BIFF Kids Film Festival kicks off tomorrow night at the Liberty Theatre and will showcase 44 films over three days.

Thirty-three children's films representing 19 countries will screen at the festival, as will 11 films made by Bermuda-based youngsters at the BIFF Film Academy summer film production camps.

The festival will present two series of short films for children ages three and up, a narrative feature, animated feature and series of shorts for children six and up, a feature for children eight and up, a feature and a collection of short films for children nine and up — and a documentary feature for ages 11 and up.

"We screened films for children three and up for the first time at our 2006 children's festival, and they were so well-received we decided to add a second film slot for that age group," said BIFF Kids programmer Ralph Gonzalez.

"We have called the two series Kindertoons I and Kindertoons II and there will be one collection of films screening on Saturday morning, and another screening on Sunday morning."

For the first time, the festival will not show a film for the teenage audience.

"Teenagers are busy on weekends, and that may have affected the audience numbers," said BIFF Kids programmer Alina Walter.

"This year, we have concentrated on the 3-12 age group. Having said that, the documentary 'War/Dance', which won the directing award at Sundance this year, would appeal to teen and adult audiences, too."

The festival will open on Friday with the award-winning feature film, 'The Robber Hotzenplotz', the winner of festival awards in Germany and Russia.

The rousing, delightfully silly adventure tells the story of friends Kasperl and Seppel, who set out to recover grandma's beloved musical coffee grinder from the village's most notorious thief, the Robber Hotzenplotz.

That film will be preceded by the short film, 'The Case', by 16-year-old Bermudian filmmaker Christopher Frith, a graduate of the BIFF Film Academy summer film production camps.

The opening night feature and short will be preceded by a costume parade with prizes for the best costumes. Children, and adults, are invited to come dressed in their favourite Hallowe'en costume.

BIFF Kids screenings will take place at the Liberty Theatre. Tickets for BIFF Kids went on sale online at www.biff.bm yesterday. The festival box office will is also open today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bermuda National Gallery, City Hall, Hamilton.

Tickets will also be available in the lobby of Liberty Theatre throughout the festival.