Where Have All the Good Men Gone (2016)
Section: International Competition of European First Films
Directed by: Rene Frelle Petersen
Denmark, 2016, 94 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Living in a tiny trailer in the back of their family's bar, Sofia and her older half-sister Olivia live a rough life filled with abuse and exploitation. Sofia's stepfather, Lars, is a violent man who keeps the girls and their mother under an iron thumb. When their mother lets it slip that Sofia's biological father may still be alive and living nearby, Sofia packs up her and Olivia's bags and they hit the road, going off of an address found on an old love letter. What they find is rather unexpected. Adam, Sofia's father, is holed up in an isolated farmhouse surrounded by barbed wire and signs that warn everyone to "KEEP OUT!" An ex-soldier with severe PTSD, Adam lives alone and has no interest in opening up to anyone, much less two young runaways. The girls camp out outside his property until he finally gives in and lets them stay with him, and slowly but surely they all grow close to resembling the kind of stable, caring family the girls have always wanted. Things can't stay perfect forever, though, and the girls realize they might not have gone far enough to escape Lars.
Railway Children (2016)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films for Youth
Directed by: Prithvi Konanur
India, 2016, 115 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
Raju, a 12-year-old runaway, steps into an unknown, never-seen-before world on the railway platform. Timid, insecure and unsure, he falls into the hands of a gang involved in illegal businesses. Jollu, a gang-member of Raju’s age and a substance addict, teaches Raju the tricks and trades of surviving on the platform. They realize that while platforms are divided among gangs for selling spurious drinking water, the trains themselves are free for anyone. Both Raju and Jollu reconcile with another platform-boy and start selling water on their own, undercutting their boss and inviting danger to their lives.
Big Big World (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Reha Erdem
Turkey, 2016, 101 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Ali and Zuhal are two teenagers who grew up in an orphanage with a bond as strong as between a brother and sister. When Ali moves out on account of his age, Zuhal is put into the dubious care of a foster family and is no longer allowed to see him. In a desperate attempt to save Zuhal from a scheduled arranged marriage, Ali commits a terrible crime and they find themselves on the run, away from civilization and into the woods. There, in a secluded space deep in the forest, they try to start a new life in a mystical natural environment full of wonders, strange residents and concrete threats. One day, however, Ali finds Zuhal drenched in blood and doesn’t have any choice but to take her back to the city again.
The Polar Boy (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Anu Aun
Estonia, 2016, 97 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
Mattias has a dream of becoming a photography student at the Berlin Arts Academy. His dream is constantly put to the test when he falls in love with the beautiful free spirit Hanna. Trying to win her heart, he feels the need to prove to Hanna that he can be just as adventurous and unpredictable as she is. Breaking the law together with Hanna, Mattias risks everything dear to him, not knowing yet that Hanna’s bold acts are only the symptoms of bipolar disorder. In a moment of jealousy, Mattias accidentally commits a crime that could put him behind bars for years. In order to save himself Mattias decides to get himself declared irresponsible by faking the illness his girlfriend really has – bipolarity.
Play the Devil (2016)
Section: Night Horizons
Directed by: Maria Govan
Bahamas, U.S.A., 2016, 89 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Gregory, a gifted working-class teenager from Paramin, stars in a theater play that brings him to the attention of James, an affluent businessman. The two men strike an uncanny friendship as James takes Greg under his wing, pushing him to discover himself professionally, creatively, and intimately. Confused, Greg must at once deal with the return of his drug addicted father, and navigate through the early days of adulthood. As Carnival Monday approaches and the locals prepare for the annual male initiation parade, Greg must confront James – an act which will culminate in life changing events for him.
