends the excitement once you’re back home. Be ready to support their questions, as facilitators love to see engaged, curious young minds.

Why Film Festivals Matter for Kids

Film festivals like Atlanta’s play an important role in helping young people grow into thoughtful, creative individuals. The lessons they pick up during workshops and screenings help them understand the many layers behind every story. Here’s why events like these have a lasting impact:

• Building Media Literacy: Kids learn to look at content critically, recognizing how stories are made and how messages are shared.

• Boosting Confidence: Taking part in activities like filming, editing, and pitching stories gives children the courage to express themselves.

• Opening Doors to Opportunity: With connections like iPitch.tv, young producers and students have a pathway to share their work with industry professionals.

These benefits don’t end when the festival wraps up. Children often return home inspired to keep creating, whether it’s filming mini-movies with friends, practicing new editing tricks, or dreaming up original scripts. This passion nurtures skills they can carry into school projects, community programs, or future careers.

Related: Teaching Kids Communication Skills through Video Production

Conclusion

For nearly two decades, Kids Video Connection has proudly guided young minds toward self-expression through media arts. The Atlanta Children’s Film Festival reflects that mission beautifully, giving families a place to experience cinema’s power to teach, entertain, and inspire. From hands-on workshops to carefully curated film screenings, every moment is designed to build skills that matter — media literacy, communication, and critical thinking.

The 2025 Atlanta Children’s Film Festival promises another wonderful season of creativity and connection. Scheduled from October 10 – 26, this event continues to grow, made possible by the dedicated support of the National Endowment for the Arts, Georgia Council for the Arts, Emory University, the Tyler Perry Foundation, and so many more. We’re thrilled to keep serving children and families with opportunities that help young creators Think – Dream – Create.

If you’re ready to be part of a festival that promotes positive, educational, and entertaining films for kids, join us this October. We welcome families, aspiring filmmakers, and supportive sponsors who believe in the power of storytelling. For more information about workshops, screenings, or how to become a sponsor, please reach out to Kids Video Connection at [email protected] or call (404) 993-5696. Let’s keep inspiring our children to share their stories with the world — one frame at a time.