Showcomotion, the Young People's Film Festival, defiantly with one M, kicks off in Sheffield on Thursday for its 10th year – bigger and better than ever.

In fact, with its 175 films (13 features and 162 shorts) from 22 countries it's the largest and longest-established festival of its type in Britain.

"I wasn't around when they decided how to spell the name but I have bought the domain names with two Ms so people can Google it," says festival director Kathy Loizou.

She's been in charge of seven of the 10 festivals, moving over from the DocFest to help out, she thought temporarily, when founder Becky Parry moved on.

She says: "I'd just had a baby and planned a break. I got four days."

Showcomotion has two audiences. There are the mainly local schoolchildren, many of whom have made their own films to be shown at the festival, who make up the audience, then the wheeler-dealers who attend the media conference from July 2-4.

This year it is being sponsored by the Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera, planning to open its own children's channel on Sky.

Kathy says: "They came last year and obviously liked us so much they're sponsoring us."

Every film festival must have a gala and Showcomotion has the joint British premiere of Kung Fu Panda at Cineworld, Family Centertainments, at the same time as the Odeon, Leicester Square.

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Most of the films will be shown at the Showroom. They get chosen several ways. Kathy often has a tussle with rival film fests to show feature films first.

The Panda film was one and she's also got a near first with a special preview of The Fox and the Child, made by Luc Jacquet, famous for March of the Penguins.

Showcomotion can get the big names. Tory shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey is giving the keynote speech at the media conference although he might have to work hard to be as entertaining as the man who could be described as Bob the Builder's brickie.

Animator Curtis Jobling will be explaining to primary schoolchildren how he did it.

Last year more than 6,000 people, mainly children, saw the films. Many will go with schools but there are special family events. The festival runs until July 10.

For full details visit www.showcomotion.org.uk and book on 0114 275 7727.


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