PiBox with XMBC/Kodi or something else?

Hello,

I'm new to the RPi world and this forum, I've tried to search for the answer here (and elsewhere) but haven't found anything I've recognised as being the answer.

Basically I want to build a PiBox for my parents who don't have the internet. They have a TV with HDMI and computers and external HDs and I regularly send them content on USBs as they can plug this into their digital receiver for content but they're getting old and it's a hassle for them to get in/behind the set etc.

Ideally I'd like them to be able to send files they have on their computer/external drives to the PiBox and then play the content through their TV screen with a remote or tablet or whatever. From what I've read I think I'll be able to set up a PiBox, and I think I'd be able to set up XMBC/Kodi for them to use the RPi as a media centre - but can these both run on the RPi at the same time? Can PiBox run in the background to receive files and then XMBC plays them?

I've only just started to learn Python so can follow directions but wouldn't be able to code any custom solution if this is what was required.

Thanks in advance