New Zealand's Kids' Film Fest

Sunny
Side Up Children's
Film Fest

2027 National Tour · Coming Soon

Animated short films from around the world. Lively, interactive, and made for curious kids aged 5–12 across Aotearoa.

Kids at Sunny Side Up Film Festival
✨ What we're about

More Than Just a Screening

We introduce children to the magic of cinema in a safe, joyful way that's entertaining, lively, and bursting with heart.

Animated Shorts From Around the World

Hand-picked animated films celebrating creativity and storytelling from international filmmakers, each one carefully chosen for ages 5–12.

Lively, Interactive Sessions

This isn't sit-still cinema. Our sessions are energetic and joyful, with games, prizes, and a big friendly crowd of excited kids.

Perfect for Ages 5 to 12

Every film is selected with primary school children in mind: age-appropriate, funny, moving, and brilliantly made.

Safe, Warm, Wonderful

Parents can relax knowing their kids are in a welcoming space designed to spark curiosity and a lifelong love of cinema.

📅 Coming Soon

Find a Show Near You

Our 2027 National Tour is in the works and Sunny Side Up is coming to a city near you. Keep your eyes peeled!

Apr2027

2027 National Tour

Coming to a city near you
Cities & dates announced soon.
Keep your eyes peeled!
🎟 Tickets Coming Soon
$8
Per Person
$28
Whānau of Four
🎉 What's on

What to Expect

Every session is packed with things to see, do, move, and celebrate.

🎬
Short Films
The best animated shorts from around the world, hand-picked for young audiences.
🎤
Hosted Activities
Engaging hosts, sing-alongs, games and movement breaks that get everyone involved.
🎁
Spot Prizes
Great giveaways and exciting prizes up for grabs throughout the show.
☀️
School Holiday Fun
The perfect school holiday outing for curious kids and their families.
🎞 Past Films Shown

The 2026 Lineup

Kuap poster
🐸

Kuap

🇨🇭 Switzerland
7 min
Buzz poster
🐝

Buzz

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
10 min
9 Million Colours poster
🦐

9 Million Colours

🇨🇿 Czech Republic
15 min
Bats & Bugs poster
🦇

Bats & Bugs

🇨🇭 Switzerland
11 min
The Girl with the Occupied Eyes poster
📱

The Girl with the Occupied Eyes

🇵🇹 Portugal
7 min
Peter the Beetle poster
🪲

Peter the Beetle

🇪🇪 Estonia
9 min
Eureka poster
💡

Eureka

🇧🇪 Belgium
9 min
Wolf poster
🐺

Wolf

🇩🇪 Germany
4 min
← Scroll to see all 8 films →
🎬 See Full Film Details →
💬 The Word Is Out

People Have Been Talking

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Promising to be a magical and memorable experience for kids, a fun and safe environment where children can enjoy films, games and prizes."
📰 SunLive
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Carefully selected animated shorts for primary-aged children, the Sunny Side Up Festival is set to live up to its unique vibe."
📰 SunLive
💛 What Our Audiences Said

"I took 3 boys ages 9, 10 and 11. They completely loved it. One announced as soon as it finished, 'That was EXCELLENT!' They were also really impressed that a person not that much older than them created the whole thing."

"The movies, the involvement with the audience. I was super impressed with our host, Milli, who kept the whole show running beautifully."

"This was an awesome event - well done Milli!! Excellent value for money. So cool that you have taken this nationwide."

"The variety of short films - they were very well selected and we enjoyed them all. It gave us lots to talk about on the drive home."

"It is a cheeky way to get my kids into arts and culture. A fun and relaxed atmosphere that was actually affordable."

"They enjoyed the great film selection, the games, and that they could eat their own snacks - big win! It was excellent - please come back!"

🤝 Our Supporters

Thanks to Our Sponsors

The festival wouldn't be possible without the generous support of these incredible businesses.

❓ Questions

FAQ

Everything you need to know before the big day.

Sunny Side Up is a children's film festival that celebrates short animated films from around the world. Created by Tauranga local Milli, it's a lively, interactive cinema experience designed especially for primary-aged kids, complete with games, prizes, hosted activities, and lots of surprises. Now in its 5th year!
The festival is designed for primary-aged children between 5 and 12 years old. All films are carefully selected to be age-appropriate, funny, and engaging for this age group. Parents and caregivers are very welcome too. It's a great family outing!
Our 2027 National Tour is in the works, with shows planned from April 2027 in cities across Aotearoa. Venues and dates will be announced soon, so keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook so you don't miss a show near you!
Dates for the 2027 National Tour are coming soon, and tickets will go on sale once each city is announced. Follow us on social media to be the first to know! Tickets have been $8 per person or $28 for a whānau of four.
Each session runs for approximately 90 minutes: around 60–70 minutes of short animated films, plus interactive activities, games, and prizes. It's the perfect length for young audiences: long enough to be a proper outing, short enough to keep everyone entertained!
We show a curated selection of short animated films from around the world, from France to Japan, New Zealand to Canada. Each film runs between 2 and 18 minutes and is chosen for its creativity, storytelling, and appeal to young audiences. Some are dialogue-free, some are subtitled, all are brilliant. Head to our Films page to see the lineup!
Yes, tickets are required for all attendees including parents and caregivers at $8 per person, or grab a whānau pass for $28 (covers 4 people). 2027 pricing will be confirmed when tickets go on sale.
Yes! All films are curated for ages 5–12 and are entirely family-friendly, with no scary content, violence, or adult themes. Some films are even dialogue-free, making them perfect for the youngest viewers. If you have a very little one (under 5), we recommend sitting near the aisle just in case they need a break.
🏫 School Holiday Programmes & Large Groups

Bringing a big group? We offer discounted rates for school holiday programmes, sports clubs, and community groups. Get in touch and we'll sort something out!

🎒 Holiday Programmes
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Community Groups
🎟 Discounted Rates
✉ Enquire Now