Ready your imagination and join us for another weekend of cinematic adventure! Brooklyn’s favorite kids film program is back for its 28th year with a dazzling mix of animated, live-action, and documentary shorts. Created by filmmakers from around the world, these fun-sized movie gems are bursting with curious creatures, courageous kids, and magical moments. BAMkids Film Festival celebrates global perspectives, offering families fresh ways to see and understand our world. We tailor our selections to suit young dreamers (ages 3—5), bold explorers (6—8), and budding cinephiles (9+), but these special films can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite—it just might win a BAMmie Award for Best Live Action or Best Animated short!
Includes films with English subtitles.
At select times between 11am and 2pm, Parallel Exit will entertain families with circus walkabout fun in the lobby. You can also learn juggling, balance, and physical-comedy tricks from the Parallel Exit team as part of this free, family-focused program.
Explore each program below for detailed information on showtimes and featured films.
Venue
BAM Rose Cinemas, Peter Jay Sharp Building lobby
Age
3+
Price
Adults: $14; Member: $9; Children: $10
Please note: A $2 processing fee per ticket will be added to your order
On Sale Date:
Thu, Dec 11 at 1pm General Public
BAM Rose Cinemas, Peter Jay Sharp Building lobby
Age
3+
Price
Adults: $14; Member: $9; Children: $10
Please note: A $2 processing fee per ticket will be added to your order
On Sale Date:
Thu, Dec 11 at 1pm General Public
Leadership support for
BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:
Leadership support for BAM Access Programs provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Leadership support for
BAM programming provided by
Leadership support for
BAM Film and Community programs provided by
The Thompson Family Foundation
Major support for programs in the
Lepercq Cinema is provided by
The Lepercq Charitable Foundation
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Kids | FilmTiny Worlds, Grand Adventures (Ages 3—5)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026
Tiny Worlds, Grand Adventures (Ages 3—5)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026Ages 3—5A daring weevil, forgetful squirrel, and musical frogs leap, dance, and dream their way through extraordinary little adventures that celebrate curiosity, creativity, and the joy of trying something new. -
Kids | FilmBig Dreams, Little Heroes (Ages 6—8)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026
Big Dreams, Little Heroes (Ages 6—8)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026Ages 6—8Step into a world where sleepy gallery cats paint by moonlight, grumpy badgers hide treasure-filled dens, and tiny hamsters explore abandoned cities with magic binoculars in these enchanting shorts. -
Kids | FilmGiggle, Wiggle, and Wonder! (Ages 3—5)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026
Giggle, Wiggle, and Wonder! (Ages 3—5)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026Ages 3—5Filled with melody, motion, and gentle moments of connection, this program brings together musical adventures, imaginative play, and stories of helping and friendship ideal for the youngest viewers. -
Kids | FilmNew Friends, New Horizons (Ages 6—8)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026
New Friends, New Horizons (Ages 6—8)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026Ages 6—8Through imagination, friendship, and self-discovery, this program explores a world where animals, children, and even magical beings navigate challenges, dreams, and new connections. -
Kids | FilmCourage in Motion (Ages 6—8)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026
Courage in Motion (Ages 6—8)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026Ages 6—8Across skies, forests, ponds, and even distant planets, these stories celebrate courage, empathy, and being true to oneself, and show how kindness, curiosity, and persistence can transform the world around us. -
Kids | FilmAdventures in Bravery (Ages 9+)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026
Adventures in Bravery (Ages 9+)
Feb 7 & 8, 2026Ages 9+Children from around the globe navigate their world, discover their identities, and connect with others, showing courage, resilience, and imagination as they face life’s joys and challenges across cultures. -
Kids | FilmYoung Filmmakers Showcase
Young Filmmakers Showcase
Virtually celebrate young auteurs from across the globe with this incredible program of animated and live-action shorts made by kids, for kids, streaming online. -
BAMkids Film Festival 2026 Ballots
BAMkids Film Festival 2026 Ballots
