Tapping into the ever-burgeoning kiddy film market, Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children returns for its third year, April 8-16 at the Cineplex Odeon Cinemas and the Royal Ontario Museum Theatre.

Highlights of the festival include the Family Weekend film series, four screening programs – Feature Films, Special Presentations, Through My Eyes (films for ages seven and up which see the world through their eyes) and Reel Rascals (for ages four to six) – consisting of 14 features and 22 shorts in eight languages from 14 countries.

Also featured in the Family Weekend are five workshops in which kids can learn the tricks of the trade, from acting to cartoon drawing.

The world premiere special presentation is Virtual Mom from Canadian director Laurie Lynd. Other special presentations include Amy by Nadia Tass, Only Clouds Move the Stars by Norwegian director Torun Lian and Wide Awake by M. Night Shyamalan.

Among the 13 animated and nine live-action short films traversed from six countries, Canada and Japan are most represented with six films each. Topping the list are Torill Kove’s Oscar-nominated My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts, a Canada/Norway coprod; Oscar-winning animator Co Hoedeman’s Ludovic – A Crocodile in My Garden and Ludovic – The Snow Gift; and Pierre M. Trudeau’s Cuckoo, Mr. Edgar!.

A selection of shorts by Japanese animator Koji Yamamura will also be featured.

Awards include the Il Fornello Young People’s Jury Awards, the YTV Silver Sprocket and the Toronto Sun Animation Award.