ECFA News

What would it take to sensitize both established media and more modern platforms like podcasts, blogs, and fan forums to children’s and young people’s films? Is it the films themselves that need to change, or is it our attitude towards them? A panel discussion will be held at the invitation of ECFA, the German Film Critics Association (VdFk), and Berlin Critics’ Week. Film critics and writers from diverse media formats will discuss critical perspectives on the varied production of children’s & youth films.

Continue reading “ECFA invites: NO NEED FOR A LONG READ?” →

Thanks to the willingness of the Cinema Ritrovato Festival/Cineteca di Bologna, and the generous solidarity of a number of major European festivals, ECFA will have the opportunity to organise a second edition of the Workshop Warehouse, at the end of June in Bologna. This marché for educational film workshops, conducted in a hands-on format, will again become one of the ECFA flagships in 2025.

Continue reading “The Workshop Warehouse 2025” →

The animated feature TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN will have its world premiere at the Berlinale 2025 in the Generation Kplus competition. The long-awaited stop-motion film, inspired by the fairy-tale book OF UNWANTED THINGS AND PEOPLE by Czech author Arnošt Goldflam, celebrates the art of storytelling. With a unique blend of fantasy, humour and a sensitive exploration of loss, it shows how imagination can help families stay close and find joy even in tough times.

Continue reading “TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN premiers at Berlinale Generation” →

On 15 February, during the children’s film community gathering in Berlin, the winners of the ECFA Awards 2025 will be announced, the only European children’s film awards voted on by professionals. So ECFA members, make sure you don’t forget to cast your votes!

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ECFA kicks off the year 2025 with our best wishes, and with an Annual General Meeting on Saturday 15 February at 15.30 in Berlin. Members can meet and mingle at the Vertretung des Freistaates Sachsen beim Bund, Brüderstraße 11/12.

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Do you want to know what film productions take place in Greece? Maybe shoot your film in a perfectly idyllic Greek location? Or develop training for media and film professionals? Or maybe, practice film and media literacy in schools for students and/or educators? Then look no further…

Continue reading “Creative Greece – new, uber-actor on Cultural & Creative Industries” →

German director Bernd Sahling is one of those directors who, in the world of children’s cinema, guarantees the pursuit of quality in film production and quality of life for the young people whose stories he tells. Sahling does not produce on the assembly line, but chooses his projects – such as THE BLINDFLYERS (2004) and UPSIDE DOWN (2012) – with care. In between, he engages in workshops for young people, podcasts and training on methodologies on children’s film. No wonder his latest feature TOMORROW I’LL BE BRAVE grew within the framework of a workshop.

Continue reading “Bernd Sahling presents TOMORROW I’LL BE BRAVE” →

Just over a year after its launch, European Film Club is expanding and aims to involve more young people, teachers, NGO workers and film professionals in creating vibrant film clubs across Europe. The initiative, supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, provides a platform for young audiences to explore European films, share their thoughts, and connect with their peers across the continent. A young community is already emerging.

Continue reading “European Film Club: not your usual streaming platform” →