BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — Grab some snacks and sit under the stars to watch free family-friendly movies in Fulton Park.
The KIDflix Film Fest of Bed-Stuy returns on Friday for its 16th season with a screening of 2014’s “Annie.”
This year’s program, in partnership with nonprofit mentoring organization Black Girls Rock!, features movies that highlight female African-American leads, according to organizers.
The local artist known as TRUE started the festival in 2000 after moving to the neighborhood and noticing an absence of cultural events for children, he said.
“When I came to New York I was amazed at the fact that you could see free, world-class entertainment outdoors in the city,” he explained.
“But in Bed-Stuy, I didn’t really see any of those types. I thought our children were sorely underserved and not being exposed to the same wealth of cultural richness that other communities were.”
KIDflix is produced in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts. Screenings often follow live music and dance performances linked to the night’s films.
This season’s lineup includes the animated movie “Home” on Aug. 14 and “The Gabby Douglas Story” on Aug. 21.
Since the festival’s inception, the series has ended with a sing-and-dance-along to a screening of “The Wiz.”
Organizers build a yellow brick road at the park, and children and parents are encouraged to dress up as characters from the film, TRUE said.
The artist will also host a Michael Jackson tribute with attendees dancing to “Thriller.” He said he hopes participants come dressed as zombie Dorothys and undead lions for the Aug. 28 party.
All screenings begin at 7 p.m. on Fridays at Fulton Park, through the end of August.
For more information, visit the KIDflix Film Fest Facebook page.
