Launching an event for children in Romania always feels like an act of courage. The idea of the Bucharest Kids Film Festival (BKFF) was born from a simple but urgent truth: in a country of 19 million people, there are countless film festivals, but very few dedicated exclusively to children. And yet, children are our most important audience!
Mihai Manescu and his collaborators felt a need to create a space where children could not only watch films but also experience cinema in ways that shape their imagination, empathy, and critical thinking. “A story told on screen can make a child laugh, cry, reflect, and ultimately discover the world in new ways. That is why education through cinema is at the heart of the BKFF.”
Organising the first edition also meant finding the right home for it, which was found in the revived Cinema Europa – once on the brink of closure, now transformed into a vibrant cultural hub and a safe space for Gen Z audiences. Mihai Manescu: “Bringing children back into this historic cinema felt symbolic: a way of reconnecting the past with the future, of proving that old walls can host new dreams. The general enthusiasm showed us how much appetite there is for initiatives dedicated to children’s cinema – parents looking for quality content, teachers eager for new educational tools, and filmmakers ready to explore a genre still overlooked in Romania.”
The first edition of the BKFF will open a window towards Europe for young audiences in Bucharest, with short film competitions, feature film screenings, and even an ECFA Jury. But more than numbers and titles, it’s the festival’s biggest dream that children leave the cinema, carrying with them a story that sparks questions, ideas, and hope. “BKFF is our invitation to filmmakers, educators, and parents alike: let us take children’s cinema seriously. Giving children access to great stories is not just culture. It is a way of shaping the future.”
The BKFF will take place from 5-9 November 2025.