Best Children’s Film

The Ape Star

Apstjärnan

Jonna is happy at the orphanage, so when a gorilla in pink pants adopts her, it comes as quite a shock. The single-minded eight-year-old discovers that Gorilla, who lives in a house next to a junkyard, loves books, has a sense of humour and makes an unusual, yet good mother. They take no notice of what others think. Jonna helps Gorilla with her bric-a-brac stall and they become very happy together. The only threat comes from the town councillor who wants to get rich by building an amusement park where Gorilla’s house now stands.

Simple, yet playful 2D animation featuring atmospheric backdrops from the makers of Gordon & Paddy. Alongside all the excitement, at least equal attention is paid to the moving, unexpected bond between Jonna and Gorilla. Serious themes such as racism, injustice and diversity are dealt with playfully. After the book by Frida Nilsson.

Best Birthday Ever

Just when a young rabbit wants to celebrate its birthday, its parents have to take its baby sister to the doctor. The headstrong little creature decides to go to grandma, because she is always nice. The journey through the woods together with his friends becomes an adventure full of funny, exciting and unexpected events. Once the mean fox has been chased off and everyone has arrived at grandma’s after a lot of complications, the bunny knows it has never had such an amazing birthday.

Michael Ekblad (Molly Monster the Movie) based this 2D animation on Rotraut Susanne Berner’s series of books. The everyday issues, full of humorous detail, that beset this very human rabbit family will be recognisable even for the youngest viewers. That also applies for all the other experiences in this simple story. If things briefly get exciting, they are immediately followed by relief and fun.

LINDA HAMBÄCK

SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK | 2021 | 72’ | 5+

FACTS

Dutch title Mijn moeder is een gorilla Producer Petter Lindblad, Linda Hambäck Screenwriter Janne Vierth Editor Ulf Tønder Flittig, Linda Hambäck Composer Tania Naranjo, Minna Weurlander, Production company LEE Film Stockholm AB, Sweden, linda@leefilm.se Sales company Attraction Distribution, Canada, info@attractiondistribution.ca, www.attractiondistribution.ca Distributor In The Air

MICHAEL EKBLAD

SWEDEN, THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY | 2021 | 70’ | 4+

FACTS

Dutch title De beste verjaardag ooit Producer Alexandra Schatz Screenwriter Aje Andrea Brucken Editor Marcus Horn Composer Annette Focks, Udo Schobel Leading actors Max Lester, Beatrice Davies, Rufus Bateman, Harry Wright, Johnathan Bailey Production company Alexandra Schatz Filmproduktion UG, Germany, office@schatzfilmproduktion.com Sales company SC Films International, United Kingdom, info@scfilmsinternational.com, www.scfilmsinternational.com Distributor Periscoop Film

Buster’s World

Buster - Oregon Mortensen

Buster is a jaunty little optimist full of good intentions. He loves magic tricks and isn’t discouraged if his tricks or other plans fail. He likes to help his sister, parents and his older friend Mr Larsen, who is ill. However, his biggest challenges are to capture Joanna’s heart and his battle with Simon-Olaf, his competitor on stage and for love.

Alongside familiar themes such as rivalry, bullying and the encouragement to always keep dreaming, it is primarily the disarming open attitude of Buster (played with vim by Manfred Weber Cortzen) that sets the tone. Fantastic developments exude a positive vision in this heart-warming comedy that also takes life seriously, particularly when it comes to Mister Larsen’s imminent demise. Based on Bjarne Reuter’s book, just like the 1984 Bille August version that became a Danish youth classic.

Captain Nova

Rebellious fighter pilot Nova is sent back to our era from the year 2050 to help prevent an environmental disaster. With her knowledge from the future different, wiser decisions can be made. Unfortunately, Nova becomes as young as she was in our day and no one listens to a 12-year-old girl. Together with a neglected teen and her parrot-like flying robot ADD, she does her utmost to get her important point across.

