Hundreds of nursery and primary school students will watch animated short movies from around the world today and tomorrow as part of the BIFF Kids Film Festival.

More than 650 youngsters will attend the Big Toons programme at the Tradewinds Auditorium at Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The films selected for them to watch are aimed at being fun and enjoyable but also designed to encourage them to think about the larger world around them.

Older primary school students will attend a Books to Film programme produced by noted educators Scholastic, the largest publisher and distributor of children's books in the United States.

The students will hear the books, including Roberto the Insect Architect and Chrysanthemum, read aloud, with images from the books projected on screen, and will then view films adapted from those books.

After the films, Bermudian actor Rajai Denbrook will lead discussions with the students.

West Pembroke Primary, West End Primary, Saltus, Warwick Academy and Bermuda High School will participate. Classes from St. Paul's Pre-School and Bloomfield Nursery will also attend.

Festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse said: "The positive response to our school screening programme has been very gratifying. We are pleased to have such great support from teachers in the community and we are delighted to communicate such positive messages to students in Bermuda."