KIDS FIRST! Film Critics

Who are our current KIDS FIRST! Film Critics?

Nyara A.

Nyara A. (age 16) lives in the Bay Area of CA, has one brother and a dog named Tiny. She loves acting and singing and joined KIDS FIRST! to learn more about the entertainment industry. She adores the Harry Potter and Stranger Things series, both of which transport her into magical worlds. Emma Watson is her favorite actress because of her incredible talent and commitment to making the world a better place. Nyara performed in the San Francisco Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel, practicing for several months and performing in eight evening performances for over 2000 people each time. That experience made her fall in love with acting and performing. She continues to act on stage and on screen; loves to craft, dance and ski. She plays piano, guitar and tennis on her high school team. She aspires to be a Broadway performer when she is grown. She loves reporting for KIDS FIRST!

Jude A.

Jude A. (age 10) joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critic because when he saw the requirements he felt it fit his personality to a “T,” which is being chatty, sociable, loving to meet other people and he does not shy away from the camera. He is attentive, serious, and still loves having fun. In his free time he plays basketball, reads, plays checkers, goes on his tablet, hangs out with family and friends, goes to the movies, plays the piano and the drums. His favorite film is Sonic 3 because he always wanted to be fast and have friends like Sonic. His favorite actor is Jude Law, because – among other things, he has the same name. Jude’s favorite accomplishments (so far) are when he got second place in CMTC in singing and when he worked on his first movie. He is uplifting and joyful and aspires to be an actor when he grows up. He has his own YouTube and Instagram channels.

Anna Clara B.

Anna Clara B. (age 14) lives in Recife, Brazil and has a sister who lives in Texas. She joined KIDS FIRST! because she loves watching movies, meeting people and interviewing them. In an interview with a KIDS FIRST! Film reporter she learned about KIDS FIRST! and thought it would be fantastic for her. In her spare time, she likes to go out with her friends, stay home watching her favorite TV series and composing songs for her anime music and TikTok channels. Her favorite actress is Lindsay Lohan who stars in Mean Girls and The Parent Trap, her two favorite movies. Her favorite singers are Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. Her favorite film critic is Brazilian, Heitor Augusto, because he is very professional and loves what he does. Anna aspires to be a singer, actress, reporter and voice actress when she grows up.

Hanadie B. K.

Hanadie B. K. (age 113 lives in Los Angeles, CA, is an actress, podcaster, author and aspiring motivational speaker. She joined KIDS FIRST to build a community with like-minded tweens and teens, to better understand how the entertainment industry works, and improve as a writer, media personality and speaker. She is building her brand as the Kid-preneur Coach, helping kids create their own businesses. She hopes to help hundreds of kids like herself start businesses, launch podcasts and become published authors. She is excited about how her acting career is blossoming and the success of her podcast and books. Her podcast is available on all streaming platforms and her books have sold over 15,000 copies. They are available at most online retailers, bookstore, and big box stores.  Hanadie is a foodie who prefers to watch movies versus TV series, plus she loves to swim, listen to music and cook.

Kendall B.

Kendall B. (Age 13) lives in Northern California. She joined KIDS FIRST! because she loves watching movies and loves talking about them! Her favorite films include Mean Girls and Murder Mystery;  her favorite shows are Friends and Stranger Things. Her favorite actors are Adam Sandler and Millie Bobby Brown. She enjoys listening to music and loves songs from the 2000s. She enjoys acting, singing and dancing, plays volleyball on her school team, and soccer competitively. Kendall has two dogs, five chickens, three cats and a rabbit named Panda. Her favorite books are currently the third book in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series, Always and Forever, Lara Jean (because she loves romantic comedy books) and The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid, because she is a feminist too. She hopes to become a famous singer/songwriter when she grows up, because she enjoys writing songs.

Arya Rae B.

Arya Rae B. (age 11) hails from Portland, OR. She joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critics because she loves watching movies and hopes to become an actor. She is on a competitive swim team and water polo team; loves to act, sing, dance, write film reviews and chase her goofy lab puppy, Vino, around the house. Her favorite film is The Swimmers, based on the true story of two teenage female refugees who swim a long distance alongside their escape boat. One of them eventually competes in the Olympics. She is most proud of having the courage to undergo a difficult, but curative, heart surgery, and now she can swim as fast as she wants without worrying about having an abnormal heart rhythm. Her favorite actor is Adam Sandler who she hopes to meet one day. As an actor she wants to touch lives of young people like some of her favorite actors have done for her. She is outgoing, funny, loves to entertain people, has an incredible memory, is really good at math, and loves to be organized!    

Adele B.

Adele B. (age 10) lives in upstate Ny, has been singing since she could talk and has performed with a local musical theater company for six years. Her most memorable performance was Disney's Descendents. She started dancing at three-years-old and joined the company / competition teams at her studio three years ago. Jazz, ballet, tap and hip/hop are her favorite styles. Adele's affection for makeup and fashion ignited a love for modeling and being in front of the camera. In her spare time, Adele spends time with her family and friends --swimming, boating, biking, playing basketball, and camping. She and her family love watching movies together. Her passion for the arts is evident and she keeps challenging herself creatively. She is excited to join KIDS FIRST! Film Critics to grow individually and immerse herself in the entertainment industry. She looks forward to sharing her love for stage and camera for many years to come. That determination fosters her favorite quote by Mark Twain, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  

Zoe C.

