Running from 7 June to 20 July 2025 across the winter school holidays, CHIFF invites young audiences and their families to experience the magic of cinema across Sydney and Melbourne.
The 2025 program features 23 titles from around the world including 19 Australian premieres and two classics from maverick directors Tim Burton and Joe Dante, as well as special events designed for children aged from 3 years old and up. For the first time, CHIFF will also showcase a selection of films aimed at tweens aged 12 and over, expanding the festival’s offering for adventurous older audiences.
While presenting films from all corners of the world, all films will screen in English language.
“From my experiences visiting children’s film festivals in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and beyond, I’m always inspired by how films made sincerely for children have a universal power to entertain, move, and connect audiences of all ages,” said Thomas Caldwell, Artistic Director of CHIFF. “CHIFF is proud to champion this tradition by bringing together exciting, heart-warming, and imaginative stories for Australian audiences.”
One of CHIFF’s most beloved traditions, the Family Fun Day event, returns in 2025 with a special screening of Disney and Pixar’s eagerly anticipated new film Elio. This cosmic misadventure sees a misfit boy mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader by a sprawling intergalactic organisation. Tickets to Family Fun Day include popcorn on arrival, adding an extra festive touch to this popular highlight of the festival calendar.
Classic tales are brought vividly to life with several standout adaptations in the 2025 program. Bambi, a Tale of Life in the Woods offers a stunning retelling of Felix Salten’s timeless story, filmed with real animals and celebrating the wonder of the natural world. The Proud Princess brings fresh energy to a beloved Czech fairy-tale, updating its themes for a new generation of viewers.
Other festival highlights include the vibrant and inspiring Hola Frida!, a dazzling animated portrayal of artist Frida Kahlo’s early life; the heart-warming adventure Thelma’s Perfect Birthday, in which a young penguin discovers confidence and friendship; and Bartali’s Bicycle, an uplifting story of bravery, connection and overcoming divisions.
CHIFF expands its offering for older kids with two specially selected films for audiences aged 12 and over. Empire Waist is a sweet coming-of-age story that tackles body positivity, friendship, and self-expression with humour and heart. Robin and the Hoods offers an imaginative adventure about a spirited group of friends defending their “kingdom” from developers.
Families can also reconnect with timeless cinematic magic through CHIFF’s retro celebrations, with special 40th anniversary screenings of Joe Dante’s Explorers and Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, two classics that continue to inspire new generations of film fans.
The festival further presents Akiko, the Flying Monkey, a life action film about a talking primate who escapes from the zoo and embarks on a funny adventure to find his family and free his friends; Captain Sabertooth and the Countess of Grel, a sequel of the long-running Norwegian franchise where the pirates of the Black Lady fight over the dominion of the seven seas; and A Tooth Fairy Tale in which the rival kingdoms of the tooth fairies and goblins are threatened by the cruel spider queen.
Alongside the films, CHIFF 2025 will feature a range of fun-filled events to spark kids’ creativity and imagination.
Families can enjoy Mexican-themed arts and crafts sessions to accompany Hola Frida!, don their cosiest outfits for Movies in PJs day on 11 July (with Funday Sweets for all pyjama-clad attendees), or take the mic in the Who Wants to Hear a Joke? open-mic sessions before Elli and Her Monster Team. In partnership with Readings, the Festival will also host the Melbourne book launch of Gabrielle Wang’s The Silken Thread. Plus, the popular CHIFF colouring-in competition returns, giving kids the chance to win great prizes with their artistic creations.
With arts and crafts, dress-ups, prizes, and a program brimming with fantasy, adventure, and heart, CHIFF 2025 promises to deliver a winter holiday filled with unforgettable movie magic.
2025 Children‘s International Film Festival
Sydney and Melbourne
7 June – 20 July
Melbourne: Classic Cinemas Elsternwick, Lido Cinemas Hawthorn and Cameo Cinemas Belgrave
7 June – 20 July
Sydney: Ritz Cinemas Randwick