This exciting family film with humorous asides creatively addresses serious themes facing today’s children. Think of climate change, environmental pollution and backroom politics. Sometimes adults must be told how to make decisions that favour everyone in the long term by sensible children. At the same time, Captain Nova is a captivating, original story about friendship and restoring family ties. This year’s opening film at the festival.

MARTIN MIEHE-RENARD

DENMARK | 2021 | 92’ | 8+

FACTS

Dutch title Busters wereld Producer Barbara Crone, Hans Bülow Ungfelt Screenwriter Jesper Nicolaj Christiansen Editor Søren B. Ebbe Composer Frans Bak, Keld Haaning Ibsen Leading actors Alma Sofie Almela Allarp, Genie Argiris, Charly Comkean Baasch, Manfred Weber Cortzen, Louise Davidsen Production company Crone Ungfelt Aps, Denmark, ungfelt@gmail.com Sales company Sola Media, Germany, post@sola-media.com, www.sola-media.com

MAURICE TROUWBORST

THE NETHERLANDS | 2021 | 90’ | 7+

FACTS

Producer Koji Nelissen, Derk-Jan Warrink Screenwriter Maurice Trouwborst, Lotte Tabbers Editor Pelle Asselbergs Composer Alexander Reumers Leading actors Kika van de Vijver, Marouane Meftah, Anniek Pheifer, Hannah van Lunteren, Joep Vermolen Production company Keplerfilm, The Netherlands, hello@keplerfilm.com, www.keplerfilm.com Sales company Beta Film GmbH, Germany, beta@betafilm.com, www.betafilm.com Distributor Gusto Entertainment

Cocoon & Butterfly

Pile va parvaneh

Parvaneh, a handicapped girl who lives in a poor mountain village in Iran, can’t go to school because she can’t walk properly and her father doesn’t have time to take her. Yavar, the boy next door, decides to help her, but must do so in secret as Parvaneh’s embittered father keeps chasing him off and Yavar’s mother keeps telling him to do his homework. Yavar perseveres and comes up with all sorts of ideas for reaching the girl, such as a tin-can telephone that uses a garden hose. At school, the teacher doesn’t understand why Yavar is suddenly skipping so many classes.

Directorial debut that looks like an Iranian classic, if only because the boy runs along the forest path whether it be summer or winter. Children seek their own solutions because adults have other things on their minds, such as Parvaneh’s father’s redundancy. Calm and collected with enough playful, exciting elements for young audience.

Dreams are like Wild Tigers

Träume sind wie wilde Tiger

Ranji has moved to Germany from India against his wishes. His father has a good job there, but Ranji has a dream: he wants to be in a Bollywood film. When he sees that his hero, super star Amir Roshan, is organising auditions he only wants one thing: to leave Berlin and return to Mumbai. That will immediately solve his bullying problem too. With neighbour Toni’s help, he risks it all.

This musical comedy not only deals with racism, but also makes serious fun of the concept of integration. This cultural adventure is full of surprising elements, appealing and exciting developments, and inventive videos by Ranji and Toni. Colourful characters including a fabulous grandad and an eccentric neighbour are the opposites of Ranji’s super-rational father. Interlarded with Bollywood song and dance, which provides both exuberant and sensitive moments.

MOHAMMAD SALEHINEZHAD

IRAN | 2021 | 87’ | 9+

FACTS

Dutch title Cocon & vlinder Producer Mohammad Salehinezhad, Mehdi Akbari Screenwriter Mohammad Salehinezhad Editor Movahhed Shadrou Composer Nima Aziminezhad Leading actors Saleh Malek Tabar, Fatemeh Malek Tabar, Radmehr Ali Nasab, Mehri Al Agha, Asgari Reisi Production company Rasekh Film, Iran Sales company 7TH ART Independent Films Dist., Iran, 7thart.ifd@gmail.com

