Hilary Swank, Edward Norton and Valeria Golino are among expected guests of the 41st Giffoni Film Festival, the prominent kiddie event, which will feature a slew of Hollywood launches.

Rather than coming to promote a pic, these thesps have been recruited to engage with budding film buffs, aged 3-23, at the July 12-21 event, recently rebranded “Giffoni Experience,” located in Giffoni Valle Piana, near the Amalfi coast.

Besides Giffoni’s previously announced opener, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” the fest this year will host “a Hollywood launch every day,” boasted topper Claudio Gubitosi.

These include Fox’s Jim Carrey starrer “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” Sony laffer “Zookeper” and Universal’s Bronx-set dance pic “Honey 2,” all out-of-competition.

Highlights of the artier competish comprise the world preem of German helmer Marcus O. Rosenmuller’s drama “Wunderkinder” (Child Prodigies), about kids with unusual musical talents against the backdrop of World War II; “My Grandpa, the Bankrobber,” from Dutch filmmaker Ineke Houtman, a Giffoni regular; and “Atmen” (Breathing), the directorial debut of Austrian actor Karl Markovics, about a young parolee’s struggles outside of prison.

Giffoni this year has upped its number of jurors to 3,300 kids from 50 countries (300 more this year). Master classes will include producer Martha De Laurentiis, wife and close collaborator of late great Dino De Laurentiis, who was born in nearby Naples.

The annual theme driving discussions at the fest is the word “Link,” in its various connotations.

Source: http://www.variety.com/