European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
With an appealing story concept and a series of special effects tickling the youngsters’ senses, THE MAGIC TREE is successfully touring the festival circuit, received enthusiastically by every young audience. Continue reading “Andrzej Maleszka – Director THE MAGIC TREE”
In 1977 the book ‘Vorstadtkrokodile’ by Max von der Grün was adapted into a popular TV-film. Now Christian Ditter did a remake for the big screen. THE CROCODILES still carries along the heritage of the late seventies: the film’s perspective on ethnic minorities, disabled children, parenthood, etc. needed to be updated. THE CROCODILES can be considered an interesting case study in group’s dynamics: a bunch of children with different social backgrounds brought together in one gang in the suburbs of a German town. Continue reading “Interview with Christian Ditter’s THE CROCODILES (Vorstadtkrokodile)”
As editor of the Internet magazine ‘Films & Festivals’ Rose Chamberlain knows about festivals. But what does she think about the recently discovered circuit of children’s film festivals? “They raise tomorrows’ festival audiences. I find them so very inspiring.”
Continue reading “Rose Chamberlain – Editor of ‘Films & Festivals’”
2 Dutch movies for the very young are currently travelling from festival to festival, addressing the audience in a particular tone. We meet with the main actors from both films. Continue reading “Dutch child actors – FROGS AND TOADS and MORRISON GETS A BABYSISTER”
The Estonian film KLASS by Ilmar Raag surely asks for a broader explanation of the context. Shocked by the toughness of the story and its violent ending, people come out of the cinema realizing that a relevant story was told, but with no answer to their many questions. That’s how Ilmar Raag wanted it: there is no answer to the problem of teenagers trying to solve their situation by an outburst of mass violence. We can only question ourselves about such tragedies. Continue reading “Film in the Focus: Ilmar Raag’s KLASS”
Martin Duffy’s SUMMER OF THE FLYING SAUCER is screened in almost every European festival. It’s hard to label this bizarre science fiction story about a flying saucer falling from the sky and a boy falling in love. Like in his debut THE BOY FROM MERCURY again Martin Duffy finds a shaky balance on the edge of magic and realism. ECFA Journal spoke with Martin about his films, about ‘being different’ and about choosing projects for kids. Continue reading “Martin Duffy’s SUMMER OF THE FLYING SAUCER”