LARS MONTAG

GERMANY | 2021 | 96’ | 8+

FACTS

Dutch title Dromen zijn als wilde tijgers Producer Clemens Schaeffer, Alexander Thies Screenwriter Lars Montag, Sathyan Ramesh, Ellen Schmidt, Murmel Clausen Editor David J. Achilles Composer Johannes Repka Leading actors Shan Robitzky, Annlis Krischke, Sushia Sara Mai, Murali Perumal, Irshad Panjatan Production company NFP neue film produktion GmbH, Germany, info@nfp.de Sales company NFP neue film produktion GmbH, Germany, info@nfp.de

Even Mice Belong in Heaven

Mysi patri do nebe

Mouse Whizzy’s father was eaten by a fox and is considered a hero. Whizzy wants to be just as brave, but the more she works to achieve this, the fewer friends she has. Chased by Fox, she is run over by a car and ends up in animal heaven: a sometimes mysterious, sometimes carnivalesque wonder world full of strange meetings, in which Whizzy and the stuttering Fox slowly forget their enmity and try to find a way out together.

Rich, humorous combination of stop-motion and computer animation make this magical world very appealing. Elements vary from a wash at the pearly gates to a whale with a ‘life cinema’ inside. Lively animal characters prove that it isn’t easy showing who you really are, but because everything is different in animal heaven, it succeeds this time. Adapted from Iva Procházková’s book. Winner of Best Animation at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Hello World

Hei verden

Viktor, Runa, Dina and Joachim are four Norwegian teens who were all the first to come out at their school. Not difficult as such, but that doesn’t mean life afterwards is always easy. Besides the crap jokes, they get a lot of support. There are positive and negative experiences, loneliness and first love. And why shouldn’t a boy use make-up? The film follows the boys and girls’ every activity for three years whilst they speak candidly, at school, playing sports or making music, at home or with friends. Their self-confidence grows.

This spontaneous mix of personal revelations and footage of everyday activities offers countless topics for discussion. Those who still want to come out will feel supported, others will discover that besides being gay these young people are just like everyone else their age. Discovering who you are and a desire for connection are universal.

DENISA GRIMMOVA, JAN BUBENÍCEK

CZECH REPUBLIC, FRANCE, SLOVAKIA, POLAND | 2021 | 80’ | 8+

FACTS

Screenwriter Alice Nellis Editor Vladimír Barák Composer Krzysztof A. Janczak Production company Fresh Films, Czech Republic, info@freshfilmfest.net, http://freshfilms.cz/ Sales company Charades, France, sales@charades.eu, www.charades.eu Distributor Cinéart Nederland

KENNETH ELVEBAKK

NORWAY | 2021 | 90’ | 10+

FACTS

Producer Kari Anne Moe, Gudmundur Gunnarsson Screenwriter Kenneth Elvebakk Editor Simon Carlgren, Alba Lange Composer Henrik Skram Leading actors Dina Wikström Production company Fuglene AS, Norway, kenneth@fuglene.no, www.fuglene.no Sales company Fuglene AS, Norway, kenneth@fuglene.no, www.fuglene.no

Martin and the Magical Forest

Mazel a tajemství lesa

A summer camp full of nature lovers is the last place city kid Martin wants to spend his holidays, but his parents think it would be good for him. The worst thing is he has to hand in his beloved mobile phone, just as he is going to run away however, he discovers something on one else sees. Just like in dreamer Foxie’s book of fairy tales, the woods are crawling with small, plant creatures with huge eyes. They are impatient and need help because humans with huge machines prospecting for valuable resources threaten to destroy nature.

The film’s realistic and comparatively traditional theme of an outsider trying to find his place in the world is effectively combined with the fantastical elements. This stimulates the imagination, leading to a bigger spectacle. The children learn that cooperation is important and the contemporary environmental motif will definitely appeal to young viewers.

