HE third annual BIFF Kids Film Festival takes place next month ? a showcase of 55 films representing 16 countries around the world.

Twenty-two of the films were made by local kids during summer film production camps organised under the auspices of the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF). The line-up boasts nine more films than were screened during last year's Festival and, for the first time, includes a shorts programme for children aged three and up.

"We have screened films for kids five and up at our first two festivals, but we had a number of requests by parents to show films for younger kids too," Christian Zabriskie, a film programmer at BIFF Kids, said. "So we have assembled a wonderful programme of short shorts from some of the world's top animation studios."

The Festival opens on October 13 with , the winner of the Best Film Award at the Leeds Young People's Film Festival.

"The hilarious family drama will be preceded by a costume parade with prizes for the best costumes," a BIFF spokesperson said. "Children and adults are invited to come dressed in their favourite Halloween costume."

A series of short films will also screen during the two-day event. , for children six years and older, reflects the positive side of Africa and includes, which has one 40 festival awards world wide. A second series, features 12 twisted cartoon shorts suitable for teenagers.

Also included in the line-up:

l, a feature film for kids nine and older, which won audience awards at the Vienna Children's Film Festival and the Hamburg Film Festival

l, a documentary for kids nine and older, which won prizes at the Newport Beach, Atlanta and Chicago film festivals

A second documentary for teens aged 14 and older, , which is the follow-up to a film which screened at BIFF Kids 2005, and,

l, for children five and older, which was the highest-grossing Russian animated film of all time and produced by the makers of last year's BIFF Kids animated hit, .

The spokesperson continued: "The Festival closes with a feature film for kids aged 14 and older, Joni's Promise, a romantic comedy that has screened at many of the world's leading festivals ? Barcelona, Sydney, Tokyo, Seattle and more."

BIFF Kids' films will screen at the Liberty Theatre. Tickets go on sale online, at www.biff.bm, and at the Festival box office ? at the Visitors' Service Bureau, Front Street ? at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The box office will open daily, except Sunday, through Friday, October 13, from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door.