2009 KIDS FIRST! Best Nominees

Winners of KIDS FIRST! Best Awards 2006

Best of the Fest
Peep and the Big Wide World (the series), Discovery Kids/WGBH—Based on characters created by Academy Award nominated animator Kai Pindal (Karate Kids), PEEP combines animation and short live-action interstitials to nurture preschoolers’ curiosity about the natural world.  Episodes include: Peep Plants a Seed; The Root Problem; Wanderin’ Beaver; Peep’s New Friend.

Little Manhattan, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment—A feel-good comedy for all ages.  Life as a kid in modern-day New York has enough challenges, but sometimes it seems nearly impossible!  Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) and Rosemary (newcomer Charlie Ray) have known each other nearly all their lives, but when they come face to face in a karate class, they see each other in a whole new light.

Akeelah and the Bee, Lionsgate Family Entertainment—The inspirational story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), an eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words.  Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood.  Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and, in turn, unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Binta y La Gran Idea, Peliculas Pendelton—Binta, a seven-year-old girl, lives in a small, charming village on the Casamance River in Southern Senegal.  Binta goes to school, but her cousin Soda does not have the same good fortune, as she is not allowed to learn about the world.  Binta admires her father, a humble fisherman who, concerned about the development of mankind, is determined to carry out an idea that has occurred to him.

Going to School in India, Going to School Fund—These four shorts tell the inspirational, heartwarming story of going to school in India through the eyes of four separate groups of children who go to school in a mud desert; attend classes only at night; attend school in a wheelchair; and hike to school up a mountain.

Best Indie Short for ages 2-5—Ribert & Robert, Ribert and Robert, LLC

Best Series for ages 2-5—Peep and the Big Wide World, Discovery Kids/WGBH

Best Feature for ages 2-5—Arthur’s Missing Pal, Lionsgate Family Entertainment

Best Series for ages 5-8—Maya & Miguel, Lionsgate Family Entertainment

Best Documentary for ages 5-8—Axtelevision: Come Outta That Shell, Axtell Entertainment

Best Feature for ages 5-8—Little Manhattan, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Best Short for ages 5-12, under 10 minutes—A Stormy Night, Nathan Sterner

Best Short for ages 5-12, over 10 minutes—Roberto the Insect Architect, Weston Woods/Scholastic

Best Short for ages 8-12—Moongirl, Laika Entertainment

Best International Short for ages 8-12—Going to School in India, Going to School Fund

Best Documentary for ages 8-12—Wall Rats, Yegg Central Productions

Best Feature for ages 8-12—Akeelah and the Bee, Lionsgate Family Entertainment

Best Independent Feature for ages 8-12—No More Baths, Feature Films for Families

Best Series for ages 8-12—Zoey 101, Paramount Home Entertainment/Nickelodeon

Best Documentary for ages 12-18—Paper Clips, Hart Sharp Video

Best Feature for ages 12-18—Mother Teresa, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Best Short for ages 12-18—Binta Y La Gran Idea, Peliculas Pendelton

Best Elementary Student Production—Toys: The Homemaker’s Tale, Peter Gundling

Best College Student Production—Past Whispers, Brett Rutland

Best High School Production—Unboxed: Power of the World, Rosie O’shea and Brooke Noel

Best Emerging Female Artist—Keke Palmer, Akeelah and the Bee, Lionsgate Family Entertainment

Outstanding Performance—Mary Matilyn Mouser, Me, Eloise, Anchor Bay Entertainment