The Toronto, Canada-based annual TIFF Kids Festival, which targets children ages three to 13, is set to kick off  its 17^th year next month with the Canadian premiere of Rio 2. The event, running from April 8 to 21, includes the TIFF Kids Festival Industry Conference, a four-day professional program that runs from April 14 to 17, and will close with 3D-animated Belgium feature The House of Magic.

In between the opener and closer, a mixed bag of 112 socially conscious, comedic and adventure-based films are set to premiere over the two-week course. Countries set to be represented include Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, Israel, China and Russia.

This year’s offerings include films including 3D adventure African Safari; Denmark’s superpower-inspired Antboy; Knight Rusty, an animated 3D adventure that speaks to the importance of recycling; I Swan, a drama from China about animal protection; and The Contest, which underscores how youth can address and overcome cultural stereotypes.

Meanwhile, the 2014 TIFF Kids Festival Industry Conference, the professional program that runs from April 14 to 17, will feature a diverse group of guest speakers – including legendary puppeteer and actor Caroll Spinney – that range from filmmakers, writers and animators to researchers, interactive producers and funders. The TIFF Kids Festival Industry Conference consists of one day of keynote sessions and panel discussions on April 15, and three days of roundtable sessions and workshops.

The festival’s film-going experience is also set to be supported by workshops and special events. For one, TIFF is again partnering with Sesame Workshop for Character Design Workshops and mascot meet-and-greets with Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby.

More information regarding the film festival and coinciding conference can be found here.