It’s a rainy, cold February and you’re desperate to get the kiddos out of the house. Luckily, the Children’s Film Festival Seattle (CFFS) is coming to the rescue.
The 19th annual event from Feb. 2-10 is billed as the largest of its kind on the West Coast. There are 150+ films to check out from 40 countries, whether it’s a familiar blockbuster or an indie short. You can view the movies both online and in person at the Northwest Film Forum.
Festival passes and tickets for individual screenings are available. Each workshop has a suggested $100 fee, but there’s a “pay what you can” option, too.
This year’s CFFS has a space theme — so strap on your astronaut helmets as we explore what’s in orbit.
Featured flicks
”WALL-E” | Fri., Feb. 2 | 6 p.m. | Check out the Pixar classic at PacSci’s IMAX theater (the festival’s only movie not screened at Northwest Film Forum).
“Headspace” | Sat., Feb. 3 | 6 p.m. | The animated South African flick is about a boy who encounters tiny aliens when they crash land into his glass of iced tea.
“Homeschooled” | Sat., Feb. 8 | 8 p.m. | On “teen night,” the fest screens a 2023 documentary about a group of homeschooled high school students prepping for prom.
Fun workshops
Spacecakes | Sat., Feb. 3 | 11:30 a.m. | Is it cake? Learn how to craft a delicious-looking artificial dessert with plaster, styrofoam, and acrylic paint before decorating it with intergalactic toppings (all supplies provided).
DIY Space Sounds | Sat., Feb. 3 | 3-4:30 p.m. | Aspiring sound engineers can get a lesson in Foley filmmaking — how to make out-of-this-world noises using everyday objects.
Space Adventures in Stop Motion Animation | Sat., Feb. 10, 12-3 p.m. | Kids get to mold aliens out of clay and bring them to life with animation software.