Gert Hermans – Page 6 – European Children's Film Association

Marketa Pasmova & Jaroslava Hynstova about the Zlin Film Festival

“When you think about the festival, you think about the best season of the year”

In the Czech town of Zlin, every year a festival pulls up like a giant steam engine – and almost as old as the steam engine! At their 65th edition, the Zlin Film Festival still proudly wears its honorary title as ‘Europe’s oldest and largest children’s film festival’. This steam train is so big that it needs two drivers. Marketa Pasmova and Jaroslava Hynstova are much-loved faces on the international film circuit, but what qualities do you need to keep such a festival mastodon running?

Bear With Me Distribution

“We’re used to fighting for recognition”

Calling your company ‘Bear with me Distribution’ sounds like an apology, as if you’re asking for patience. Which we unfortunately don’t have. Because we can’t wait to see a new distribution company, specialising in animated short films that appeal to young audiences! Managing Director Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger: “Our mission is to bridge the gap between artistry and accessibility, captivating both international festival-goers and the hearts of children.”

The Athens International Children’s Film Festival

“I just want to be there when it happens”

Over just 7 editions, the Athens Int’l Children’s Film Festival has firmly established itself on the map of European festivals. It seems to be growing fast, but it is a controlled growth – this festival evolves by the book, without skipping pages, but it is a page-turner! Think of everything a festival needs – films for every audience segment, workshops, a space for digital and analogue play and experimentation, an industry section, decentralisation… and you’ll find it in Athens, on a large or small scale. There is a comprehensive story, a way to make all segments fit together according to an overarching idea. For that, you need someone with vision to guard the bigger picture.

The Taoba International Youth Film Festival

“European trends are not universally applicable”

When a country is represented within ECFA by only one member, it seems as if that organisation has to carry all the national weight of youth film and film education on its shoulders. That may well be the case for Georgia, where the Taoba International Youth Film Festival is introducing film culture to young people, under conditions not comparable to most European countries. ‘In a country with less than 20 cinemas, our needs and priorities are very different,’ says Levan Dvali from the Municipal Cultural Educational Centre in Tbilisi.

China International Children’s Film Festival

“Reconnecting the filmmakers with their audience”

Nothing much is certain about the China Int’l Children’s Film Festival. Is it annual or biennial? In which city will it be held next time? And around what time of year? The answer remains uncertain, as there is no financial structure that can guarantee regularity. Such decisions are mostly taken ad hoc, and then implemented by festival organiser Betty Lyuan. But what is certain is that you end up in a fantastic environment, where cinema is programmed according to criteria that are not always obvious to Westerners, but which make for a wildly interesting experience.

Workshop Warehouse II – Don’t you wish you were there too?

“As the event begins, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and engage in what we do best!” With these words, ECFA President Pantelis Panteloglou concluded the official note on the occasion of the 2nd edition of the Workshop Warehouse. That is exactly what happened… 56 professionals from 21 countries rolled up their sleeves – and not just because of the heat! – and made their choice among eight workshops on offer. Two and a half days later, after around 25 hours of training and professional exchange at an average temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, they can look back on another wonderful edition of the Workshop Warehouse.

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D4K announces training for children’s documentary filmmakers

Filmmakers can now apply to a newly launched European training focused on the creation of children’s documentaries. In the framework of the D4K-Docs For Kids Alliance, IDFA (Amsterdam) and DOXS RUHR – documentary festival for young audiences (DE), in cooperation with Forum für Kultur und Bildung Leipzig (DE), have developed a pilot edition of a training initiative. Taking place in Amsterdam from 17-21 November, the programme is aimed at directors and producers who are passionate about creative documentaries for children.

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Kids’ Premiere for THE LITTLE ELEPHANT IN THE FOREST

How well do children feel at home at fancy film premieres? In the spirit of the supremely inclusive film THE LITTLE ELEPHANT IN THE FOREST, an exclusive premiere was organised for all the young actors, extras and families at a very special place…

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