Publications – Page 27 – European Children's Film Association

Karolina Smigiel about young audience documentaries in Poland

“I dream about a funny documentary musical”

During the Millennium Docs against Gravity festival in Warsaw, a group of young filmmakers pitched eight new documentary ideas for young audiences. Their enthusiasm was contagious; only the delegation of Polish broadcasters reacted coolly… Since documentaries are by definition long and boring and not intended for children, right? Karolina Smigiel of the Andrzej Wajda Centre for Film Culture has a lot of resources to combat this kind of ignorance.

Kwak Nohyun, Chairman of the BIKY Festival

“We respect the uniqueness of each and every child”

For me, the BIKY festival in Busan, South-Korea, opens the gateway to Asia, to Korean cuisine (which looks even more exotic in Busan than elsewhere in the country), to Korean hospitality, urbanisation, severe weather conditions and a smoke-free city. But does the festival also open the gateway to Asian cinema for children?

Ludmila Cvikova about the CINEDU Festival

“Children’s films were simply another world”

The Slovak CINEDU festival for children & youth might be a relatively new event on the international calendar, but festival director Ludmila Cvikova is not a rookie. For 15 years, Cvikova has been programmer for the Int’l Film Festival Rotterdam, she has served as advisor to some of Europe’s leading festivals like Karlovy Vary and Locarno, and has been Head of Programming for the Doha Film Institute. Seven years ago, she jumped off the merry-go-round of big festivals and engaged in a small-scale event in a different segment of the film industry: young audience cinema.

Interview with the Ukrainian Veselka Children’s TV Studio

Dina Ibrahimova, Head of the Children’s TV Studio Veselka (“Rainbow”) is a well-known personality in the Ukrainian children’s television industry. Cheerful, optimistic and always in for friendly advice. Educated as a teacher, she founded the project in 2005. In 2014, the studio was forced to leave the tumultuous East-Ukrainian city of Luhansk and relocate to Kyiv. It took time and effort for Veselka to shine again in all its colours. But sometimes history repeats itself. Like on the morning of 24 February 2022…

MAKE SOME NoJSe: Connecting Nordic children’s film festivals

NOJSE is a story of cooperation, a story of sharing and exchange. In NOJSE five Nordic festivals have found each other, and with extra funding from Creative Europe came new opportunities, and an extended structure for cooperation. We spoke with representatives of three out of the five participating festivals: Daniel Lundquist (BUFF, Sweden), Mika Anttolainen (Oulu Festival, Finland) and Mariella Harpelunde Jensen (Buster, Denmark), the latter currently coordinating most of the NOJSE activities. What is NOJSE, how will it influence the Nordic festival landscape and how will results be visible on a European scale?

ECFA Journal February 2024

Film is all about stories. Here are some stories to take home with you.

Continue reading “ECFA Journal February 2024” →

HANNEKE & FIET wins at CINEKID Co-Production Market

During CINEKID for Professionals, the international Industry programme for youth media in Amsterdam, the prestigious Filmmore Post-Production Award for Best Live Action Project in Development went to HANNEKE & FIET. Once again, the Dutch successful duo consisting of screenwriter Tamara Bos and director Mischa Kamp (WINKY’S HORSE, ROMY’S SALON) has a story in hand that will move and excite audiences around the world.

Continue reading “HANNEKE & FIET wins at CINEKID Co-Production Market” →

Interview Clip: SEA SPARKLE

A Giffoni Film Festival Interview Clip

This interview with Domien Huyghe, director of SEA SPARKLE, was recorded during the Giffoni Film Festival in July 2023.

Watch interview