SDIFF28 will also feature the first-ever, live KIDS FIRST! Best Awards ceremony. Children can be their own critics and vote until October 15th on the KIDS FIRST! website (www.kidsfirstmedia.com). Programming is designed for kids 2-18 and includes never-before-seen TV series and feature film titles such as DORA THE EXPLORER, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and sneak previews of feature films.

SDIFF28 and The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival will also host a special, Red Carpet event on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2:00 p.m., at the King Center on the Auraria Campus, featuring a screening of the film THE BLUE BUTTERFLY, starring William Hurt. Celebrities and filmmakers (to be determined) will be among the featured guests. Following the Red Carpet event, attendees will be invited to a very special Cupcake Social, featuring photo opportunities and meet-and- greets with costumed characters, door prizes, magicians, and an array of other exciting entertainment. The Cupcake Social will take place at the Children’s Museum of Denver from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

The KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival will culminate with the announcement of awards, honoring the five KIDS FIRST! Best of Fest winners. The unveiling of the winners will take place at the Cupcake Social and will be additionally announced prior to the SDIFF28 Closing Night Film at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House (separate ticket for Closing Night needed).

KIDS FIRST! evaluates, rates, and endorses children's feature films, DVDs, videos, audio recordings and television using a volunteer, community-based jury comprising child development professionals, teachers and parents as well as children from diverse geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. More than four thousand titles have been evaluated to date. Reviews of endorsed titles are published on the KIDS FIRST! website, kidsfirst.org and in reviews provided to publications such as Access Learning, Parenting, and United Parenting Publications.

KIDS FIRST! has worked with the Denver Film Society and ArtReach to provide youth-appropriate films and videos year-round. The KIDS FIRST! stamp of approval means no gratuitous violence, no inappropriate sexual behavior, and no bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion. Kids also get to explore cultures from around the world and are exposed to social issues such as animal rights.

The schedule of KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival will be announced after the online voting results are tallied.

BE YOUR OWN CRITIC – EVEN IF YOU’RE A KID!
Denver Film Society and KIDS FIRST! have also partnered with The Entertainment Project to offer Denver’s first and only Jr. Film Critics Club for ages 8 to 13, and a chance for young movie buffs to truly be their own critics.

The Entertainment Project will present workshops for youth to train and learn how to review films, and gain real-world experience through viewing, discussing, writing about and giving presentations about films. Selected students from the workshops will be featured in high profile events as film announcers, reporters conducting interviews on the red-carpet with stars and celebrities during SDIFF28 and writing reviews and articles for Whose magazine? a youth publication of The Entertainment Project.

Last year, two Jr. Film Critics got to interview Morgan Freeman, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and other celebrities on the Red Carpet during SDIFF27. The Entertainment Project is a Denver- based literacy project that introduces youth K-12 to opportunities through real-world experiences and workshops.

Two dates are available for workshops: Nov. 2 and Nov 5. To sign up children aged 8-13 for the Jr. Film Critics Club Workshop, go to http://whosemagazine.org. Select Whose Jr. Film Critics for additional information or call 303-383-1584 ext.#3. Individuals are welcome, and scholarships are available for classes from schools through TIAA-CREF.

Join the 28th Starz Denver International Film Festival for the first KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival and inspire the next generation of movie fans – and critics -- with quality programming!