Zoe C. (age 16) lives in the greater Miami area of Florida.As an actor, she is known for Cootie Katie (2018). She has a dog and her friends call her Zozo. She loves films as well as playing, singing, auditioning, dancing, playing guitar and doing crafts. Her favorite films are The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Miracles from Heaven. Her favorite actors are Eddie Redmayne,  Millie Bobby and Emma Stone because she loves how they stand out in their films. She aspires to become an actress when she grows up. Her favorite film critics are Evangeline Lilly and Calista B. She joined our KIDS FIRST! Film Critic at age 9! Zoe's playlist is here.

Kyla C.

Kyla C. (age 134 lives near Boston and has a younger brother. She appreciates films of all different genres and often writes movie reviews for fun, so joining KIDS FIRST! was a natural next step to expand her writing and interviewing skills. Kyla also loves to sing and act, has been in 27 musical theater productions, and enjoys being on stage and on-camera. Reading is a favorite hobby. The Harry Potter, Hunger Games and Percy Jackson series are some of her favorites. Kyla’s favorite TV show is Stranger Things. She’s a big fan of the show and its actors and can’t wait for the fifth season. In addition, Kyla loves watching and singing along to Broadway musicals such as Hamilton and Wicked. She also plays soccer on club and travel teams. She enjoys making progress in her musical abilities, which includes participating in the middle school choir as well as taking piano and singing classes.

Ashleigh C.

Ashleigh C. (age 20) lives in DC and has two sisters - one a twin.  She loves that KIDS FIRST! offers her a voice for her opinions about entertainment. Her favorite film is Just Go With It because of its comedy, inspiring actors and clear message. Her favorite actor is Chris Evans, for his acting and his contribution to ending political discourse like a real-life Captain America. Danai Gurira is her favorite actress, for her portrayal of a strong African American female in The Walking Dead. Ashleigh became president of her high school speech and debate team after taking first place at the VA High School League Speech and Debate tournament. She is a co-researcher at George Mason University, studying Youth Participatory Action research and an advisor for Bridge USA’s High School Program for retooling civic/political discourse in today’s youth. She does cross country and teaches young girls about STEM through an all high school female-led non-profit organization named Posse Empowerment.

Miguel Angel C.

Miguel Angel C. (age 14) lives in Miami, Florida with his cat and his two older siblings. In his free time he loves being with his family, playing board games, watching  movies, making jokes and laughing together. He is socially active with his friends and likes going to the mall to catch up and have fun. Miguel aspires to be an actor and has acted since he was four years old. One of his favorite films is To All The Boys I Love because he loves comedic and romantic movies. His favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio and his performance in Titanic is outstanding. As a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic team member he looks forward to meeting movie industry people and learning more about what goes through an actor’s mind when creating a character. His greatest accomplishment is that three of the shows he has worked on are now on Netflix.  

Emma D.

Emma D. (age 17) lives in the D.C. area in Northern Virginia and has a younger sister, with whom she is very close.  Emma has dual citizenship and is fluent in both French and English. She wanted to join the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team due to her growing passion for film. She started watching movie reviews and movie analysis videos during quarantine and discovered a newfound passion for film. Her favorite movies include Lady Bird, Little Women, Clueless, Se7ven, Silence Of The Lambs, The Departed, The Little Mermaid and Gone With The Wind. Some of her favorite directors are Greta Gerwig and Martin Scorsese.  She aspires to become a film producer or film executive, if given the opportunity. She is most proud of her determination and ambition and her ability to work hard for what she wants to achieve.

 

Dominic D.

Dominic D. (age 13) lives in upstate New York with his parents and many pets.  Dominic's favorite things to do are helping his mom with the animal rescue organization their family is involved with and participating in Boy Scouts. Dominic loves animals and the natural world around him so these two hobbies suit him perfectly!  Dominic enjoys watching and analyzing movies. His favorite film is A Wrinkle in Time, because it is filled with exploration and scientific concepts that make you critically think. His favorite actor was Cameron Boyce who he watched on Disney shows while growing up. His greatest accomplishment is being an inventor. In fact, he appeared on The Tonight Show and Wonderama showcasing his invention “The Shortie No More 360” shoes, which gives short kids, like himself, four inches of extra height. He's a professional actor, a competitive dancer, model and singer.  He enjoys school and playing piano. Dominic is a good friend to others, has a HUGE heart and always put others first!

David E.

David E. (age 13) hails from the Atlanta area. He joined KIDS FIRST! for his love of the entertainment industry. In his free time he enjoys playing games, reading, playing volleyball and basketball, dancing, and watching TV. His favorite film is  Spider-Man No Way Home, because of the comedy, the cameos, the CGI, and the ACTION! His favorite actor is Jim Caviezel, especially his performance as Jesus in the Passion Of The Christ! His greatest accomplishment (so far) has been becoming saved and giving his life to Jesus. He also feels that my succeeding in the entertainment business will be something he will aspire to accomplish in the future.  He would like to be a terrific actor and have his own directing school. David has worked on the TV show, Houston (Season 1) and has modeling experience. He has many goals but helping pay it forward by helping other kids, especially those children that are less fortunate then himself, will always be something he will include.

Zoey F.

Zoey F. (age 13) lives in upstate New York and is an extremely hard working, charismatic girl who puts her heart into every opportunity. She loves watching movies, dancing, singing, reading, writing and acting. She has performed in the Peter Pan Musicalby Missoula Children’s theater and Back To the Eighties produced by her Middle School. She has studied classical ballet for eight years and has been a featured dancer inMelodies of Christmas (2023), the Proctors Annual Nutcracker (2022; 2023), and the Festival of Young Artists (2023). Zoey loves being on stage and recently took part in Proctors Broadway Camp Jr. where she worked on improving both her singing and acting. Among her favorite films is Avengers: Endgame because of its special effects, CGI, acting and great ending. She is quite fond of Helena Bonham Carter because of her versatility and incredible stage presence. Her favorite film critic is YouTuber, Alex Meyers, due to his strong opinions. In addition, Zoey speaks Russian fluently and aspires to be a singer, dancer and actress.  

