This year’s annual Tribeca Film Festival opens today! Chances are families in the city already know about the Family Festival Street Fair and Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day, both of which are happening next Saturday. At the street fair, kids enjoy Broadway performances, kite flying, a bubble garden, and more; at the sports day, little athletes can try everything from the pervasive football, hockey, and baseball to the less frequently offered fencing, disc throwing, and sailing.
But don’t forget that the film festival itself has lots of great flicks for children, too. The schedule can be overwhelming to sift through, so we checked in with their team for their top kid-friendly recommendations. Enjoy!
“A Birder’s Guide to Everything”
With astounding supporting performances by Ben Kingsley and James LeGros, this touching film tells the story of 15 year-old David Portnoy leading members of his Young Birders Society in search of a rare duck on the even of his widowed father’s second wedding. This delightful tale of friendship and love makes it a perfect film to watch with your family.
“Dancing in Jaffa”
This world premiere documentary conveys a unique perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through three diverse Jaffa-based schools that teach an ethnically mixed group of children for a citywide competition. The results reveal moments of hope and truth that make this tale all the more riveting. In Arabic, English, Hebrew with subtitles.”
“The Rocket”
Kids will love this inspiring narrative about a young boy on a mission. Set in rural Laos, 10 year-old Ahlo escapes with his father and grandmother through the Laotian outback after his village is driven out for a massive dam. Ahlo and his family come across a rocket festival that gives Ahlo a dangerous chance to prove his worth. In Lao with subtitles.
“The Motivation“
Perfect for little sports fans and speed lovers, this documentary focuses on the lives and training regimes of professional skateboarders who go through obstacles on the way to the Street League Championship. In English, Portugese with subtitles.
“Beetlejuice”
If your kids love spooky fun, this 1988 comedy tells a story of two ghosts that arrive at their old house and find that scaring away new residents is not as easy as it used to be.
“The Smurfs”
The Smurfs find themselves in the real-life bustling world of New York City when chased out of their village by the evil wizard Gargamel. This mega-hit film features Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Glee’s Jayma Mays and voice talents of Katy Perry and more.
“Lil Bub & Friendz“
Calling all cat enthusiasts: Lil Bub, “the most famous cat on the internet” and her owner bring you on a cross-country romp. Watch as they meet famous cat-lebrities on the Internet and adorable kittens.
