The European Children’s Film Association is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and inspiring environment for everyone engaged in children’s and youth film culture. Our community, composed of filmmakers, educators, festival teams, researchers and industry partners thrives on diversity, artistic curiosity and the shared belief that stories for young people deserve the highest standards of care and responsibility. We recognise the fundamental importance of dignity, equality and cultural openness in all our activities. Any form of discrimination, harassment, intimidation or violence, whether physical, verbal or digital, contradicts these principles and will not be tolerated. Respect for individual backgrounds, identities, abilities, beliefs, ages and appearances is essential to our collaborative work. Because young people are at the heart of our mission, we expect all interactions with children, adolescents and within our community to be guided by particular sensitivity, responsibility and attention to their safety and autonomy. Personal boundaries must always be respected. Unwanted physical contact, sexualised remarks or intrusive behaviour have no place within our association or at any event connected to it.
ECFA aims to encourage all members and partners to take a clear stand against discrimination, to continuously educate themselves on anti-discrimination, and to actively work to prevent and address discriminatory behavior; within their own environments, professional practice, everyday interactions, and through ongoing self-reflection.
ECFA appreciates fair and ethical collaboration. We support professional working conditions, including fair pay for artists, cultural workers and freelancers whose creativity and labour sustain the field of young audiences’ cinema. Transparent communication, mutual respect and responsible conflict resolution form the basis of our partnerships.
In line with our long-term vision, ECFA is committed to environmentally responsible practices. We encourage sustainable production methods, climate-conscious festival organisation, reduced waste, energy efficiency and thoughtful travel choices whenever possible. Environmental stewardship strengthens our cultural mission and reflects the responsibility we hold toward the next generation.
By participating in ECFA activities, whether at festivals, in cinemas, in meetings or online, you agree to these principles. Should violations occur, ECFA reserves the right to deny individuals access to events, programmes or collaborations, with immediate effect if necessary.
Our goal is to cultivate a European children’s film culture in which diverse perspectives meet, challenge one another and grow together. We invite all participants — audiences, teachers, school groups, filmmakers, festival teams, researchers and industry partners — to engage with this Code of Conduct as an opportunity: to contribute to safer spaces, to reflect on one’s own role, and to approach differences with curiosity, responsibility and solidarity.
Anyone who experiences or observes behaviour that violates these principles can contact ECFA representatives or designated event staff. All concerns will be taken seriously, handled confidentially and addressed with the safety and wellbeing of those affected as the top priority. To this goal, a complaint management process has been established. ECFA reserves the right to take appropriate measures, including denying access to events or suspending cooperation, when these standards are breached. Our common ground is simple: to cultivate a European children’s film culture where creativity, fairness and care for one another and for the planet can flourish.