Children’s International Film Festival 2026

Children’s International Film Festival 2026: Big-Screen Adventures for Curious Kids

Remember going to the movies when it felt like an actual event?

The velvet curtains. The smell of popcorn. The enormous screen. The thrill of choosing your choc-top like it was a major life decision. For many of us, a first cinema trip is lodged somewhere deep in the childhood memory bank, all sticky fingers, plush seats and wide-eyed wonder.

That’s exactly the kind of magic the Children’s International Film Festival taps into. Returning this June and July with its biggest program yet, CHIFF brings 30 brilliant kids’ films from around the world to Australian cinemas, specially selected for young audiences aged three to 12.

In Sydney, it all unfolds at the Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, which makes the outing feel that little bit more special. This heritage-listed Art Deco beauty has been showing films since 1937, giving kids the kind of proper big-screen experience many of us still remember: popcorn, plush seats, lights down, world switched on.

Why it’s worth booking

Screening in Sydney from 6 June to 10 July, CHIFF is a winter school holiday win for families who want something that feels a little more special than the usual cinema run.

Think:

Global stories made for young audiences
Beautiful animation from around the world
Age recommendations to help parents choose well
A warm, weather-proof school holiday outing
A cinema experience that doesn’t require scooters, raincoats or an emergency banana

Exterior of The Ritz Cinema, Randwick. Image courtesy of Randwick City Council.

The Ritz makes it feel like an occasion

Half the fun is the cinema itself. The Ritz is one of Sydney’s great old-school picture houses: a heritage-listed Art Deco cinema in Randwick that has been part of the city’s movie-going story since 1937.

For Inner West families, Randwick is a bit of a cross-town adventure, but that’s also part of the charm. Make it a proper winter day out: book a session, grab lunch or a snack nearby, and let the kids feel like they’re stepping into a little slice of Sydney cinema history.

How to choose the right film

CHIFF is thoughtfully programmed with children in mind, with age recommendations listed for each film so parents can choose something that suits their crew.

That matters, because a dreamy animated adventure for an eight-year-old is not always the same thing as a successful first cinema trip for a wriggly preschooler.

Still from Curly Burly. Image sourced from CHIFF, June 2026.

Best picks for ages 3–5

For preschoolers and early primary kids, the 3–5 years recommendations are a lovely little world tour.

Look out for:

Conni: Mystery of the Crane from Germany
Curly Burly from Denmark
Emma & Thomas from Denmark
Kiri and Lou Go Raaa! from New Zealand
Momonsters: The Movie from Spain
Mumbo Jumbo from Denmark
Papaya from Brazil
Pol the Pirate Mouse from the Netherlands

In other words, plenty of gentle animation, cute creatures and low-stakes adventure for smaller viewers still mastering the sacred art of sitting through a movie.

Still from The Last Whale Singer, image sourced from CHIFF, June 2026.

Best picks for ages 6–8

For ages 6–8, the program opens up into bigger adventures, animal tales, classic family cinema and more layered stories.

There are:

Throwback favourites like Flight of the Navigator and Fly Away Home
Animated quests including Kayara, Momo, Into the Wonderwoods and Tafiti: Across the Desert
Gentle-but-grand stories like The Last Whale Singer, My Life in Versailles: The Movie and Rufus: The Sea Serpent Who Couldn’t Swim

These are perfect for kids who are ready for a bit more story, a bit more spectacle and possibly a post-film debrief over hot chips.

Also recommended for ages 6–8:

Bird Boy
Miss Moxy
My Grandfather is a Nihonjin
North
Rally: From Paris to the Pyramids
Stitch Head
Super Charlie
Tales from the Magic Garden
The Boy at the Edge of the World
The Songbirds’ Secret
Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass

Still from Little Amelie. Image sourced from CHIFF, June 2026.

Best pick for ages 10+

For older kids aged 10 and up, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain from France and Belgium brings a more thoughtful, beautifully animated option to the program.

This is the one for kids who are ready for something a little more poetic, layered and film-festival-ish, in the best possible way.

What makes CHIFF special

CHIFF gives kids a window into stories they might not otherwise see at a shopping centre cinema, with films from Germany, Denmark, Brazil, Norway, France, Belgium, New Zealand and beyond. Think beautiful animation, curious characters and global adventures, all without needing to renew anyone’s passport.

Still from Momo. Image sourced from CHIFF, June 2026.

What it costs

Single admission is $17 for adults, children, seniors and concession holders
Member tickets are $15, with a maximum of two discounted tickets per member
Family passes are $57 for two adults and two children, or one adult and three children
Special event screenings of Toy Story 5 and The Last Whale Singer are $20 for general admission, or $18 for members
Groups of 20 or more can access discounted tickets at $14 per ticket by emailing info@movingstory.com.au

For families, the $57 family pass is likely the one to look at first, especially if you’re bringing two adults and two kids or wrangling three children solo.

What parents should check before booking

A few practical notes are worth checking before you book:

Some international films may be subtitled, dubbed or presented in their original language, so choose carefully for younger children or early readers
Session times will matter if you’re planning around naps, dinner or the sacred post-lunch slump
Special event screenings cost a little more – see above for Toy Story 5 or The Last Whale Singer

Parent cheat sheet

Best for: Kids aged three to 12

Good for: Winter weekends, school holiday outings, rainy days, first film festival experiences and kids who love animation or adventure
Where: Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
When: 6 June to 10 July
Standard tickets: $17 single admission, $15 member tickets, $57 family pass
Special events: Toy Story 5 and The Last Whale Singer are $20 general admission or $18 for members
Group tickets: $14 per ticket for groups of 20 or more. Email info@movingstory.com.au to enquire.

Why go: A curated kids’ film festival in a heritage-listed Art Deco cinema, with films from around the world and age recommendations to help parents choose well

Before booking: Check age recommendations, session times and language/subtitle details

Children’s International Film Festival 2026

Sydney
Where: Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
When: 6 June to 10 July

Explore the full program and book tickets now – click here.

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About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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Children’s International Film Festival 2026