European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
40 years ago, Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader decided to cross the Atlantic in a tiny sailing boat. Nine months later his boat was found off the coast of England. Without Bas Jan. Why did Ader venture into such a daring voyage and how did he overcome his fear?
‘System Crasher’ – this unofficial term refers to a young person who pushes the youth welfare system to its limits, and finally to failure. In this case, we’re not talking about a troubled teenager, but about Benni, a traumatised 9 year old girl, who has already been rejected from numerous foster families, community houses, special schools and she always ends up in children’s psychiatry. Everyone is overstrained with this unpredictable, manipulative, violent little girl and her inexhaustible energy. Finally there is Micha, Benni’s final straw to cling onto. But Micha already has a family.
The Zlin Festival has a special nose for youth cinema. Every year some seemingly obscure titles are picked up from the darker corners of the independent Anglo-Saxon market, emerging as true festival revelations. This year there were several, like JELLYFISH (UK), INDIAN HORSE and GIANT LITTLE ONES (Canada) and METAL HEART (Ireland). One title from the US that caught attention was MEASURE OF A MAN by Jim Loach.
In China football might seem to be the new religion, but there’s kids in rural villages who have never even seen a football for real. They need a teacher like Xi Ge to explain them the rules of the game and infect them with a passion for playing. YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE stirs football mania on the high mountain plateaus of Sichuan. Until a disastrous earthquake brings an end to the game. The film that director Xu Cheng brought to the Zlin Festival, has an intriguing opening sentence: “Let me introduce myself. I am this ball.”
Bulbul is a joyful teenager, living in a small Indian village. She can sing like a nightingale, although not in the presence of others. Her best friend Bonny has an even more beautiful voice. And then there’s Suman. His classmates call him “Ladies” but to two young girls exploring their identity, he is like the perfect friend. One day Bulbul finds out she has a secret admirer, who writes her poems full of affection. But strict moral codes are putting a permanent pressure upon the three teenagers.
Take another dive into the fascinating world of children & youth film and media.
Continue reading “ECFA Journal 3/2019”
Mark your calendars! Denmark’s largest film- and media festival for children and youth, BUSTER, is getting ready to unspool in September – and for the first time ever, the 2019 edition will include a full industry day dedicated to exploring new media formats and socially relevant content aimed at the young audience. The full programme will be announced later in August. Continue reading “BUSTER Film Festival launches brand new industry day”
Nobody will deny the importance of film festivals in showcasing the diversity of today’s children’s film production. But what significance do film festivals have for the industry and the distribution process – what problems and opportunities might occur? Continue reading “ECFA Seminar in IFF Schlingel (7th & 8th October)”