Venice Atienza about LAST DAYS AT SEA

“Somehow I wish I could be more like him“ 

LAST DAYS AT SEA closes in on 12 year old Reyboy, living in Karihatag, an isolated village in the south of the Philippines at the frontline of climate change. In 2014 Venice Atienza visited the region with her camera, documenting how local people survive devastating storms. When she heard Reyboy would leave Karihatag at the end of summer to go to high school in the city, she decided to film the life he was leaving behind.

 

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Marja Pyykkö about SIHJA, THE REBEL FAIRY

“A hoodie in a box“

 

Sihja, an outrageous young fairy, is surely one of a kind. When entering the life of Alfred, a shy and sensitive boy, she turns his whole world upside down. She messes up his room, scares off his friends and spits her milk all over the table. But even stranger things are happening. Birds are found dead on the streets, and both plants and people display rather peculiar behaviour. Something weird is going on at the local fertilizer factory!

 

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Pierre Coré about THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY OF MARGOT & MARGUERITE

“Realism allows me more than fantasy does“

 

Margot and Marguerite are both 12 years old, struggling with family, friends and other issues. But one lives in 1942 during the war, the other one in 2020. They tumble into each other’s lives via a magical trunk. One more thing they have in common: an absent father. Despite the 70 years that separate them, they embark together on an adventure on the edge of space and time.

 

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Fred Baillif about LA MIF

“Like a rushed, energetic, pounding heartbeat”

In LA MIF (aka THE FAM), self-taught Swiss filmmaker Fred Baillif tells an impressive story about seven teenage girls with traumatic family experiences, living in a residential shelter in Geneva. Mif is a French slang word for family; although most of the girls have parents and siblings, public welfare has put them in a home.

 

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Marta Karwowska about TRIPLE TROUBLE

“The golden rule of children’s cinema: get rid of the adults”

Creeping footsteps in the museum garden, skilful fingers fumbling on the frame of a painting… Not just any painting, but a masterpiece by Monet. The next day it turns out the painting has been stolen and Julka and Olek start their investigation. Since Julka’s aunt is falsely accused of theft, the duo quickly needs to reveal the true identity of the thief. They get unsolicited help from Felka, though with her comes trouble, jealousy and rivalry.

 

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GIRLSBOYSMIX

“Boys room or ladies room, it doesn’t matter for me”

Wen Long is neither a boy nor a girl… she is intersex; at her birth it was unclear whether she was a boy or girl. Her parents leave the choice up to her. As an intersex person, it is difficult to know where you’re standing in a world distinguished between men and women. During the JEF festival, we had a talk with director Lara Aerts, Wen Long and her parents.

 

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Lior Chefetz about SKY RAIDERS

“We found a small airfield that had a few old planes scattered around”

Anyone who gets a kick out of airplanes and aerobatics will certainly get their money’s worth in Lior Chefetz’ debut film. But SKY RAIDERS is not just about the roaring of engines. It is also the story of a boy learning to cope with his father’s death, an old man who sees the past revived, and a beautiful bond between a boy and a girl.

 

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Silje Salomonsen about SISTERS – THE SUMMER WE FOUND OUR SUPERPOWERS

“On the list were wings, a cape and a unicorn”

Vega, 9 years old, sets off on a hiking trip through the wilderness with Dad and her little sister Billie. A blissful adventure, until Dad gets stuck in a rocky cleft. The sisters are sent off to seek help. Lost in the forest, left to their own devices, they discover powers they never imagined in themselves: the superpowers of … sisters!

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