Alexis Morante about OLIVER’S WORLD

“Difficult with adults but easy with children”

It’s hard to say what is the biggest barrier in Oliver’s life, his overvivid imagination or his good-for-nothing father. How will the boy escape the curse that seems to hang over all the men in his family, turning them into spineless beings? Will the solution be in kissing the sweet gypsy girl Irene, or will it be in Haley’s comet that is approaching? In OLIVER’S WORLD, we embark on a journey that starts in Andalucia but ends somewhere among the stars.

Continue reading

 

Agnieszka Dabrowska about TOO OLD FOR FAIRYTALES

“I’d rather walk out of the fog by myself”

Soon Waldek will have other things to focus on than e-sport tournaments. The coming of his eccentric Auntie makes him shiver with fear, as she is ready to cut a few ropes that tie him to his overprotective mother and help him to become a man who can face the world. Overwhelmed by her demandingness, there is yet another secret about his mum ready to be revealed.

Continue reading

 

Ruth Olshan about RASPBERRIES WITH MUSTARD

“Sweet combined with spicy”

In her coming-of-age film RASPBERRIES WITH MUSTARD German director Ruth Olshan tells a fantastically exaggerated story about first love and the importance of family. With bizarre situation comedy, she describes the trials and tribulations of falling in love for the first time, but also deals sensitively with the taboo of death. What do love and flying have in common? That sooner or later there might be a crash. 

Continue reading

 

Laura Vahtre about THE SLEEPING BEAST

“Things could drop on our heads”

Kristjan and his friends, living in a grey Estonian hamlet, try to escape from summer boredom, hanging around playing in an abandoned old factory. Carried away by their fantasy and the gossip stories about the security guard on the terrain, they lure the old man into a trap. Despite its playful setting, THE SLEEPING BEAST story is rather dark and gritty, because of the children’s unscrupulous actions, and the oppressive power dynamics among them, agrees young actress Laura Vahtre.

Continue reading

 

Eef Hilgers about FROM THAT MOMENT ON, EVERYTHING CHANGED

“A bunch of weirdly fascinating details”

In her new film FROM THAT MOMENT ON, EVERYTHING CHANGED Dutch filmmaker Eef Hilgers chooses a form that is as original as it is effective, to let children talk about how their parents told them about an impending divorce. In a clinical, laboratory-like setting, she tries in all kinds of ways to recreate that profound moment. The result is heartbreaking, but also incredibly powerful.

Continue reading

 

Cedric Igodt about WITCHFAIRY

“Wand in hand”

A fairy trips across a carpet of flowers into the dark forest. What would a pink fairy have to do in a witch forest? Rosemary has had her fill of the sugary fairy life in the pink castle above the clouds and is irresistibly drawn to a wilder world. But Rosemary’s mother rules the witches’ castle and is not willing to let her daughter go.

Continue reading

 

René van Zundert about TALK IS CHEAP

“It goes on and on until it gets out of hand”

Wherever Darlin goes, his mother chugs along in admiration. Only on stage, Tamia is not afraid to share her thoughts with the audience. Sitting on the couch, Selena will never stop arguing with her father. Three children from South Rotterdam want to be noticed and are given a forum in TALK IS CHEAP to make their unfiltered voices heard. For this Dutch documentary, director René van Zundert bundled four episodes of his TV series of the same name.

Continue reading

 

Thale Person about CLUE – THE MALTESE MYSTERY

“The main vibe was pure Agatha Christie”

That is no normal place where Cecilia lives. It is a hotel, and her father is the owner. Ever since her mother died, Cecilia is supposed to help him serve the guests. In her rare spare time, together with her best friend Une and the newly arrived city boy Leo, she gets on the trail of a dark secret that might even lead her towards the mystery behind her mother’s death. A portion of Nordic noir by full daylight.

Continue reading