SaniyaRain F.

SaniyaRain F. (age 15) lives in New Jersey. She loves movies and joined KIDS FIRST! in order to be more engaged in the entertainment industry. She loves meeting new people and talking with them. In her free time, she likes playing with dolls, roller skating, riding her bike, dancing and playing on computers. Her favorite film is The Grinch That Stole Christmas because she feels that Jim Carrey’s performance is so incredible and he finally gets a heart. You might guess that Jim Carrey is her favorite actor! She is most proud of having won trophies for dancing and cheer leading. But is most proud of being on the honor roll five times. She has been in four independent films and loves acting as well as making her own movies. She would also love to be an entertainment reporter, just like what she’ll be doing with KIDS FIRST! Film Critics.

 

Katie F.

Katie F. (age 14) lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and has a younger brother. She loves writing, watching films, going to the theatre, singing, dancing, acting and talking. She likes to make TikToks and write imaginary stories.  Her favorite film is Tick, Tick, Boom!, which is about famous theatre writer Jonathan Larson. Her greatest accomplishment (so far) was being on set in the Netflix original film Outlaw King. She learned so much from participating for 18 days. She has recently become a Musical Theatre Ambassador for Urdang College in London, UK. This academy is one of the UK’s first choices for further educational training in the performing arts conservatoire. In the future, you just might catch her as a performer on The West End and on Broadway, as she has set her sights on those. She absolutely loves all things musical! Some of her favourites being Hamilton, Six and Heathers.

Avalynn G.

Avalynn G. (age 11) lives in Houston, Tx. She has a little brother named Corbin and two cats named Mowgli and Bagheera. She wanted to join the KIDS FIRST! Film Critic team because she loves to write and watch movies and she recently was drawn to working on-camera. In her free time she likes to watch TV, draw, dance and play games with her friends and family. Her favorite film is The Descendants because she loves the hero and villain storyline. Madison Reyes is her favorite actress; she loves the TV show Julie and the Phantoms. The music in the series is so fun and Madison’s voice is amazing! She can’t wait to dig in and learn more about the art of film critique. Her greatest accomplishment so far is being nominated and elected as the Student Council President. When she grows up she would like to be an actor or a teacher.

 

Mikella G.

Mikella G. (age 17) hails from New York City. She loves acting, singing and dancing so she thought joining KIDS FIRST! would be a lot of fun and a great experience to get to interview people, and write reviews on films and TV shows. She also loves to bake, play guitar, practice makeup and travel. Her favorite film is Titanic, because of its interesting storyline, great acting, its romance aspect and the action-packed, tragic tear-jerker ending. Leighton Meester is her favorite actress. She plays the iconic Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl (one of her favorite shows) and other films. "The way she goes from playing Blair, someone with a huge personality, to other types of characters, shows what a truly is an amazing actor she is." Her greatest accomplishment was getting into a performing arts high school for musical theater. She aspires to become an actor and singer,and hopes to travel and see the world.

Kinsley H.

Kinsley H. (age 12) lives in Springfield, MO. She is an only child with a cat named Charlotte. She joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critics because she wants to be more involved in the entertainment industry through watching new films and interviewing talent. Her favorite actress is Millie Bobby Brown, because she plays characters that are strong role models. Kinsley enjoys musical versions of films such as 13: The Musical and Matilda the Musical. She spends a lot of time at her local community theater performing in these types of plays. Recently, she played HeeShe in Giants in the Sky: A New Children’s Musical, Ballet Girl in Freckleface Strawberry and Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island. She feels her biggest accomplishment was being cast as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, Jr., which was her first role at the big theater where she lives. She intends to pursue an acting career and perform on Broadway. Outside of being a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic and performing in theater, she spends her time ice skating.

Madeleine H. K.

Madeleine H.K. (age 11) lives in the San Diego area. She has a dog, a fish and lives with her two dads. She joined KIDS FIRST! because of her love of movies and sharing them with her friends, fans and movie lovers. She loves reading, math, drawing, socializing with friends and playing the piano. She is also training at tennis, synchronized swimming and ballet and has performed in four productions of The Nutcracker with two professional ballet companies. Her favorite movie is the live action/animated comedy film, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life because of its overactive, imaginative humor and sad, touching premise. Hilary Duff is among her favorite actors for her ability to feel the role of her characters and make them better. Her love of animals makes her want to be a veterinarian, and overcoming her fear of rollercoasters has been the most rewarding accomplishment.

Nathalia Marie J.

Nathalia Marie J. (age 15) lives in southern California and has a younger brother.  She has acted in South Central Love, Blue Laces and Burt and the Wall Children. She enjoys hiking, attending church, taking day trips, dancing and eating BBQ. She is an active volunteer and believes in the importance of giving back. Her favorite film is Miracles from Heaven, an American Christian comedy. Her favorite actress is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, who is a great role model, brilliant on screen and a strong, powerful and loving person. Nathalia is an excellent student and plans to attend UCLA majoring in cinematic arts. She also has an interest in fashion and has launched a clothing line called Naji. What she enjoys as a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic is meeting new people, voicing her opinions about films and being the best she can be. “I am ready to accomplish so much more and see what God has in store for me!” .

