“The film industry is so scared”
Long ago at the BUFF Financing Forum Martin Högdahl pitched his project, two things stuck to my mind: children’s film and heavy metal. A rare combination. But ICE DRAGON is much more than that: problems with his alcoholic dad make Mik flee to his aunt’s little village. Here he makes friends, learns how to fish, builds a snow-scooter and finds peace of mind. Until one day there is a knock on the door… And Mik again is on the run. Continue reading “Interview with Martin Högdahl about ICE DRAGON”
Froukje Tan’s MY ADVENTURES BY V. SWCHWRM is different from any other children’s film you recently saw. Actually it is different from any other movie that you ever saw… An absurd, poetic tale about a boy and his biggest dream: writing a book that could change the world… if only he could come up with a striking opening sentence. 
She has turned 11 by now and her curly hair is gone. But Pippa Allen surely has kept her clever and sparkling charm that made her so irresistible playing Kiek in TAKING CHANCES, a film by Nicole van Kilsdonk. 
Cinekid, the International Film, Television and New Media Festival for Young People in Amsterdam celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over the last years with open mouth the entire industry gazed at the continuous growth of a festival that eagerly embraced not only children’s film but also television and new media. This course was steered by festival director Sannette Naeyé. Until last August a sudden alarm bell threatened to put a permanent ending to Cinekid’s growth. The Dutch government decided to stop funding Cinekid and in that way deprives the festival of 50 % of its income and casts a dark shadow over this jubilee edition. There were plenty of questions for Sannette Naeyé.
One of the most eagerly awaited titles in this year’s Berlinale was TOTALLY TRUE LOVE by Anne Sewitsky (Norway). The story about first and / or true love strikes the eye for its original viewpoint and its drastic choices, and for a young director’s undeniable talent. 
Now THE MAGICIANS, a father-and-son story with dazzling as well as clumsy conjuring acts started touring European festivals, Joram Lürsen is preparing his next feature: ALFIE THE WEREWOLF. “It’s about coming out of the close.” 
For 17 years, up till 2002, Renate Zylla was director of the Berlinale’s Kinderfilmfest. Then she broadened her horizon, taking out her talents to various Asian festivals. Nowadays working as a festival agent, she guarantees productions a perfect representation abroad. Who could have a better insight in the present-day children’s film festival landscape?