Boy on the Bridge (2016)
Section: International Competition of European First Films
Directed by: Petros Charalambous
Cyprus, 2016, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
Spring has come to a Cypriot village, bringing with it an invitation for Socrates to indulge in his favourite pastimes: setting off homemade fireworks, tormenting local pensioners, hurtling through the village on a moped and defying his mother. As Easter looms, Socrates masterminds a plan to make the biggest firecracker of the year and set it off at midnight on Holy Saturday. The device explodes collapsing part of the church and burying an old man beneath the rubble. The spotlight shines briefly on Socrates before illuminating a more serious crime. A boy has been attacked and the village becomes a hotbed of gossip and finger-pointing. When a friend is arrested for the crime, Socrates, convinced of his innocence, is determined to find the real perpetrator. Behind the scenes in this seemingly idyllic backwater, an abused wife plots revenge on her husband, a scheming miser falls in love and a dangerous predator stalks the innocent. Spring brings a rude awakening to all the villagers and Socrates in particular.
One-Two-Three GO! (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg
Denmark, 2016, 114 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Jeppe and Cecilie meet in their high school freshman year and immediately fall in love. But life doesn’t turn out the way Jeppe imagines, as Cecilie carries a dark secret that will impact their growing relation. Cecilie has cancer but finds comfort in Jeppe’s kindness, understanding, and willingness to listen; a support that she doesn’t get from her parents. Together they realize how fragile life is and decide to make every second count.
Amadeus (1984)
Section: Golden Slipper for Special Contribution in Children´s and Youth Cinema
Directed by: Miloš Forman
U.S.A., 1984, 180 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
The year is 1781 and Antonio Salieri is the court composer of Emperor Joseph II. When Mozart comes to the court, Salieri realizes with horror that the divine musical talent that he wished for himself has been given to this lewd and mischievous prankster. The Italian composer, compelled by jealousy, arranges intrigues in order to destroy Mozart and he'll stop at nothing to do it.
My First Highway (2016)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films for Youth
Directed by: Kevin Meul
Belgium, 2016, 82 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
During his annual family holiday to Spain, 16-year-old Benjamin becomes infatuated with one of the local girls. Anne is fascinating and beautiful and he quickly falls in love with her, little suspecting the direction in which events are about to turn. One drunken night, Anne shares a dark secret with him; she wants to find and confront the man who raped her. Head over heels in love and desperate to prove himself, Benjamin resolves to become her hero and the pair embark on a voyage of discovery from which there can be no turning back.
Who Saw Him Die (1968)
Section: Days of Swedish Cinema
Directed by: Jan Troell
Sweden, 1968, 110 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Martensson is a disillusioned teacher trying desperately to keep control of a class that has gone askew. He valiantly tries to bridge the generation gap while alternately loving and hating his job and his students.
Kicks (2016)
Section: Night Horizons
Directed by: Justin Tipping
U.S.A., 2016, 80 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Brandon is 15 longs for a pair of the freshest sneakers that money can buy; assuming that merely having them on his feet will help him escape the reality of being poor, neglected by the opposite sex and picked on by everyone even his best friends. Working hard to get them, he soon finds that the titular shoes have instead made him a target after they are promptly snatched by local hood, Flaco. Seemingly the embodiment of menace, Flaco harbors complexities of his own that will be revealed when Brandon goes on a mission to retrieve his stolen sneakers with his two best friends in tow.
Storm - Letter of Fire (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Dennis Bots
Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, 2016, 105 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
What if you are suddenly on your own and anyone could be your enemy? 12-year-old Storm ends up on an adventure when his father Klaas accepts a new job. He secretly prints forbidden texts in his print shop. Storm's mother does not like this one bit; it’s dangerous to have different opinions. The safe life Storm knew is turned upside down when Klaas gets caught in the act. Storm flees just in time with the original letter and becomes the focus of a manhunt. He gets help from someone unexpected when he meets Marieke, a girl that lives in the city's underground tunnels. In a race against time, Storm tries to save his father. But who can he trust?
