New York International Children’s Film Festival kicks off

      The New York International Children's Film Festival (NYICFF), the largest festival for children and teens in North America, started Friday here in Manhattan and runs through March 15.
According to the New York Daily News, the festival is a showcase for films that are both critically acclaimed and loved by audiences, but for whatever reason Hollywood can't figure out what to do with.
Typical of the kind of independent, experimental films shown is Battle For Terra, a film described as "Wall-E meets Star Wars," about a race of peaceful tadpole-like creatures who are invaded by refugee aliens from Earth.
New York plays host to different film festivals every month, the NYICFF claims to be the largest event of its kind, with nearly100 features and shorts to choose from over the next two weeks.
One of the most highly anticipated entries is likely to be Sunday's premiere of the new Wallace and Gromit -movie, "A Matter of Loaf and Death," which is part of the NYICFF's "Film & Food" benefit event.
Among other animated offerings will be the visually striking, multicultural adventure "Azur and Asmar" and "Sita Sings the Blues," an Indian tale that's been earning big buzz over the last year.
Tweens and teens get their own movies, too, with Australia's coming-of-age comedy "Hey Hey It's Esther-Blue burger," the documentary "Circus School," about young acrobats training in China, and "Shorts for Teens," a program of 10 short films from around the world. Even the littlest moviegoers are recognized with" Shorts for Tots," a collection of brief animated movies chosen just for kids between the ages of 3 and 6.
Twenty-one countries are represented in the expansive lineup, including the German fantasy "Stella and the Star of the Orient" and "The Ten Lives of Titanic the Cat," about Norwegian girls who stumble upon an unusual mystery, according to the newspaper.