Ready to introduce your toddlers to the magic of the big screen? Little Big Shots is just the ticket.If you’re not familiar with Little Big Shots, it’s essentially a children’s film festival, presenting the best in local and international children’s shorts, animations, documentaries and amazingly, child-produced films. It’s fun, it’s inspiring and as a family event, it’s exceptional.

The 2012 Little Big Shots Festival begins in Melbourne on June 9 and there’s a brand new program of eighty-three short films from twenty different countries on offer.

The line-up includes an animated adaption of much-loved book The Gruffalo’s Child; a two-minute film about a little octagon who goes to a school of circles and squares and tries to fit in; the award-winning Mouse for Sale, making its Australian premiere; and the charming documentary, The Vacuum Kid, about Kyle Krichbaum, a fifth grade kid who stands up for what he believes in – his love for the vacuum cleaner!

Personally, I’m excited to see the return of Marcel, the shoe-wearing shell. I promise you’ll love him too.

Little Big Shots is a terrific outing for all sorts of reasons – it offers excellent value (‘packages’ of films are just $7 per person), the films are grouped for particular age groups (check out the Tiny Tots package for children aged two to five years) and the fact that some films only go for one minute means that even those with the shortest attention span are captivated.

In 2012, the festival’s Melbourne season will run from June 9 to 13, at ACMI Cinemas (Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square) and ArtPlay (Birrarung Marr). Bookings can be made online.

Little Big Shots then takes to the road – this year’s touring program includes screenings at the Brisbane Powerhouse (July 4-6), the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra (July 11-20), the Adelaide Festival Centre (July 12-14), the Sydney Opera House (July 26-29) and The Awesome Festival in Perth (October 8-21).