Following the conclusion of its 27th annual event, New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) announced its 2024 award winners on Thursday. NYICFF 2024 took place March 2-17 at venues throughout New York City and in Westchester and The Hamptons.
“What a thrill it was to be back in theaters with our enthusiastic audience and our incredible filmmakers, coming together through a shared love of film and art,” said NYICFF Executive Director Nina Guralnick. “The profound impact these films have on young people, and our audience’s ability to engage with such sophisticated work, never ceases to amaze us and remind us of the importance of diverse, meaningful storytelling no matter how old you are.”
NYICFF Award-winning films were determined by the votes of audience members ages 3-17, audience members ages 18+, and its esteemed jury. The Unstoppable Kids Prize, co-presented with Shine Global, recognizes a film that highlights the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity. Dounia – The Great White North was named the winner of the Unstoppable Kids Prize and will be awarded $2,500 and an invitation to participate in Shine Global’s Resilience Awards events.
“The film beautifully captures Dounia and her family’s resilience as they adjust to their new home as refugees, illustrating both the power of compassion and the importance of embracing differences,” said Alexandra Blaney, Creative Director of Shine Global. “Dounia and her circle of friends and neighbors, all exhibit an unstoppable spirit of optimism and joy. The film exemplifies our vision of a world in which children can thrive and we are honored to present the Unstoppable Kids prize to Dounia – The Great White North.”
Winners of NYICFF’s Jury Awards were the animated short Magic Candies and live-action contender Unibrow. These Jury Award winners are now qualified for consideration for the 97th Academy Awards next year.
Juror Benjamin Renner called Magic Candies “an absolute delight that hooked me from the beginning to the end.” Ilana Glazer applauded Unibrow: “This piece was so specific it was universal. Told viscerally with a full palette of emotions, Unibrow is an example of excellent storytelling.” (All Jurors voted on both awards.)
This year’s jury included Jarelle Dampier (animator and director, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story), Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Guillermo Martinez (Head of Story, Sony Pictures Animation); Matthew Modine (Oppenheimer), Chris Nee (Emmy-winning writer, producer & creator, Doc McStuffins), Peter Ramsey (Oscar- winning director, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Benjamin Renner (Oscar-nominated and NYICFF Award-winning director, Ernest & Celestine, Migration), Ira Sachs (Passages), Phillipa Soo, Ellen Su (producer, director & head of artistic recruiting at Titmouse Animation) and Uma Thurman.
“I’m so pleased that the riot of glorious styles and themes in these shorts awards celebrate the beauty of difference in young people,” said NYICFF Director of Programming Maria-Christina Villaseñor. “Whether their point of view is extended through a translucently tempting treat, as in Magic Candies, culturally enhanced beneath an ample brow, like in Unibrow, emboldened by the daring cape of proud freak flag like Karol’s in Karol, the Vampire Queen, or lovingly recentered toward a rightful matriarch in 1895 Hawaii as in The Queen’s Flowers, the films awarded this year insistently clap back at any attempted underestimation of young people and instead depict their intelligence and empathy. Kudos to our brilliant filmmakers, stellar jury and whip smart young audiences.”
2024 NYICFF Award Winners
Jury Award, Animated Short — Magic Candies by Daisuke Nishio (Japan, World Premiere)
Jury Award, Live Action Short — Unibrow by Nedda Sharshar (Canada)
Audience Award, ages 3+ — Tabby McTat by Jac Hamman & Sarah Scrimgeour (United Kingdom, U.S. Premiere)
Audience Award, ages 6+ — Hoofs on Skates by Ignas Meilūnas (Lithuania, World Premiere)
Audience Award, ages 8+ — The Queen’s Flowers by Ciara Leina’ala Lacy (United States, World Premiere)
Audience Award, ages 10+ — Karol, The Vampire Queen by Alfonso Acosta (Colombia, World Premiere)
Audience Award, ages 12+ — Squeegee Boy by Chung-Wei Huang (United States)
Grown Ups Award, ages 18+ — Karol, The Vampire Queen by Alfonso Acosta (Colombia, World Premiere)
Grand Prize Short Film — The Queen’s Flowers by Ciara Leina’ala Lacy (United States, World Premiere)
Grand Prize, Animated Feature — Kensuke’s Kingdom by Neil Boyle & Kirk Hendry (United Kingdom, Luxembourg, France; New York Premiere)
Grand Prize, Live Action Feature — Coco Farm by Sébastien Gagné (Canada, New York Premiere)
Unstoppable Kids Prize, Co-presented with Shine Global — Dounia – The Great White North by André Kadi & Marya Zarif (Canada, U.S. Premiere)
