KIDflix Needs Your Input

As you may know, each summer there is a free annual children’s film festival, The KIDflix Film Fest of Bed-Stuy (organized by the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art [MoCADA]), held in Fulton Park. The organizers are planning their 11th season now and are looking for film suggestions. Many parents with younger kids have told them that their screenings skew towards older kids and teens. According to them, that is due in large part to the fact that it’s been difficult to find selections for young children that meet their criteria:

1. Aligned with MoCADA’s mission: “MoCADA is devoted to utilizing the visual arts as a medium to address, discuss, debate and resolve contemporary social, political and economic issues that disproportionately affect the people of the African diaspora through the creation of innovative exhibitions, public programs, community outreach initiatives and educational interactive tours. The experiences and cultural contributions of people of African descent have been grossly marginalized throughout history. Our mission is to undertake the responsibility of rewriting this history in order to give a more accurate portrayal of contributions to the historical, artistic and cultural landscape of the world by people of African descent.”

2. As interesting, entertaining, educational and uplifting as possible.

3. Appropriate for the widest possible age range (G or PG).

The films don’t need to be about the African diaspora itself, as long as they deal with issues that are relevant to the community (such as fighting racism, as in “Rabbit-proof Fence,” or overcoming the obstacles of poverty, as in “Born Into Brothels,” or challenging sexism, as in “Whale Rider”).