European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
During the award ceremony of the 26th Olympia Festival, an evening full of intense emotions, Artistic Director Dimitris Spyrou – who founded the festival 26 years ago at a time when terms such as “cinema for children” and “film education” were unknown to Greek audiences – announced that he will be stepping down and it’s up to Pantelis Panteloglou, ECFA President, and the team to take over.
Continue reading “Changing of the guard at Olympia Festival”
The BUFF festival in Malmö, one of those yearly highlights not to be missed in the festival calendar, is again making a nice offer: a free accreditation for ECFA members.
Two friends meet at the playground. Now, on the eve of adolescence, Jagoda and Zuzia have a lot to discuss. The answers to life’s bigger questions that adults can’t give them, maybe they can find with each other. There’s pimples, rebellion, first love, stupid rules at school, difficult dilemmas at home, and – above all – their first periods. When will it happen and how will it be? Jagoda and Zuzia introduce us to a world that every woman remembers and any boy watching this film can try to unravel.
Some people start screaming as soon as they see a spider. Anyone watching THE WEBSTERS MOVIE can hardly sit and scream for 70 minutes. Maybe ‘laugh and enjoy’ is a better option? Because the encounter with this lovable spider family is pleasant and carefree.
“There are no warning signs at every street corner”The first time Brandon enters a dojo – a judo school – is on the occasion of a burglary. Caught in the act by the judo teacher, he can escape punishment if he promises to come and train and to distance himself from Billy’s gang, involved in robberies and petty crime in the neighbourhood. The proposal sounds tempting, but Brandon does not want to let down his best friend Stefano. Making the right choices becomes increasingly difficult.
“Once they went on a walk, holding hands”Probably 7 year old Juice has never heard the word ‘Alzheimer’ before, but she surely realises something is changing about Grandma Lovely. As if her thoughts are all the time slipping through her fingers. Now Juice has a mission: to help Grandma Lovely to retain as many memories as possible. In the seclusion of a quiet countryside home, every memory becomes a small treasure.
“What does a rabbit see when it goes into the magician’s hat?”How to find tenderness in a cold and grey world? The atmosphere on the streets in the opening scene of WHERE RABBITS COME FROM, directed by Colin Ludvic Racicot in his studio in Montreal, is both cosy and hostile. Like Montmartre on a dark evening… a very dark evening! In this depressing, dystopian world, a widowed rabbit father defies the authorities to bring a sense of wonder into his daughter’s life.
With everyone being curious about the winners of the ECFA Awards, members should not forget that the result is in their hands. With 29 titles nominated in 3 categories, it all comes down to their votes to decide who will be the winners in the Feature, Short and Doc category. Results will be announced on 17 February 2024 during the Berlinale. ECFA members can start binge watching nominated titles and cast their votes. (Photo: DANCING QUEEN)