A film festival aimed at primary school children – and directed by a Tauranga 13-year-old – is on in the city during the school holidays.

This year’s Sunny Side Up Children’s Film Festival is being held on Tuesday, July 16, at the Graham Young Youth Theatre at Tauranga Boys’ College, offering two sessions.

Festival director Milli Banbury is rapt to see how the film festival – which is packed with films, games, fun and prizes – has grown over the past two years, with tickets to this year’s event selling fast.

“I’m excited because we are expanding to a different location,” says the Aquinas College student.

“At the previous venue, we had quite a few sessions across two days, but this year we will have two sessions, at 10am and 1pm.”

Milly says the two 90-minute fun-filled screenings this year will be jam-packed with exciting activities and games, allowing children to participate and have fun while enjoying the selection of films from Square Eyes.

“They are all animated films, each one is around 10 minutes long,” says Milli, who will briefly introduce each film.

The idea for running a film festival for children came when she was 11.

“My dad runs the Tauranga Mountain Film Festival. I got the idea from him.”

Milly says the festival was “really small” to begin with, but has grown.

“It’s a children’s film festival aimed at primary-age kids, and we have games and prizes and a fun environment.”

Better Finance sponsors the festival, helping cover venue costs and film hire, with Kiwi Kids News sponsoring prizes.

Promising to be a magical and memorable experience for kids, the festival is set to live up to its unique vibe, providing a fun and safe environment where kids can enjoy films, games and prizes.

“I love organising it,” says Milli.

“I love on the day seeing everyone come in and watch the animated films. It’s a really good environment and lots of fun.”

Tickets to the Sunny Side Up Children’s Film Festival at 10am and 1pm on July 16 are on Eventfinda, and cost $8 a person, with a family pass for $28.