European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
Ket & Doc has become a well-known phenomenon: a new batch of five (only four, from next year) Belgian short documentaries for young audiences every year, made with the support of public broadcaster Ketnet and the Flemish Audiovisual Fund. 2025 guarantees a new crop that has just premiered at the Youth Film Festival Antwerp in the presence of all directors and protagonists.
On Saturday February 15th Europe’s leading children’s film organisation ECFA announced the winners of the three annual ECFA Awards for Best European Children’s Film, Best European Children’s Documentary and Best European Children’s Short Film. Winner of the prestigious Best Film Award was LARS IS LOL (by Eirik Sæter Stordahl, Norway), the Documentary Award went to TODD & SUPER-STELLA (by Mari Monrad Vistven, Norway), and the Short Film Award was taken home by YUCK! (by Loïc Espuche, France). Awards were handed out in Berlin during the Berlinale, in a festive ceremony, celebrated with the international young audience film community.
Continue reading “ECFA Awards taken home to Norway (2!) & France”
The Int’l Women’s Film Festival Dortmund + Cologne presents a programme for children and young people in both German cities every year, through continuous cooperation with schools and day-care centres. The young audience is constantly encouraged to critically interpret, understand, and enjoy films. This year’s programme focuses heavily on documentaries with young protagonists who do not allow themselves to be forced into particular roles.
Continue reading “Kids’ programme at International Women’s Film Festival”
ECFA’S times at the Berlinale are in general extremely hectic. Yet time was made available for a particularly interesting and successful event, organised in a partnership with the Verband der Deutschen Filmkritik and the Woche der Kritik. The panel discussion ‘No need for a long read?’ aimed to spark debate on how (and if!) to write about films for younger audiences.
The 2024 Biennial of Animation Bratislava’s Grand Prix winner, which also secured the Children’s Choice Award, was nominated for the 52nd Annie Awards, widely regarded as animation’s most prestigious honour after the Oscars.
Continue reading “ECFA Member from Bratislava impacting Hollywood”
The Kids Fest children’s film festival, taking place in several cities across the country, was founded in 2004 as first Serbian film event focusing on children, with a programme targeting different age groups – 4-year-olds, young teenagers, and everything in between. Kids Fest took the opportunity to look for like-minded partners in Europe in the Open Mic sessions during the ECFA AGM. And they hereby repeat their call.
Continue reading “Serbian Kids Fest reaches out for partners”
Interviews with filmmakers in the ECFA Journal often stress the importance of script labs and training modules organised by several European industry organisations. As Klemen Dvornik (BLOCK 5) said in an ECFA interview: “The Cinekid Script and Producers’ lab has greatly helped us to take steps forward. Such opportunities have boosted our confidence.” For all filmmakers whose confidence needs an extra boost, the call for entries for Cinekid’s industry initiatives is now open.
Continue reading “Cinekid prepares for Script LAB and Co-Production Market”
Life doesn’t stand still! Just a few days after the ECFA Award 2025 was presented in Berlin, the first titles were written on the shortlist for the next edition, at the PLAY festival in Lisbon. A short time later, nominations also arrived from the Youth Film Festival Antwerp. On to another rock-solid edition!
Continue reading “Countdown to next ECFA Award started in Antwerp & Lisbon”