European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
“A big head on a big screen”The poster of SUMMER REBELS shows young Jonas biting a watermelon. A perfect illustration for a film that is like a watermelon in itself, summery, sweet and in bright colours, but with a few feisty pits to crack. This German-Slovak co-production, directed by Martina Sakova, had its European festival premiere in the Zlin Film Festival.
A love letter to my motherLOS LOBOS, the Mexican film by Samuel Kishi Leopo had its moment of glory at the Berlinale 2020, where it won not only the Grand Prix of the Int’l Generation Kplus jury but also the Peace Film Prize. According to the jury statement “this sensitively and tenderly told film radically takes the side of humanity. Poetic, courageous and combative, the film shows what it means to build up a new existence in another country.“
Presenting five new young audience documentariesFive young audience documentary projects were selected for the first Ket & Doc edition. Before going into production, filmmakers and producers went through a series of workshops, organised by the Flemish Film Fund (VAF). For the emerging filmmakers, this was a unique opportunity to get acquainted with a genre that is relatively new to the Belgian market.
“Is it set in stone that our audience should live on the streets?”The Abloom festival has a unique audience profile: people who can’t afford to buy a cinema ticket. Disabled children, especially with a minority background, don’t find their way easily into the cinema theatres. The 9th edition of the Oslo-based festival will take place in November, but co-programmer Eszter Vuojala has been earning her merits in the world of children’s film for many years already.
The ultrasound of an 8 year old boyToprak is an 8 year old boy with a Turkish background, living in Paris with his parents. His mother is expecting twins. After joining his parents on a visit to the gynaecologist, his interest shifts from his initial question ‘will they be boys or girls?’ to a much more important question ‘will they be healthy?’ As an interpreter for his parents, he is asked to pass on impactful news. Over the course of one hospital visit, Toprak turns from a boy into a man. When evening falls, the question about boys or girls is no longer on his mind.
Rules are to be brokenDarek has to look after his mentally handicapped sister Ema, ever since his father has difficulty coping with life. But the summer season looks promising. A herd of sick horses that have become useless to their owners arrives on the farm, and Darek takes a liking to these fast trotting “angels”. Then there is Hanna, who beguilingly smells of oranges. In the Filem’on festivals in Brussels, I speak with Ivan Pokorný about this vibrant teenager story with an opening scene that drags you into the film with its fast paced editing.
Same goal, different approachFrom a one-man project in Valencia to a worldwide network of festivals in which the work of professional directors is appreciated, yet remains in the shadow of films made by children. Josep Arbiol, founder of the MiCe festival in Valencia, is a buccaneer who sees opportunities that others ignore. With lights twinkling in his eyes, he is trying to put the funk back in media education. A clown with a mission, about which he tells with great passion.
Nika is 9 years old and a spoiled, rebellious princess. Years after her mother’s death, she is still trying to win the attention of her father, the Poet King. Until she finds out that her father’s neglect is caused by his split personality, the Warrior King. The two kings are rivalling with each other, thus ruining the kingdom with their opposed strategies. Nika now has to save herself, save the kingdom and, most importantly, help her father overcome the loss of her mother, which was the initial cause of his split personality. TWICE UPON A TIME was successfully pitched at the CEE Animation Forum, where we spoke with Vojin Vasovic (director & producer) and Milorad Kocic (producer).