The Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children is currently looking for a few good kids!

Sprockets is searching for some articulate cinephiles aged 8-12, to serve as the Young People's Jury for Sprockets 2008. The jurors selected will have the opportunity and responsibility to lend a hand in the review process, choosing the best feature length and short films of the festival.

Sprockets is also accepting submissions for the 2008 Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase, a part of the festival comprised of film and video made by Ontario students from the 3rd to 12th grade.

To apply to be a juror, all one needs to do is fill out an entry form and send a short review of a favourite film. The jurors get to see all the films in the age category for free, are fed popcorn and beverages and will receive a special gift bag at the end of the festival.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Jump Cuts and the opportunity it gives for students because I was a finalist in its inaugural year in 2002. While I didn't continue with film production, I did benefit from the chance to see my film on the big screen with an audience made up of people who weren't just my parents. Now the Jump Cuts program is in its 7th year and has evolved dramatically in terms of the number of submissions, the technology being used and the overall quality of the films. To see some examples, the website has an impressive gallery of videos from finalists in every year except mine.

The Young People's Jury applications are due February 8th and Jump Cuts submissions will be accepted until March 10th. Sprockets runs from April 11th to April 20th.