Little Harbour (2017)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films for Children
Directed by: Iveta Grófová
Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2017, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
A story inspired by true events about two children whose innocent play will change their lives forever. For Lucia, Jarka is nothing more than a best friend. Ten-year-old Jarka doesn’t see it that way though. She would much rather have her mom try to be a mother instead. Jarka dreams of having a real family and a house by the sea. Left on her own, she stumbles upon twin infants abandoned at the train station and decides to take them in. Her grandmother’s enchanted garden becomes a safe haven where she can take on the role of a parent together with her neighbour Kristian, who himself suffers from overprotective parents. In an impressive manner, the two prove how loving true affection and an awareness of responsibility can look when individuals hold tight to their dreams without disappointing those closest to them.
Heidi (2015)
Section: Welcome to Switzerland
Directed by: Alain Gsponer
Switzerland, Germany, 2015, 105 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Heidi is an orphaned girl who spends the happiest days of childhood together with her friend Peter while watching a herd of goats, playing together and enjoying the freedom of the Swiss Alps, where she lives in a simple cabin with her grandfather. This all ends when Heidi is taken by her Aunt Dee to Frankfurt, Germany, where she's to provide company for a sick girl named Klara, who's from a wealthy family. The girls quickly become friends, but Heidi's longing for her grandfather, Peter and the mountains is too great...
Summer 1993 (2017)
Section: International Competition of European First Films
Directed by: Carla Simon Pipó
Spain, 2017, 96 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
In the summer 1993, following the death of her parents, 6-year-old Frida moves from Barcelona to the Catalan province to live with her aunt and uncle, who are now her new legal guardians. The country life is a challenge for Frida – time passes differently in her new home and the nature that surrounds her is mysterious and estranging. She now has a little sister for whom she has to take care of and has to deal with new feelings, such as jealousy. Often, Frida is naively convinced that running away would be the best solution to her problems. Yet, the family does what it can to achieve a fragile new balance and bring normality to their life. Occasional family outings to a local fiesta or a swimming pool, cooking or listening to jazz in the garden bring them moments of happiness. Slowly, Frida realizes that she is there to stay and has to adapt to the new environment. Before the season is over, she has to cope with her emotions and her new parents have to learn to love her as their own daughter.
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.
Just Charlie (2017)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films for Youth
Directed by: Rebecah Fortune
U.K., 2017, 99 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Football is Charlie’s joy. When he has the ball at his feet, he can make magic happen – a gift that many teenage boys only dream of. Now the opportunity for Charlie to play professionally has come along. It looks like Charlie will be able to succeed where his father could not. But Charlie has a secret, a secret locked in his heart. Now, with his future seemingly mapped out, the secret cannot stay hidden any longer. Charlie’s decision to reveal the truth tears his once united family apart and puts his friends in turmoil. No-one is quite sure of themselves or each other anymore and the road back to harmony is paved with obstacles, prejudices and confusion.
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.
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.
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.
My Life as a Zucchini (2016)
Section: Welcome to Switzerland
Directed by: Claude Barras
Switzerland, France, 2016, 66 min
Projection place: Mala scena
Score:
Zucchini is a rather unusual nickname for a 9-year-old boy and his unique story is surprisingly universal. After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a kind police officer Raymond, who accompanies Zucchini to his new foster home, which is filled with other orphans his age. At first Zucchini struggles to find his place in this strange, at times, hostile environment. Yet with Raymond’s help and his new found friends, he eventually learns to trust, finds true love and at last a new family of his own.
Swing It Kids! (2016)
Section: Welcome to Switzerland
Directed by: Fabian Kimoto
Switzerland, 2016, 82 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
The Swiss children’s band Swing Kids entertains young and old wherever they go: at the Montreux Jazz Festival as well as on tour through Switzerland, the USA and Japan. The film accompanies several Swing Kids starting off with their first auditions, taking a journey to Japan for several weeks until tearfully leaving the band at the age of eighteen. They must make space for new talents who get the chance to make music and experience their own exciting adventures.
Glowing Stars (2009)
Section: Days of Swedish Cinema
Directed by: Lisa Siwe
Sweden, 2009, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Jenna is 14 years old and has the typical worries of a young adolescent girl: appearance, popularity and boys. But her life is not simple; Jenna lives with her single mother, Liv, who has cancer. When her mom collapses while out shopping, the two have to move in with gran. Everything sucks and life is happening somewhere else – namely at the popular girl Ullis’ place. There’s a party and Jenna makes up her mind to go – to Sakke with the beautiful eyes, and to Ullis, whose philosophy is “why feel sad when you can feel happy instead”. With Ullis by her side, Jenna throws herself into a world of parties, booze, and boys. Finally, she can take her mind off all the dark stuff.
Enough! (2016)
Section: Panorama
Directed by: Tessa Schram
Netherlands, 2016, 104 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
What if your best friends are hanging out with the wrong friends? Sander has known Chris and Maarten his whole life, but when they go to different schools, the tough Emiel joins the group. Sander tries to like him, but that’s difficult because Emiel has a violent nature. Sander’s love life also has its problems. He likes his classmate Indra, but he thinks she has a boyfriend. At the same time, she thinks he’s already taken. When an afternoon with his friends gets out of control and a boy gets hurt, they try to put the blame on Sander. Can he withstand the pressure of his friends or will he, just like in the past, never betray his friends? How can he prove his innocence before he loses all his friends?