What a great way to start the new year. Families can now enjoy the fourth annual Little Darlings Night Owls Kids Film Festival which will be held in Sydney’s Darling Quarter from Friday January 9 to Sunday January 25 2015.
The Festival will bring a program jam-packed with films for kids, families and the young at heart. Genres span from sci-fi mind bogglers and animated treasures and these will surely be enjoyed by both the kids and adults whilst appreciating the city surroundings in the open-air cinema for absolutely FREE.
Each night of the festival, two or three films will be shown and there will be a selection of short films being run from the Little Big Shots program at 6:30pm. Little Big Shots is Australia’s major children’s short film festival which showcases the best talent in both local and international shorts, some of which that have been created by talented kid filmmakers.
Some Little Big Shots gems screening will be The Pirates of Rabbit Doll Island (2013), a three-minute child-made animation from the UK about two rival clans who must band together when dinosaurs of the Lost World steal the elusive pie jewel; Cootie Contagion (2012), an 8-minute live action from the USA about a cootie outbreak at school; and The Gallant Captain (2013), an Australian animation about a boy and his cat journeying into unknown waters.
The second film of each night kicks off at 6:45pm, delivering tried and tested classics like timeless comedy Mrs Doubtfire (1993), coming-of-age drama Stand By Me (1986), and animated childhood favourite, The Lion King (1994), as well as more recent hits like Disney’s “Let It Go” favourite Frozen (2013).
Of course, there will be something for the big kids in each weekend of the Festival, with special films that will be showcased at 8:30pm for the inner nocturnal beings amongst us. The first weekend will feature a trio of sci-fi classics with Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), The Fifth Element (1997), and The Matrix (1999).
Week 2 will take viewers back to the golden era of the 50s with timeless films like Marilyn Monroe comedy Some Like It Hot(1959), Rebel Without A Cause (1955), and The African Queen (1952). The final weekend of the festival will have you revisiting Eastern action award-winner, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) as well as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2005) and Aussie dance romance Strictly Ballroom (1992).
Each night before sundown, audiences will be treated with a vibrant mix of entertainment from 5:30-6:30pm. So get down early so you can relax on a colourful picnic rug and join the kids for an afternoon delight of live music before relaxing with a movie marathon.
There will also be plenty of delicious food options to choose from Tat Darling Quarter, so treat yourself and the kids to some pad thai from Nok Nok Thai Eating House, or a juicy steak straight from the grill at Stacks Taverna and Bar, before finishing up with a traditional Italian gelato from Meno Diciotto. Something a little more adventurous than the traditional cinema choc-top!
With a greater amount of screenings than last year, the Night Owls Kid’s Film Festival is sure to be a Summer treat for kids all ages. Check out the program and start planning for an opportunity to strengthen the bond with your family and friends over films you’ve grown to love and experience priceless outdoor cinema.
For more information visit www.darlingquarter.com/nightowls and www.facebook.com/darlingquarter
WHEN: Friday 9 to Sunday 25 January, 2015
WHERE: Village Green (North), Darling Quarter
1-25 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000
COST: FREE Public Event
TIME: Festivities kick off each night from 5:30pm
THE LOWDOWN: 5:30 – 6:30pm Kids Live Entertainment
6:30 – 6:45pm Little Big Shots screening of short film
6:45pm Feature screening
8:30pm After hours screening (Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights only)
PARKING: $12 after 5pm Monday-Friday and $13 all day Saturday and Sunday
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