My Dad is a Sausage

Mijn vader is een saucisse

When Zoë’s father suddenly quits his job at the bank and wants to become an actor, his family is shocked. Is he suffering from burnout? Is it a mid-life crisis? Only the youngest daughter Zoë, who is a bit of an outsider with artistic talents and scientific interests, helps him. Even if it’s only playing a vegetarian sausage in an ad. It benefits Zoë a lot too.

Comedy about chasing your dreams, told from the perspective of 12-year-old Zoë. The dysfunctional family is in for a rude awakening in this fast-paced story with its dry humour, absurdist situations and yet also space for serious emotions. Lively animation accentuates Zoë’s perspective; she draws parallels between the big bang and the family crisis. Anouk Fortunier’s directorial debut after a screenplay the renowned Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem and based on the book by Agnès de Lestrade.

PETR OUKROPEC

GERMANY, SLOVAKIA, CZECH REPUBLIC | 2021 | 80’ | 6+

FACTS

Dutch title Martin en het magische bos Producer Peter Badač Screenwriter Katerina Kacerovska Editor Dana Klempířová Composer André Feldhaus, Carsten Rocker Leading actors Sebastian Pöthe, Josefína Krycnerová, Tobiáš Rímský, Václav Hubka, Johana Horváthová, Production company BFILM, Czech Republic, info@bfilm.sk, http://www.bfilm.sk/en/o-spolocnosti Sales company Attraction Distribution, Canada, info@attractiondistribution.ca, www.attractiondistribution.ca

ANOUK FORTUNIER

BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY | 2021 | 84’ | 8+

FACTS

Dutch title Mijn vader is een saucisse Producer Dries Phlypo, Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem Screenwriter Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem Editor Get van Berckelaer, Joppe Van Den Brande Composer Harry de Wit Leading actors Johan Heldenbergh, Savannah Vandendriessche, Hilde De Baerdemaeker, Production company A Private View, Belgium, info@aprivateview.be, www.aprivateview.be, The Film Kitchen, The Netherlands, info@thefilmkitchen.nl, www.thefilmkitchen.nl Sales company Studio Hamburg Enterprises GmbH, Germany, info@studiohamburg-enterprises.de, www.studio-hamburg-enterprises.de Distributor Paradiso Filmed Entertainment

My Very Own Circus

Mon cirque à moi

When Laura’s father is on the road with his clown act, Laura always announces him. Will this free life be her future too or does she desire something else? Laura’s teacher Patricia spots her intelligence and helps her get into a good private school. Laura really wants to go, but her father – a non-conformist to the bone – thinks it’s rubbish.

Joyful clown acts, playful details and unexpected spectacle provide the lively basis for more serious matters. One such being that people may not always be the way they first appear. For instance, the ostensibly cynical Patricia proves to be a nice lady who quickly passes Laura a pad when she has her first period. However, it is the father-daughter relationship that also makes this comedy a touching coming-of-age story. And don’t forget the always taciturn sidekick Mandeep. Very freely based on true events.

Nelly Rapp - Monster Agent

Nelly Rapp - Monsteragent

Nelly has no friends. Her father recommends she become like her classmates, but they think Nelly is weird. If something’s creepy or gory, Nelly gets more curious. When she goes to stay with uncle Hannibal, she soon discovers a vampire in the cellar. Her uncle proves to be a monster agent, just like her deceased mother was. Monster agents ensure that zombies, ghosts, vampires and other monsters don’t trouble humans. Nelly’s adventure really takes off when she becomes friends with Roberta, a ‘Frankensteiner’ girl.

This cool, fantasy-rich genre comedy touches on inclusivity and conformism in an original, light-hearted manner, concluding that everyone being the same would be a bad idea as long as people and monsters don’t aggravate each other. Ironic jokes and a touch of parody – the Total Care Center for monster care – appeal to adult audiences. Based on the series of books by Martin Widmark.

