SANTA FE, N.M., Jan. 31, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- When the nominees for the Academy Awards are announced next month, how much attention will be given to children's films? Unfortunately, children's films are often the stepchild of the motion picture industry. But, for the Santa Fe-based Coalition for Quality Children's Media, the hot topic is "Who will be awarded the KIDS FIRST!(r) Best Children's Film, Video, or DVD of the Year?"
Ranny Levy, president of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, announced the list of nominees today and stressed that "these titles have been selected by the kids and adults on our jury as the best videos, films and DVDs released in the year 2000. More than 300 titles were screened by the KIDS FIRST! jurors to make this selection. We have more than 3,300 teachers, librarians, parents and children from every background imaginable who volunteer as jurors. A wide range of criteria is examined when they do their evaluations, but most important is that they're safe, non-violent, and kids enjoy watching them."
The nominees for "The KIDS FIRST! Best children's film, video, or DVD of the Year are:
Category: 2 - 6-year-old titles Blues Big Musical Movie Esther...the Girl Who Became Queen George and Martha: Best Friends Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepytime Tales Visiting the Doctor with Bear Category: 6 - 12-year-old titles Chicken Run Dear America: A Picture of Freedom The Loretta Claiborne Story My Dog Skip Winslow Homer: An American Original
Honorable mention was awarded to: The Shamans Apprentice, Walking with Dinosaurs, Anne Franks Diary and the Real Macaw. Titles that made the semi-finalists list include: The Baby Music School: Classical; Bear in the Big Blue House: A Berry Bear Christmas; Bear in the Big Blue House: Halloween and Thanksgiving; Dragon Tales: Follow the Clues; Farm Country Ahead; Mozart Nature Symphonies; Teletubbies: Bedtime Stories and Lullabies; Teletubbies: Christmas in the Snow; Theodore Tugboat: Nighttime Adventures; Brett the Jet; Joseph: King of Dreams; Rembrandt: Fathers and Sons; Return to the Secret Garden (from Family Feature Films); Magic School Bus: Rain Forest; and Adventures of Flower the Arson Dog.
Who has the final vote? Kids do! Kids can vote for their favorite film, video, or DVD when they attend the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival produced in selected cities nationwide or they may vote online at Yahooligans.com after February 15. They can check out any of the top ten nominees at Hollywood Videos retail stores across the country. For information on specific locations, times and events, go to www.kidsfirstinternet.org.
The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a ten-year-old national not-for-profit organization acclaimed for its KIDS FIRST! Program, which evaluates and rates children's media, its hospital initiative serving 300 children's hospitals, and its Junior Film Critics Forum. CQCM reaches more than 25 million people every year through its reports, endorsement, reviews, and its book, The New York Times/KIDS FIRST Guide to The Best Children's Videos. The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is supported by Hollywood Video, Yahooligans.com, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Paramount Home Video and local businesses. For more information contact Coalition for Quality Children's Media at 505-989-8076 or visit www.kidsfirstinternet.org.
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CONTACT: Coalition for Quality Children's Media
Elizabeth McCann, PR Coordinator
(505)989-8076
E-Mail: pr@kidsfirstinternet.org