That Time Together (2017)
Section: Czech Films and TV
Directed by: Marta Santovjáková Gerlíková, Jiří Novotný
Czech Republic, 2017, 75 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
This is the story of a young Jewish girl, Tereza Zágorová, who finds shelter from deportation in the Wallachian hills; her family has already been taken. Tereza tries to fit into her new environment and learns how life in the village is different from the city. But the wartime period also reaches the countryside and the girl must be careful to hide her secrets.
Number Four (2016)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films for Children
Directed by: Mehran Malakouti
Iran, 2016, 71 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
The story of this film is about a young adult boy whose father is dead and can’t accept this truth… It’s been about two years since Atou’s father failed to come back home from the sea and everybody thinks that he’s dead. Atou’s uncle tries to force his mother to re-marry. He tries to help his mother earn money so he decides to work with smugglers, but he faces many problems – problems he is not old enough to handle.
Baba Joon (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Yuval Delshad
Israel, 2016, 91 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Yitzhak runs the turkey farm his father built with his own two hands after they emigrated from Iran to Israel. When his son Moti turns thirteen, Yitzhak teaches him the trade, hoping that he will continue the proud family tradition. But Moti doesn’t like working in the turkey barn; his passion is fixing up junkyard cars and bringing them back to life. Moti's mother Sarah tries to reconcile the two, while his grandfather pushes Yitzhak to take a firm hand with his son. Yitzhak takes Moti’s refusal to work in the turkey barn as a personal affront. Though he loves his son dearly, he makes it his mission to impose the family farm on Moti. Conflict is inevitable.
Sky Blue (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Andrea Ríos
Venezuela, 2016, 101 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Diego is 14 years old and decided to be a father with his girlfriend of 16. He is a rebel and a bad student, but he dreams that the arrival of his son will fill the emotional void product of his father's abandonment. An unexpected event brings him and his brothers together with their father, and together they undertake a journey with the promise of a better future. But there is a problem; Diego's father does not accept his grandson or his son's girlfriend. The Venezuelan landscapes will witness a journey of family transformation, emotional conflicts and the establishment of new bonds.
Bad Influence (2016)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films for Youth
Directed by: Claudia Huaiquimilla
Chile, 2016, 89 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Arrested after a violent gas station robbery, troubled Santiago youth Tano is remanded to the custody of his father Javier, an auto mechanic living in the small mountain community of Wallmapu. Soon the wayward teen befriends shy, awkward Cheo, whose indigenous Mapuche community fights against the displacement and destruction wrought by a massive local pulp mill. The bond between the two boys quickly deepens against the pressures of schoolyard cruelty and the troubled home lives of each, forcing a reckoning in both boys with themselves and the world around them.
She Monkeys (2011)
Section: Days of Swedish Cinema
Directed by: Lisa Aschan
Sweden, 2011, 84 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
A modern western about control, sex and creatures. When Emma meets Cassandra, they initiate a relationship filled with physical and psychological challenges. Emma does whatever it takes to master the rules of the game. Lines are crossed and the stakes get higher and higher. Despite this, Emma can't resist the intoxicating feeling of total control.
Play the Devil (2016)
Section: Night Horizons
Directed by: Maria Govan
Bahamas, U.S.A., 2016, 89 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
Gregory, a gifted working-class teenager from Paramin, stars in a theater play that brings him to the attention of James, an affluent businessman. The two men strike an uncanny friendship as James takes Greg under his wing, pushing him to discover himself professionally, creatively, and intimately. Confused, Greg must at once deal with the return of his drug addicted father, and navigate through the early days of adulthood. As Carnival Monday approaches and the locals prepare for the annual male initiation parade, Greg must confront James – an act which will culminate in life changing events for him.
Silver Forest (2011)
Section: Welcome to Switzerland
Directed by: Christine Repond
Switzerland, 2011, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
A coming-of-age story set in a small Swiss town in a bleak winter landscape. A group of boys struggle with their mounting anger with the mundane world, resulting in a string of escalating acts of violence. Deep in the forest they finally find release for their aggression by joining a skinhead gang – only to discover a boundary where harmless play turns into murder.