Alma K.

Alma K. (age 13) was born is Israel and moved to the U.S when she was four years old. She currently lives in Israel, has two younger brothers and is fluent in three languages - English, French and Hebrew. She wanted to become a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic because she thought it would be a good experience. She loves watching movies and writing. Put those together and this is a dream job! In her free time, she like reading, writing novels, playing Settlers of Catan with her family and, of course, watching movies! When she grows up, she wants to be an actress and an author. She is proud of the steps she has taken to accomplish her dream - lead roles in school plays, a supporting role in an off-Broadway show, and always, always writing. Another thing she is proud of - and this will sound nerdy – is her grades.

Ariel K.

Ariel K. (age 12) lives in Israel and New York City. He wanted to join KIDS FIRST! because it seems really fun to see movies and tell your opinion about them to people who actually want to hear what you have to say. He also thinks it can improve his writing and on-camera skills. When he’s alone he loves to draw or read and when he’s with friends or family he likes to play games or go on adventures outside. He still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up but he believes that he still has time to figure that out. He loves nature and animals and he is fluent in three languages - French, Hebrew and, of course, English. He is really looking forward to doing more film reviews.

Ruhi K.

Ruhi K. (age 15) lives in California. She loves being a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic where she gets to watch and review films and learn more about the entertainment industry. Ruhi loves putting her opinions toward productive use. She likes to act, sing, dance, model, play sports, travel, and volunteer with animals. Her favorite movies are Breakfast At Tiffany’s and A Loud House Christmas. She also loves The Pink Panther because it combines comedy and heist, and The Umbrella Academy and Grey’s Anatomy for the dramatic performances. Her favorite actress is Dakota Fanning, one of the most recognized child actresses of the century and the youngest person to win a SAG award. Her greatest achievements so far are her dance competition prizes and her acting credits. Ruhi plans to continue acting, modeling, dancing and critiquing films when she grows up.

Josephine Marie K.

Josephine Marie K. (age 12) lives in Fairbanks, Alaska. She is starting seventh grade in the fall. She lives with her mom, stepdad, and her 9-year-old brother, Walter. She has two cats named Tigger and Tesla. She plays soccer in the summer and fall, takes hip hop dance classes and plays the violin.  She enjoys writing and her favorite day of the week is Thursday. Her family is from Italy and she dreams of visiting the town her family is from. Her favorite things about living in Alaska are the wildlife and the unique climate. She loves seeing moose throughout the year and the northern lights in the winter. Practically everyone she knows has a dog and some people have dog teams. The Yukon Quest Dog Sled Race either begins or ends in Fairbanks each year, so she goes downtown to watch the dogs run. It is really an incredible sight! She is excited to join the KIDS FIRST! Film Critic team.  

Audrey L.

Audrey L. (age 9) lives in sunny Florida. She has a younger brother named Everett, a dog named Jack and a snake named Remy. She wanted to join the KIDS FIRST! Film Critic team because she loves having the opportunity to meet celebrities and review new films. She enjoys dancing, hanging out with friends and spending time with her family. Her favorite film is probably Zootopia because she likes the idea of having animals talk. Her favorite actress is Ariana Grande because she can do voices so well. Her greatest accomplishment so far is winning national champions at a lot of her dance competitions. When she grows up, she really wants to be a dancer.

Victoria L

Victoria L., (age 16) from Austin, TX, wanted to be a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic because she wants to gain experience in and with the media. She is Hispanic and bilingual, and she has a black lab and an older sister. Her two favorite actors are Florence Pugh and Melissa Barrera because they both have amazing emotional ranges. She loves how they can go from crying to happy and excited in a matter of seconds. Her favorite film is Just Mercy because she really likes the message behind the movie. She thinks the storytelling by Michael B. Jordan is amazing. Her favorite pastimes are crocheting, photography and spending time with her friends and family. She wants to be a biomedical engineer when she's older and she would like to go to Georgia Tech for college. Her greatest accomplishment in life is her academics. She was recognized by the district just last year.

Eshaan M.

Eshaan M. (age 17), lives in Houston, TX, loves watching movies and telling stories. KIDS FIRST! allows him to explore storytelling within the realm of movies. He likes providing a reliable retelling of his movie-watching experiences with audiences. Eshaan also loves musical theatre, playing videogames, spending time with family and friends, writing, exploring new cuisines, and traveling. Eshaan is a huge fan of the Bourne series and his favorite actor is Tom Cruise because of his bankable performances — Top Gun is a family favorite. Neal Justin of the Minneapolis Tribune is an entertainment critic he looks up to. Eshaan reported for Time for Kids magazine in 2019-2020; one of his highlights was covering the Democratic Debate in Houston where he enjoyed talking with then Senator Kamala Harris. Eshaan plans to explore a career in the humanities. He loves reading and writing and is tons of fun! Portfolio. Playlist.

Braedyn M.

Braedyn M. (age 15) lives between Bronson, MI and Irvine, CA. He has two siblings, a cat, two dogs, three parakeets and five chickens. He has always been drawn to the film business, so KIDS FIRST! Film Critics is right up his alley. When he learned he would write and talk about films, and just immersed in a film environment, it sounded incredible, and now - here he is! He enjoys reading, playing piano, acting and has a lot of experience in all theatre – both onstage and behind the curtain. He was Assistant Director in his class at Gary Spatz's The Playground Costa Mesa. Among his favorite actors is Chris Pratt because he seems upbeat, and generally funny. He loves working on and creating his own franchise of characters, music, and storylines. He is most proud of auditioning for a play and getting cast! He plans to pursue acting as an adult.

