Montreal: The Nelvana animation feature Babar: King of Elephants is being released in 50 Quebec theaters Feb. 26, including 40 prints in French, and in time for the annual mid-winter school break.

Jean Stinziani, programming director for distributor Alliance Vivafilm, says the strategic March 1-5 holiday will be decisive. ‘That’s where you’ll make your money in the first 10 days.’ The movie’s release in other Canadian provinces will also coincide with the holiday, on or around March 12.

Babar is in competition and is the opening-night film for the second edition of Festival International du Film pour Enfants de Montreal, Feb. 27 to March 7.

This year’s edition adds an international jury and official competition section, along with Hors-Concours and tributes programs.

The festival’s board of directors includes chairman Robert Roy (ACCT-Quebec, Independent Production Fund), consultant Pierre DesRoches, Guy Gagnon (Alliance Vivafilm), Kevin Tierney (Productions La Fete), Pierre Latour (Film Tonic), Francois Beaudry-Losique (Centre Cinema Imperial) and distribution consultant Gilles Beriault. Jo-Anne Blouin is the festival’s director of programming.

All screenings take place at the downtown Imperial Cinema.