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The winners of 8. International Film Festival Kids Kino are

Main Competition

Award: Dragon Girl

For a complex story about difficult and current issues in the world today, told in a way that is friendly to young audiences. Although the film is set in another country, and one of the characters is a dragon, it is, actually, a story about what is happening here and now.

Special mention: Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary

We give a special mention to a film of unobvious beauty that triggers a child’s imagination and makes them an active viewer. It is a well-told, inspiring story about crossing boundaries, enforced norms and ourselves.

Short Documentary Competition

Award: Madison in Between

For the well-thought-out and mature documentary form, the in-depth characters, the varied way the story is told. In times when we are pressured to take sides, this film teaches us to be open-minded, to look for the path in between, and that life is not categorized in black and white, pink and blue.

Special mention: Yaren and the Sun

For visual tenderness in storytelling. For courage and subtleness in touching the most problematic topics.

Film Discoveries Competition

Award: Short Vacation

For an unobvious fusion of realism and poetry, achieved as a result of the creative “hanging out” of the girls main characters, who are the co-creators of the film. For a journey to the end of the world, during which the most important questions are asked in an unpretentious way.

Special mention: Any Day Now

A powerful, optimistic and – at the same time – tragic story of a refugee family that is able to save its private world. For the perspective of a growing boy, in which there is a place for various emotions, convincingly and suggestively played by the main actor.

European Children’s Film Association

Award: Dragon Girl

The jury of the European Children’s Film Association ECFA, meeting on October 1, 2021 online, consisting of: Pantelis Panteloglou, Jerzy Moszkowicz, Barbora Kyas after watching seven films in the Main Competition of the 8th International Kids Kino Film Festival, decided to award their organization’s prize to the film “Dragon Girl” directed by Katarina Launing. In this film we find an extremely current, humanistic message related to the problems affecting every European today. The combination of two worlds: the real world of a small migrant hiding for fear of deportation, and the fantasy world of a lost young dragon, makes the message about the need to care for every creature, no matter where it comes from, and to show it care, accessible even to young children. The film cleverly addresses important and fundamental issues such as freedom and man’s responsibility for every existence. It does so lightly and humorously, which makes it both an excellent entertainment for the youngest as well as a well digestible lesson on issues important to every human being.

Special mention: none 

The Film Educators Group (to ZEF): 

Award: My Very Own Circus

The Film Educators Group (ZEF) awarded  the film “My Very Own Circus”, directed by Miryam Bouchard. Does freedom mean the same for everyone? How, being oneself, do not harm others, respect their needs and beliefs? The love between a father and his daughter, and in the background the challenging adolescence, the self-exploration, the realisation of dreams, the determination to achieve goals and the difficult art of compromise. And all this told with humor and charm, in a film inspired by her directr’s life.

Special mention: Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary

Special Mention from The Film Educators Group (ZEF) for the film “Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary” directed by Rémi Chayé. For an inspiring (not just for girls), interestingly told story and visually enchanting animation. Wild Wild West for everyone!

Arthouse Cinemas Association (SKS):

Award: Belle

For its extremely up-to-date portrayal of today’s times, for its stunning and universal message, for its subtle illustration of the dangers of the virtual world, but also for its enchantment with its dark side.

Special mention: Even Mice Belong in Heaven

For its universal approach to the topic of death and the complicated emotions that accompany loss, as well as for its visuality and wonderful reference to the classic form of animation.

Audience Fern Flower Award: Yakari, a Spectacular Journey

About the idea

Kino Dzieci (Kids Kino) is an International Film Festival addressed mainly to the viewers at the age of 4-12 and their families & guardians. From the very begining, the idea behind the festival was to make valuable worthwhile movies available to the general public. All the productions have been carefully selected considering their educational, artistic and production values.

The audience of the Kids Kino IFF has grown to over twenty Polish cities, from the begining of the festival in 2014 till today. The viewers of each edition get acquainted with international productions nominated in the Main Competition that have not been presented to wider distrubition. The entire film program, grouped in sections, is displayed in Warsaw and Wrocław only, while the most important sections, led by the Main Competition movies, are also presented in the remaining eighteen festival cities.

The best Kids Kino IFF is always chosen by viewers from all over the country. Thanks to the festival, selected films appear on Polish cinema screens, including European and international productions – films, animations, documentaries and series for kids.

We believe that such actions have a significant impact on shaping young viewers as well as on the development of the film production market directed to the young viewers. However, Kids Kino IFF is not only about movie screening. Thanks to the workshops and accompanying events, the festival has become an opportunity for meetings and discussion. Kids Kino IFF goes beyond the actul week of the festival duration and it is present for the viewers throughout the following year, introducing the best films of the festival to theaters for the following months.

The 9th edition of the Kids Kino International Film Festival – in cinemas from 24 September to 2 October and online from 6 to 23 October

The New Horizons Association is happy to invite you to the 9th edition of the Kids Kino International Film Festival – a cinema celebration directed to young viewers and their guardians. Once again, the festival will take a hybrid form, which guarantees access to a wide selection of children-friendly high-quality films for almost an entire month.

From 24 September to 2 October, the festival will be held on-site in 20 towns and cities in Poland. Next, from 6 to 23 October, the festival films will be available to watch online.

Kids Kino IFF is addressed to children over 4 years old and their guardians. Since 2014, that is the beginning of the festival, its main mission has been about providing wide audiences with access to quality films of exceptional educational, artistic, and creative value.

The festival line-up is based on 12 sections presenting a variety of themes and genres. One of the sections is specifically dedicated to the children’s guardians. The programme includes a number of documentaries, live-action films, and animations. There will be a new section this year, focusing on Norwegian documentary productions for young viewers. The Road to the North – Documentaries from Norway section is co-financed by the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Every year, Kids Kino prepares a special section to present the cinematography of a selected region. This time, we are going to show you A Postcard from the Netherlands. This section is partnered by the Netherlands Embassy in Warsaw.

As part of the Main Competition, you will be able to watch the most interesting international productions that have not been released in Poland yet. The jury will evaluate films in this section as well as in two other categories: Discoveries Competition and Short Documentaries Competition. Like in previous editions, members of the audience in all the festival locations will also have their chance to assess the films and choose the best title of the Kids Kino festival.

Moreover, the festival agenda will include: meetings with film directors and child actors, introductions to films prepared by educators and experts, workshops, and a variety of online resources. The form of all the accompanying activities will be adapted to the safety rules in place.

The 9th Kids Kino IFF is organised by the Education Department of the New Horizons Association, which specialises in cinema for young audiences in a number of fields. Apart from the festival, the Association develops numerous film education projects as part of the New Horizons of Film Education programme. Other activities and events organised by the Association include film distribution in cinemas and on the New Horizons VOD platforms; Kids Kino Lab and Kids Kino Docs – script development workshops focused on feature, animated, and documentary films and series for kids and teenagers; and meetings with representatives of global film industry.

This year’s edition will be again accompanied by Kids Kino Industry: an international co-production forum for the creators of films and series for young audiences. Every year, this event is attended by more than 300 representatives of film industry, such as Netflix, Canal+, and Nickelodeon. For the participating filmmakers, the forum is an opportunity to find future investors, co-producers, distributors, sales agents, and TV broadcasters that can help them implement their ideas for films or series. The event will take place on 27–30 September, in Warsaw and online.

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