Avani M.

Avani M. (age 12) lives in northern CA with her parents, older brother and Goldendoodle, River. She joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critics so she could watch movies without her parents saying “no” and be in a network of kids helping other kids. She enjoys playing with River and loves playing basketball, soccer and camping with her Scout troop. She takes acting and singing classes and loves musical theatre, recently being in Seussical and Singin' in the Rain. She loves the Harry Potter film series because of the magic and wizardry. Her favorite actress is Emma Watson because she started as a child actor in the Harry Potter series, is a women’s rights activist and is amazingly smart. Avani balances extracurricular activities such as sports, music, acting and KIDS FIRST! while getting good grades in school. She loves all things Disney and aspires to be an actor, while also working with animals.

Neo M.

Neo M. (Age 14) lives in MD, has two rescued furry siblings and loves music and films. She studies piano at Peabody and plays both classical and electric guitar. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new places, acting, writing, sailing and watching movies! She joined KIDS FIRST! because she is passionate about writing, loves voicing her own opinions, and wants to keep learning and be inspired by films and artists. Her favorite actors are Ryan Gosling, Jenna Ortega, Ryan Reynolds, Sydney Sweeny, Emma Stone and Anya Taylor-Joy. Neo's favorite movie is The Notebook, but also loves horror, suspense and musicals. Her recent favorite musical is La La Land. Getting on the Peabody stage to perform on a Steinway concert grand piano twice a year is one of her greatest accomplishments. She is proud of receiving a piano scholarship and Achievement Award from Peabody-Johns Hopkins and of joining The APEX Arts High School Program at her new high school. Neo aspires to be an actress and a writer when she grows up.

Ryan M.

Ryan M. (age 10) lives in Montreal, Ontario (Canada). Ryan joined KIDS FIRST because he wants to be an actor and  would like to learn how to interview actors and directors. He loves movies and talking about movies. In his free time he likes dancing, playing games, watching movies, and discussing movies. His favorite film is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, because there is action, humor and it is filmed at a popular location. His favorite actor is Ryan Reynolds because he is both an actor and an entrepreneur; he does a lot of comedy and I love watching his films. His biggest accomplishment is so far is his first commercial, because it was a great experience. He aspires to become a famous actor when he grows up, because he likes acting and theater and all the stage craft. He also enjoys writing plays and scripts, swimming, playing piano, playing with his rabbit and doing improvisation.

Avalon N.

Avalon N. (age 16) lives in Iowa and loves reviewing movies and interviewing actors, producers, directors and others through KIDS FIRST! She is passionate about theater and film and plans to continue her vocal and acting career in college. She also loves dance, swim team, snowboarding, parkour and Tae Kwon Doe. Some of her favorite musicals are Mean Girls, Heathers and Six. One of her favorite musical movies is Oliver because of how it usesthe background and primary music to help the actors move around the space. Some of her favorite actresses are Katie Douglas, Samantha Pauly and Reneé Rapp. Her greatest accomplishment so far is working on and acting in over 14 community theater productions with four different companies. She aspires to pursue a career of performing arts after high school with primary focus on musical theater in both stage and film musicals. She hopes KIDS FIRST! will help her gain some skills necessary for this as well as exposure and insight into the industry.

Jackson Logan Honukoa N.

Jackson Logan Honukoa N. (age 11) is a hot pink-haired mix of many cultures and values - Hawaiian, British, San Franciscan, New Mexican, and more. Having traveled to four continents, he loves learning about new cultures and perspectives. His favorite place is Tokyo, Japan because it is such an interesting city and feels like you’re in a movie when you are there. He is a swimmer, plays the guitar and ukulele, loves to read, write, and draw. He has designed many comic books which he hopes to release or make into movies someday. He is a film fanatic and intends to study film and make movies. His favorite movie is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse because its animation is so completely new in its style – like nothing before, with vibrant and saturated colors. It has a great storyline, with lots of different characters whose stories intersect and branch off. He is inspired by the Star Wars and Marvel franchises and he dreams of building his own cinematic universe one day. Watching movies transports him to another time and place and he loves sharing that magic with the world as a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

Giana N.

Giana N. (age 12) lives in Philadelphia. She has two sisters, including one twin. She loves watching and commenting on films so joining KIDS FIRST! is a great opportunity to do both. She enjoying dancing, singing and cooking.  Camp Rock 2 is one of her favorite films because she loves Disney movies and loves musicals even more.  Her favorite actor is Grant Gustin, known mostly for his performance in The Flash, but he has been in many more films. He is a great actor because he makes his characters believable. Her favorite actress is Candace Cameron Bure. Since first grade, she has had the opportunity to take accelerated classes in school and that makes her very proud. When she grows grow up, she wants to be a successful actress. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite food is baked macaroni and cheese.

Maica N.

Maica N. (age 17) lives in New Jersey. She loves being on camera and performing because she grew up a dancer. She also loves critiquing films and TV shows and pointing out little things that people may not notice at first glance. KIDS FIRST! offers her an opportunity to write film reviews, watch new movies and shows, interview stars, and get herself out there. She likes to dance, sing, write songs, learn ASL, watch football, and play lacrosse. Her favorite film is The Game Plan, because it combines two of her favorite things, dance and football, and the character development is exciting.  Her favorite shows are Arrow and Switched At Birth. She is proud of being in the top 10 of the class of 2025 in school, and winning the solo dancer award at the 2024 South Jersey Cappies!

Calee N.