Did you see something at this year’s festival that blew you away? Vote for your favorite short film and it just might win the Best of BAMkids Film Festival Award! -
“The curation of the kids’ film festival was flawless. My son... was completely immersed in the stories and characters. He even applauded at the end—proof that art isn't just something material; It's the feeling it leaves with you.”— America Del Rocio, parent and attendee
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Parallel ExitParallel Exit creates compelling stories that are family-friendly, cultivating art that speaks to a culturally boundless audience of any age. Productions have received both local and international praise for their inventiveness, energy, and originality, with presentations at such esteemed venues as Lincoln Center, BAM, The New Victory Theater, 59E59 Theaters, and Symphony Space in New York; the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK (winning a Spirit of the Fringe Award); and festivals in Poland, Spain, Austria, and Japan. Following an extended German tour in partnership with GOP Variety Arts Theatre Circuit, Parallel Exit served as the powerhouse behind Big Apple Circus’s critically acclaimed The Grand Tour and 40th Anniversary—marking the beginning of a new chapter that radiates with excitement. Their acclaimed show Sunset Circus is returning to the Marlene Meyerson Jewish Community Center on March 22, 2026. -
Kelsey StrauchKelsey Strauch aka Long Arms is a Brooklyn-based performing and visual artist with a BFA in painting from the University of Oregon. Trained at the New England Center for Circus Arts, she performed at various Renaissance Faires throughout the country and also with Gandini Juggling in Philip Glass’s Akhnaten at the Metropolitan Opera. She danced with Vangeline Butoh Theater, and juggled for Netflix’s Orange is the New Black; on CBS Sunday morning with Jane Pauley; and for the President of Algeria. Kelsey also teaches handstands, and is the founder of GalleryBQE, a community street-art gallery under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Williamsburg. Ask her about meeting Taki 183! -
Joel JeskeJoel Jeske is a writer, physical comedian, director, teacher, and creator of his own theater shows. He is the Associate Artistic Director as well as creator and performer for the physical-theater company Parallel Exit. He created and starred in Parallel Exit’s Off-Broadway hits This Way That Way, Cut to the Chase, Room 17B, and Everybody Gets Cake! Joel was nominated for a Drama Desk award in 2006, 2011, and 2015 for creating Cut to the Chase, Room 17B, and Everybody Gets Cake! Internationally, Joel starred with Peter Shub at the Apollo Variete in Dusseldorf, Germany and was the headlining show at Festival Der Traume in Innsbruck, Austria, the COS Festival in Reus, Spain, and the AEMI International Clown Festival in Shanghai and Hangzhou, China. As a clown, Joel toured and created clown acts for Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus and Cirque Du Soleil, and hosted The Big Apple Circus 2006-07 production of Step Right Up! Joel was the creator and lead clown of The Big Apple Circus productions The Grand Tour and 40th Anniversary. -
Uniquely Me Creative ArtsJoin Uniquely Me Creative Arts (UMCA) for a hands-on, sensory-focused creative-arts activity that supports children with special needs, as their families share time together.
UMCA envisions a world where every child with special needs can find their unique creative voice and live an inclusive life, with families sharing in a journey of love and enjoyment. -
You May Also Enjoy
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Kids | Theater | MusicRobot Song
Mar 27—29, 2026
Robot Song
Mar 27—29, 2026Ages 8+This dazzling theater work for kids and adults is a deeply moving celebration of inclusion and creativity. -
BAMkids Parent Advisory Circle
BAMkids Parent Advisory Circle
This amazing group of Brooklyn-based, global majority parents and guardians have made a year-long commitment to regularly meet with BAMkids staff to reflect, dream, and help co-curate new experiences and programs. -
DanceDanceAfrica Performance
May 22—25, 2026
DanceAfrica Performance
May 22—25, 2026Enchanting Brooklyn for its 49th year, DanceAfrica 2026 culminates in a dance and music performance celebrating the culture of Uganda.
Support BAM
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MEMBERSHIPBAM Membership ($100+)
BAM Membership ($100+)
Unlock exclusive savings on performances and films with a BAM Membership. From ticket discounts to priority access and special events, it’s your license to experience more for less. -
SUPPORTBAM Patrons ($2,500+)
BAM Patrons ($2,500+)
Priority access to premium seats, personalized ticket services, exclusive invitations, and more.
