European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
“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.
“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!
“You can still recognise what is a Trabant, a Wartburg or a Skoda” East Germany, 1989. Nothing foretells the socio-political revolution that is around the corner. Twelve-year-old Fritzi is occupied by more important matters, taking care of her best friend Sophie’s dog Sputnik, while Sophie’s family is on vacation. After the holidays, when Sophie still hasn’t returned, Fritzi and Sputnik set out in search of her. A postcard from West Germany puts her on the right track.
“It seems common for parents to shout at their children”When making a film, you want it to be remembered for the right reasons, for being a good movie. With a popular football star like Alexis Sanchez in one of the main roles, there is a risk that the presence of such a persona might put the rest of the story into the shadows. MY HERO ALEXIS by Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Fernández Almendras avoids this trap by telling a vibrant story for soccer fans and sports haters alike.
Jacket-in-a-boxWherever Tom goes, his older brother Leo is going with him. At school, on the sports field or hanging out with girls, Leo is always there to protect and guide him, like a guardian angel. But who is this Leo? Is there no crack to find in his seemingly perfect façade? How to grow from under the wings of your brother, especially when they’re like angel wings?
“There is beauty in human failure”The Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov adored not only the splendour of nature, but also fast cars. Fortunately, Cleo is not aware of this trivial fact. Rachmaninov’s music is one of the few things still offering her comfort, since she lost both her parents in a traffic accident. Now the 17 year old is terrified of cars. In her own, somewhat stiff way her grandmother Bobonne offers Cleo a warm home, but ends up bearing the brunt of a rebellious teenager. Then Cleo crosses paths with Leos. He is a bit older, not unattractive, and a warm bond grows between the two.
“I think she’s even learning Polish”9 year old Monday is terminally ill, she probably will not live to be older than 16. She is a cheerful Australian kid with a sunny approach towards life, however, in her eyes there is a desire for adventure and excitement. She dreams about a trip to Moon Rock but never expected to embark on that journey in the company of Tyler, a sympathetic criminal. During the trip, a beautiful brother-sister bond grows between them.
“The fields and apples are stored somewhere deep inside me”Emilia will spend a few days with grandpa and grandma on a farm in the Latvian countryside. What a surprise… In the barn she finds a litter of little cats. This will be a holiday full of cute and cuddly kittens. But her grandparents don’t see it that way. Emilia must find a home for the animals as quickly as possible, or grandpa will kill them. We spoke with Agnese Laizane about her rustic, fascinating short film, that carries the smell of fresh apples hanging from trees and hay in the barn.