Calee N. (age 13) lives in New York City and has one brother and two dogs. She enjoys being a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic because she loves getting to watch films before anyone else, interviewing celebrities and loves being on camera. She enjoys acting, playing sports, dancing, singing and spending time on the beach with her dogs. Her favorite film is Ghostbusters because “it makes me laugh and scares me just a bit.” Her favorite actor is Melissa McCarthy, who she became a fan of after watching Ghostbusters. She also loved her in the KIA commercial. One of her greatest accomplishments is getting the top score on the NYS Math Test for her school district and grade. She is proud of being cast as Gloria in the play Madagascar Jr., hopes to star on Broadway one day and would love to work for NASA. Her favorite subject is math!

Emma O.

Emma O. (age 12) is from Chicago, IL. She is an only child and has a soft coated Wheaten Terrier named Gertie. She loves everything in the entertainment business – acting, directing and writing. She proclaimed a life in theatre and film after viewing a musical production of The Little Mermaid. She loves arts and crafts, swimming, hanging out with friends and Roblox. Her favorite film is Spirited because it’s fun and a musical! She admires Ryan Reynolds’s performance in Spirited because he is sarcastic and funny, plus his singing is terrific. She has been involved in musical theater and vocal performances and was cast in her first film, Without a Name two years ago. It releases on Tubi in the fall of 2024. Emma is excited to join KIDS FIRST! Film Critics and expand her writing skills for her school newspaper. She enjoys popcorn and Airhead Extremes when at the movies, loves Asian food – sushi, ramen, potstickers and egg rolls. She plans to be an actress as an adult.

Tia O.

Tia O. (age 15) lives in Dallas, TX. She enjoys watching critics analyze movies and has always wondered why some people enjoy movies that others dislike so much. That, combined with a desire to become a talk show host motivated her to join KIDS FIRST!. She has a wide interest in life including modeling, acting, studying human anatomy, making art, and collecting vinyl records. Her favorite movie is the original Mean Girls (2004) because she loves the actors, the sets, the costumes, and the humor. Austin Butler is one of her favorite actors. His performance as Elvis (2022) caught her attention and she has been a fan ever since! Her greatest accomplishment (so far) was modeling during Milan Fashion Week in February, 2024. She hopes to become a medical examiner because she enjoys human anatomy and biology. She is excited to be a part of the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics.

Kira O.

Kira O. (age 11) lives in New York City. She loves wolves and has a 1 ½-year-old puppy named Orion. In her free time she likes to play Roblox with her friends, Tekken with her Dad and go to the beach. She also likes to draw, read, watch YouTube and dance. She loves opera goes to summer opera camp. Some of her favorite actresses are Margot Robbie, Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp; she likes that they all play strong, but quirky women. Her favorite movie is Turning Red, because it's about growing up and how your life changes during puberty. She looks forward to being a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic so she can learn more about the entertainment industry. One of her proudest accomplishments is being responsible enough to help care for her baby god-sister. An interesting fact about her is her heritage, which is a mix of Puerto Rican, Native American, African American, Italian, French-Canadian and Irish.

Carter P.

Carter P. is a 13-year-old from the LA area.  This is his second year as a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.  He loves watching movies with his family and sharing his honest reviews with friends at school.  He has attended several movie premieres, events and interviews celebrities.  He has had the honor of meeting and talking with Chris Pratt, Zachary Levi, Zoey Deschanel, the Descendants The Rise of Red cast, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasanski, and more.  He loves drawing and learning about animation and hopes to be an animator when he grows up.  His favorite actor is Chris Pratt and his favorite movie is The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Kennedy P.

Kennedy P. is a 10-year-old from the LA area.  This is her second year as a KIDS FIRST!  Film Critic.  She loves watching movies and sharing her honest reviews with friends and family.  She has attended several movie premieres, events and interviews celebrities.  She has had the honor of meeting and talking with the Disney Zombies 4 cast, Descendants The Rise Of Red cast, Chris Pratt, Zachary Levi, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasanski, Kensington Tallman, Brie Larson and more.  She hopes to still be screening movies, attending premieres and interviewing celebrities when she grows up.  Her favorite actress is Brie Larson and her favorite movie is The Parent Trap.

Ariadna P.

Ariadna P. (ages 13) lives in the DC area and is a student at a Performing and Visual Arts program. She was drawn to join KIDS FIRST! Film Critics because she wanted to express her feelings about different films.  She loves spending time with family and friends and loves to read, sing, watch TV and play piano. Her favorite musical is Shrek: The Musical, because of its funny songs and energetic actors. Emma Watson is her favorite actor, because she seems so kind and magical. Her favorite film critic is KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Heather S., because she is so mature and friendly in all her videos. Her greatest accomplishments are having her poems published in a book of poems in 6th grade and receiving the Anne Arundel County Executive Citation for Volunteering and Leadership . She aspires to be a kindergarten teacher or teach social studies or foreign languages. She writes murder mysteries and loves wearing Guatemalan headbands and chokers.

Junior R.

Junior R. (age 10) lives in Dallas, TX, has three older sisters, a dog named Zara and two cats. He joined the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team because it will let him explore his passion for movies and share his thoughts with other young movie fans. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading, singing, acting, building LEGOs, and producing his own stop motion films. His favorite film is The Lion King because of its iconic storyline, fun-loving characters, fantastic music, and epic themes of strength and friendship.  His favorite actor is Ryan Reynolds for his genuine, realistic characterizations. Roger Ebert is his favorite film critic because of his honesty and thoughtful insight. He is proud of having his stop-motion films compete at the state level for the last five years, which has enhanced his confidence to pursue his dreams in acting and film.  He aspires to be an actor or music artist or author. He has one published book so far!

