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Exploring the latest in digital media, TVOKids celebrates a love of new technology, creativity and film at the TIFF Kids digiPlaySpace™ (March 9 – April 21) and TIFF Kids International Film Festival™ (April 9 – 21). Kids can play TVOKids’ newest fun and educational children’s apps in the digiPlaySpace. The learning continues with the premiere of episodes from favourite TVOKids series Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures and Wild Kratts at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival. In collaboration with the TIFF Kids Jump Cuts program, TVOKids inspires young filmmakers to hone their craft with the TVOKids Choice Award.

Exploring new technology in the digiPlaySpace, kids can sample three TVOKids educational apps designed to strengthen their math, science and literacy skills. Geared towards kids ages 2-5, Explore the Night prompts kids to explore the world at night, helping them understand the natural environment and the creatures around them. In Wanda Wonder Words, Wanda challenges kids to expand their vocabulary using synonyms. For kids ages 6-11, Hop, Frog, Hop challenges players to help improve their working memory – a brain function essential to learning across all subjects, and in particular math.

Bringing two favourite TVOKids series to the big screen, TVOKids presents the world premiere of Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures and Wild Kratts episodes at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival. On Saturday April 13, TVOKids debuts an episode of Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures at 12:30 pm. The Dinobusters use their problem-solving skills to uncover clues surrounding a castle haunted by dinosaurs. Following the screening, Kara Harun host of TVOKids’ The Space leads Trek and producer J.J. Johnson in a Q&A session. TVOKids also premieres “Rattlesnake Crystal,” an episode from science and technology series Wilds Kratts on Sunday April 14 at 10:30 am. The Wild Kratts have crash-landed in the Sonoran Desert and encounter some very strange creatures while searching for a rare metal to repair their ship. There will be an additional screening on Sunday April 21 at 11:15 am.

Inspiring young minds with a love of film and creativity, TVOKids kicks off the TVOKids Choice Award on April 1 in collaboration with TIFF Kids. Created as a platform for aspiring young filmmakers, the TVOKids Choice Award features three short films from the Grades 4 to 6 category of the TIFF Kids’ Jump Cut program. The three films must reflect TVOKids values, which include a clear and age-appropriate learning outcome and showcase a safe and healthy environment. Leading up to the contest, the filmmakers will appear in TVOKids’ afternoon programming block The Space to talk about their films. Kids can vote for their favourite film on tvokids.com from April 1 – 19. The winning film will be announced by Lisa de Wilde, Chief Executive Officer of TVO at the TIFF Kids Award Ceremony at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on Sunday April 21 at 3:15 pm.

Please check online for more information on screenings and activities, or to obtain tickets, please call 416-599-TIFF (8433) or 1-888-599-TIFF, or visit the box office at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

“TVOKids is pleased to collaborate with TIFF Kids to bring digital literacy, imagination, and a love of children’s film and television to Ontarians,” says Pat Ellingson, TVO’s Creative Head of Children & Parent’s Media. “TVOKids supports children’s learning across multiple platforms, making learning more accessible as technology evolves and plays a larger role in our lives and how we learn. It’s important that kids have the tools they need to be successful in the future – a combination of traditional skills like math, science, and literacy, as well as understanding of the digital world.”

“Once again we’re excited to have TVOKids participating in this year’s TIFF Kids International Film Festival and digiPlaySpace,” says Elizabeth Muskala, Director, TIFF Kids. “TVOKids is a valuable partner to TIFF Kids and I know that children and their families are going to enjoy all the various TVOKids activities taking place here at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.”