European Children's
Film Association
Association Européenne du Cinéma
pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse
At the Schlingel festival, producer Philippe Budweg (Lieblingsfilm) presented a new title from the Outstanding Children’s Film production initiative. HORSE ON A STICK, by Sonia Maria Gröner, is now complete and ready to gallop into German cinemas from March 2026. Lieblingsfilm had previously produced young audience films such as WHAT THE FINN?! and INTO THE BEAT.
ECFA has once again made it possible for its members to watch all films nominated for the ECFA Award 2026 via the Sooner streaming platform. What do they expect from you in return? That you cast your vote in three categories. Help decide who will be the winner of the prestigious ECFA Awards 2026!
To promote the vitality of the contemporary Czech animation scene, the Zlin Festival has acquired the rights to 21 short animated films, the best that the animated film market has had to offer in recent years. From this selection, exhibitors can curate their own programme – free of charge! With this initiative, the Zlin Festival is targeting not only (ECFA) festivals worldwide but also film schools, cultural institutions, embassies, and educational organisations.
Continue reading “Zlin Film Festival Presents Czech Animation”
On Saturday 14 February 2026, ECFA invites you to contribute your thoughts on the current challenges of writing about young audience cinema. Publicists from various media backgrounds will have a panel discussion on how youth-oriented films are addressed from a film critic’s perspective.
Continue reading “How Can Film Criticism Grow Up With Its Audience?”
Grab it, unwrap it, and rejoice… Here is your ECFA Journal!
During the ECFA Exchange sessions (28-29 September), hosted by the SCHLINGEL Festival in Chemnitz, Germany, directors, producers, distributors, and festival programmers from 10 European countries gathered on stage for an intensive exchange of information, data, and perspectives based on case studies. The main goal was to “take children’s film and media seriously”.
The German ‘Outstanding Children’s Film’ initiative (Der Besondere Kinderfilm) is dedicated to the production of high-quality, original cinema for young audiences. It was founded in 2013 to fill a gap: films that aren’t adaptations or tied to existing franchises but instead tell new, socially relevant stories that reflect children’s lives today. Over the years, the programme has broadened its scope and now the first “outstanding” documentary and animated movies have hit the screens. Continue reading “‘Outstanding Children’s Film’ Broadens Scope”
The new Cine Regio Young Audience Report 2025 has arrived, initiated by KIDS Regio in collaboration with Cine Regio!
Continue reading “KIDS Regio Publishes Young Audience Report”