MYRIAM BOUCHARD CANADA | 2020 | 100’ | 9+

FACTS

Dutch title Mijn leven is een circus Producer Antonello Cozzolino Screenwriter Martin Forget, Myriam Bouchard Editor Valérie Héroux Composer Mathieu Vanasse Leading actors Patrick Huard, Sophie Laurin, Jasmine Lemée, Robin Aubert, Mathilde Boucher Production company Attraction Images, Canada, info@attractionimages.ca Sales company Attraction Distribution, Canada, info@attractiondistribution.ca, www.attractiondistribution.ca Distributor In The Air

AMANDA ADOLFSSON

SWEDEN | 2020 | 93’ | 8+

FACTS

Dutch title Nelly Rapp - Monsteragent Producer Jon Nohrstedt, Niklas Larsson Screenwriter Sofie Forsman Editor Britta Norell Composer Uno Helmersson Leading actors Matilda Gross, Lily Wahlsteen, Marianne Mörck, Johan Rheborg, Björn Gustafsson, Jens Ohlin Production company SF Studios, Sweden, info@sfstudios.se, www.sfstudios.se Sales company REinvent Studios, Denmark, info@reinvent.dk

Night Forest

Nachtwald

“Take no notice of what people say,” Paul’s father always used to say. But that is far from easy. Paul’s father disappeared a year ago. According to the bullies at school he was a freak: he had discovered a legendary cave in the mountains, but no one believed him. Then Paul finds his father mysterious notebook. He secretly sets out with his friend Max, determined to find the cave. The journey through the mountains is both more difficult and more dangerous than expected but is a trip they will never forget.

This, the first feature film by documentary maker André Hörmann and scriptwriter Katrin Milhahn, combines the framework of an adventure film with a realistic, nuanced impression of friendship and processing loss. Paul’s mother wants to get on with her life, but the boy really misses his father, as is apparent from the moving flashbacks. Non-conformism is another theme.

Poupelle of Chimney Town

Eiga entotsu machi no Poupelle

Chimneysweep Lubicchi lives in a town where the sun is always hidden by leaden, smoky skies. No one can remember seeing blue skies. When someone says there is an outside world, these free thinkers are targeted by the inquisition, which is what happened to Lubicchi’s father, who disappeared. During Halloween a glowing heart falls from the sky. Poupelle, a man made of garbage, comes to life and becomes Lubicchi’s friend. Together they go in search of the starry skies.

This graphic-designed, 3D animation is loaded with action and interlarded with ultra-calm moments. Freedom, reaching for new horizons and the strength of friendship colour this cross between an eco fable and a political fairy tale. The smoke isn’t merely pollution, but a conscious intervention to keep the inhabitants ignorant. This production for young and old was based on Akihiro Nishino’s successful picture book.

ANDRÉ HÖRMANN, KATRIN MILHAHN

GERMANY | 2021 | 96’ | 10+

FACTS

Dutch title Nachtwoud Producer Daniel Reich, Christoph Holthof Screenwriter André Hörmann, Katrin Milhahn Editor Vincent Assmann Composer Marian Lux Leading actors Levi Eisenblätter, Jonas Oeßel, Marc Limpach, Meike Droste Production company Kurhaus Production, Germany, office@kurhausproduction.de, https://kurhausproduction.de/ Sales company Farbfilm Verleih, Germany, info@farbfilm-verleih.de, www.farbfilm-verleih.de

YUUSUKE HIROTA

JAPAN | 2020 | 100’ | 8+

FACTS

Dutch title Poupelle uit Schoorsteenstad Producer Eiko Tanaka, Ryoichi Fukuyama Screenwriter Akihiro Nishino Composer Yûta Bandoh Leading actors Masataka Kubota, Mana Ashida, Shinosuke Tatekawa Production company STUDIO4ºC, Japan, info.g@studio4c.co.jp Sales company Kiyuki Inc., Japan, jeff@kiyuki.jp