Film News

KidFilm Festival in Dallas will screen first-ever Looney Tunes feature

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will headline the 41st annual KidFilm Family Festival.

Ketchup Entertainment

A kid-themed film festival is coming to Dallas: Called The 41st Annual KidFilm Family Festival, it will take place January 18-19 at the Angelika Film Center Dallas, featuring 12 programs with feature films, short films, and author appearances.

KidFilm is a spinoff of the USA Film Festival, the Dallas-based, 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in film and video arts.

The highlight of KidFilm is a screening of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, the first fully-animated feature-length film in Looney Tunes history.

The buddy comedy, scheduled for release on February 28, stars the comedic duo of Porky Pig and Daffy Duck and features hand-drawn 2D animation.

Other highlights include an appearance by author Aaron Reynolds, who's written books like Creepy Carrots!, Creepy Pair of Underwear!, Creepy Crayon!, The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter, and more.

The program will include a screening of the short film version of Creepy Carrots!, followed by a reading of Creepy Crayon!. Free copies of Creepy Crayon! will be distributed to families at the show (while supplies last), and Reynolds will sign books for the kids.

Other feature-length films will include:

Pedro Solís García & Juan Jesús García Galocha's Buffalo Kids (Spain), a hilarious yet heartwarming film filled with devious villains, unexpected heroes and unimaginable adventures.
Richard Claus & Karsten Kiilerich's Panda Bear in Africa (Netherlands/Germany/Denmark/ France), an exciting, adventurous, fish-out-of-water comedy.
Kristina Dufková's Living Large (Czech Republic/Slovakia/France), a charming coming-of-age stop motion film that follows a witty, overweight 12-year-old boy.
Mike Johnson's A Tooth Fairy Tale (USA), a magical tale with a star-studded voice cast that includes Fran Drescher, Jon Lovitz, Boo Boo Stewart, Vivica A. Fox, and Larkin Bell.
Eric Power's Brambletown (USA), a musical film featuring songs from popular children's musicians The Okee Dokee Brothers that explores connections with each other and nature.
Winfried Oelsner's Max and the Senior Squad (Germany), a film about teamwork and finding friendship in the unlikeliest places.
Rodrigo Zanforlin's fantastical Galactic Cat and the Spell of Time (Brazil).

There will also be three short film programs featuring 26 animated and live-action short films from around the world, including two Texas-made films.

National Popcorn Day takes place on Sunday, January 19, and KidFilm will celebrate the occasion by offering 50 percent off popcorn orders at the Angelika that day.

All programs will be presented free, but tickets are required. Tickets for all shows are available at the theater on the day of show only, beginning one hour before each showtime. (Note: Lines can form earlier.)

The full schedule of KidFilm programs may be viewed online at usafilmfestival.com. For additional information, call 214-821-3456.

KidFilm is just one of year-round programs of the USA Film Festival, now in its 55th year, and coming to Dallas in April with lineup and details still to be announced. The USA Film Festival is supported by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Turn Cancer Upside Down

Figure skating legend Scott Hamilton brings holiday ice show to DFW

Scott Hamilton & Friends Benefiting The Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation

Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Scott Hamilton will emcee the ice show.

Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater known for his signature backflip, is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth for a holiday ice show and "Frozen 5K" fundraising mega-event.

The fundraiser portion ties into Hamilton's public battle with testicular cancer in the 1990s, which led him to found the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation in 2014. The nonprofit's mission is to fund innovative, patient-centered, targeted treatments that fight cancer while preserving quality of life.

One of its fundraising events is the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer ice shows, which bring Hamilton and other world-class athletes to rinks around the country.

NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills is hosting a holiday version on Saturday, December 20 at 7 pm, where Hamilton will emcee and Olympians Mariah Bell, Ashley Cain, and Polina Edmunds will perform.

Tickets range from $32.75 to $79, with proceeds benefiting UT Southwestern Medical Center in addition to the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation.

Mariah Bell, figure skating, Olympian Figure skater Mariah Bell. Getty Images

"This isn’t just an ice show - it’s a celebration of hope, resilience, and community," the city of North Richland Hills says in a Facebook post. "Expect breathtaking performances, holiday cheer, and the chance to see world-class athletes light up the ice, all while supporting a cause that will touch so many."

If you'd like to get out on the ice yourself, you can register for the Frozen 5K on December 21 and skate 35 laps to honor and remember those impacted by cancer. The $35 registration fee includes a T-shirt, or you can donate extra to receive other Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer swag.

DFW-only fundraising incentives include an autographed program ($500), a VIP meet-and-greet plus autographed program ($1,000), or the chance to perform at the holiday ice show (top fundraisers only — see more info here). Better start stretching.

It's the perfect time for Hamilton to bring his ice show to North Texas. Ice rinks are a huge holiday trend for 2025, with kids of all ages gliding and spinning on special pop-up rinks from Grapevine to Garland to the all-new CultureMap City Rink in downtown Dallas.

scott hamilton cancer research fundraising olympians mariah bell ashley cain polina edmunds scott hamilton cares foundation ska8 to elimin8 cancer frozen 5k ice skating city rink