Mars R.

Mars R. (age 14) lives in the NYC area and has three younger siblings and a golden retriever named Daphne. She has been a reporter since she was four years old and loves interviewing people. She also loves dancing, going to theme parks and making music videos on TikTok. She’s a huge fan of the Descendants movies, because she loves the mix of songs and dancing. Kristen Bell, who she has interviewed, is her favorite actor. Her greatest accomplishments are when Huffington Post (2016) called her One of the Best Celebrity Interviewers! and when Netflix selected her as Official Junior Reporter for the Miraculous Ladybug series and few her to London and New York to cover fan conventions and events. She plans to continue her entertainment reporting and wants to study oceanography.

Connor S.

Connor S. (age 11) wanted to join the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team because he listens to the KIDS FIRST! podcast and thought it would be fun to join our team. He loves movies -- watching classic 80s flicks is one of his favorite things to do. In his free time he likes to craft, read and listen to music. His favorite film currently is Dune: Part 1 because it is based on a book he loves, and the special effects are amazing. His favorite actor is Taika Waititi when he plays Korg in the Marvel movies. “He is a hilarious actor. I love that character and the movies he has directed, too.” He has started two of his own businesses -- a dog walking business and making customized wallets. His parents say he’s a killer baker. As an adult, he wants to make films and start his own businesses. He has a younger sister and a poodle named Cookie! He is  currently the holder of the sacred word, “Ni!”

Daniel S.

Daniel S. (age 16) joined the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team to express his love of film and share his opinions and ideas regarding them. He saw this as an opportunity to, not only enjoy himself doing what he loves, but improve his writing, speaking and film analysis skills. His main passions are watching movies and creative writing. He finds the lessons and ideas he takes from these activities incredibly rewarding. His current favorite film is Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery as it contains some of the most intelligent writing and an immensely unique and intricate plot. His favorite actor is Christian Bale, whose range is unmatched. His greatest accomplishment is pinpointing his passion and exploring it daily. He aspires to be a screenwriter and director as an adult. He is filled with joy and excitement when he imagines the ideas he can communicate through the film medium.

Katherine S.

Katherine S. (age 16) is from both Chicago, IL and Kansas City, MO. She has three brothers and nine dogs. She loves reading books, hanging out with friends, and playing volleyball. She loves all genres of movies, but she definitely enjoys sci-fi, comedy, mystery, and period pieces the most. Her favorite movies and TV shows are Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy, Erased, Princess Bride, along with basically any Marvel and Star Wars movies. She joined KIDS FIRST! to improve her communication and writing skills, be exposed the the world of film, and of course, watch a lot movies.

 

Ari S.

Ari S. (age 12) lives in Los Angeles, CA. She has 12 siblings - 5 sisters and 7 brothers. She comes from the Pacific island Samoa, and dances traditionally for many events with her sisters. She joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critics to expand her vocabulary and boost her confidence. She likes to read, play sports, and draw in her free time. Her favorite film is She’s the Man, because of its storyline, the actors, and it is entertaining. One of her favorite actresses is Anne Hathaway because she easily plays any role she gets. She is proud of completing her first interview with some big screen actors. She plays basketball, volleyball, rugby and flag football and aspires to be known as a successful athlete. Her siblings are all very athletic, especially the girls who are way better than the boys.

Gavin S.

Gavin S. (age 12) lives in Los Angeles and has 12 siblings and a pet turtle. He wanted to join the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team due to his love of films and the people engaged in them. He looks forward to meeting cool people like his favorite actor, Ryan Reynolds, who he respects for his great acting and how adept he is at making funny jokes. During his free time, he likes to read, watch movies (especially comedy, horror and action movies) and play sports, especially basketball and football. His favorite film is Casper The Friendly Ghost. Gavin is most proud of earning good grades in school, making friends and trying to make people’s day great or better than it already is. When he grows up, he wants to become an author, due to his love for books. Plus, he wants to go to Yale Law School, so that if writing doesn’t work out, he can become a lawyer.

Tiana Sheree S.

Tiana Sheree S. (age 13) hails from Delaware. She enjoys interviewing and meeting new people, attending press junkets, and is a natural on the red carpet. Tiana loves to travel, cook, read, write stories and watch movies. Inspired by Lin Manuel-Miranda, Tiana is currently working on a musical. Her favorite film is Encanto, so she also looks forward to interviewing Manuel-Miranda one day. Tiana was previously a TIME for Kids reporter and is a member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. She is also a reporter with the Jr. NBA & WNBA. Tiana has been an entertainment journalist for The Kelly Clarkson Show and even interned with Access Hollywood and Thrive Global with Arianna Huffington. One of her dream assignments was covering Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, which she recently did, thanks to KIDS FIRST!! Tiana is a Distinguished Honor Roll student, a member of her school’s Student Council Student Culture Team, and an advocate for climate change and human and civil rights. Tiana plans to study journalism at an HBCU and eventually host her own national television show. 

Sydney S.

Sydney S. (age 13) lives in San Diego, CA. She enjoys public speaking, being on camera and the performing arts. She felt that becoming a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic offered an opportunity to enhance her talents and give her a voice to share her ideas with the world. She is a lyrical and hip hop dancer, loves reading, acting, learning new things, and performing. Her favorite actress is Millie Bobby Brown, who appears in her favorite show, Stranger Things. Sydney is proud of taking third place in the district speech contest of 50 schools, while in fifth grade. She is currently a manager and notebook managing director on her junior high robotics team. Sydney would like to be a pharmaceutical scientist or do something in healthcare and sciences, while continuing to work in activism, especially in issues of equality and climate change.

Carlee S.

Carlee S. (age 18) lives in the DC area. She enjoys being a KIDS FIRST! reporter because she loves watching movies and TV shows and loves learning more about the entertainment industry. She also likes to act, dance, read, shop and learn more about graphic imaging and animation. She has acted in short films, commercials and done extra work in several feature films and TV shows. She is an honor student and member of her school’s Technology Student Association. Carlee’s favorite movies are the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies because she enjoys spellbinding magical mysteries.  Her favorite TV shows are Stranger Things, Secrets of Sulphur Springs and Locke and Key because they hold her interest in supernatural storylines and cliffhangers. Selena Gomez, Zendaya and Emma Watson are actresses Carlee admires. Carlee aspires to work in the entertainment industry in the future.

Rayce S.

Rayce S. (age 15) lives in the Bay Area of CA. He has two siblings and four pets. He joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critic because he always liked reviewing films and thought it'd be really cool to write and record his own reviews and have people read and watch them. During his free time he plays sports including basketball, volleyball and track and field. He also enjoys reading, acting and playing video games with his friends.  His favorite film is The Dark Knight because he likes actor Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan is one of his favorite directors. He can watch that movie dozens of times. His favorite actor is Heath Ledger. He is the reason Rayce got into acting after seeing his performance as Joker. He also loved him in 10 Things I Hate About You. His greatest accomplishment is getting second place in a three-mile run, because he worked hard for it. He ran a mile every day and his brother got first place, so it was a win for both. You should know that Rayce is he is a hard worker and doesn't give up.

Jaycee S.

Jaycee S. (age 11) lives in Denver, CO and has two brothers and three dogs. She joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critics because she has a passion for movies and theater. In her free time she likes to hang out with friends and go to the mall or to a movie. She loves acting and playing volleyball with her dad.  A favorite film is Parent Trap, starring Lindsay Lohan. SheI loves the storyline - twins that meet at camp and switch places to meet the parnt they never knew. Her favorite actor is Adam Sandler because he is very funny and charismatic and his films are amazing. Her proudest accomplishment so far is getting accepted into the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team and the John Casablancas acting/model agency. When she grows up she aspire to be an actor making films that bring people joy. She has lived in Colorado her entire life and loves the changing seasons and gorgeous mountains. 

Sofia T.

Sofia T. (age 13) lives in Houston, TX with her parents and younger brother. She loves theater and is in varsity theater at her school. She performed in the musical adaptation of Annie last year and this year is cast as Mowgli in the production of Jungle Book.  She is an avid reader – she loves the Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Divergent series. She is proud of her second degree black belt in Taekwondo. She loves playing volleyball, talking to friends, and playing the guitar. Sofia also has a love for art and design and is a designer for her family’s Etsy store. She loves watching and reviewing movies; her favorite movie is Zootopia -- she loves the strong female character, Judy. She aspires to be a physician or an actress when she grows up. Sofia loves being KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team member..

Clara T. B.

Clara T. B. (age 10), lives in Houston, TX, speaks Spanish, and has three siblings. What drew her to the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics team was the opportunity to step up her speaking and writing skills. She enjoys public speaking, being in front of a camera, and meeting new people. She enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies with her family, taking walks with her mom and dog, plus skating, which she does professionally.  Her favorite film is “You Are So Not Invited To My Bar Mitzvah” because it is funny and she really likes the characters. She loves Adam Sandler, who plays the father in this film. Her greatest accomplishment is everything she has achieved as an actor and, even though she just started she plans to keep growing! Her biggest dream is to become a model when she brows up.

Keila Belini V.

Keila Belini V. (age 11) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and recently moved with her parents to San Diego. She travels frequently to Brazil, because her mom is Brazilian. She speaks fluent English and Portuguese. Her favorite hobbies are using her imagination, reading books and playing with her American Girl. Her favorite hobbies are studying ballet and traveling the world. Because of that interest, she is three languages - Mandarin, Italian and Spanish She likes playing sports, especially tennis, golf and swimming. She loves using her imagination and reading books. Her biggest dream is to become an actress working for Disney and she think working as a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic will help her to achieve that dream.

Isabella V.

Isabella V. (age 13) has always wanted to get into the entertainment industry, and when she had the opportunity to join KIDS FIRST! she was immediately on board. She does theater and takes vocal lessons, is a long distance runner in cross-country and track, and sings in both her school and city chorus. Her favorite film is Tangled – she adores all the songs, especially the villain one. She loves the animation, especially the lanterns. Her favorite actress is Kathryn Hahn, because of her amazing range when it comes to portraying characters and having great comedic timing. She is proud of having gotten a perfect score on her state’s standardized test for math. She would love to be involved in the entertainment industry in some way when she grows up. She has performed in many local musicals, most recently playing Paulette in Legally Blonde Jr, and she just performe in an independent film.

Selene W.

Selene W. (age 15) lives in the greater Miami area, has one sister and two furbabies. She joined KIDS FIRST! Film Critics because she loves film and theater and enjoys interviewing people. She believes this experience provides her with opportunities to learn more about the entertainment industry and meet new people. Selene plays basketball and tennis and does all styles of dance.  In her spare time, she loves to read, listen to music and plays both piano and guitar.  Her favorite film is Pride and Prejudice and she enjoys reading Jane Austen novels.  She loves to compare her favorite books to their film adaptations.  Selene aspires to use her creative talents and work in the entertainment industry.