Film programme 2021

Life without Sara Amat (2019)

Section: Part I.

Directed by: Laura Jou

Spain, 2019, 75 min

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Pep, a 13-year-old boy, is completely in love with Sara Amat, a girl from her grandparents' village. One summer night, Sara disappears, but Pep later finds her hidden in his own room. That's when the young woman explains that she has run away from home and asks to stay for a few days. Although Pep knows that the whole town is looking for her, he becomes her protector. Consequently, the boy is forced to live a double life: he must lie to everyone while satisfying Sara's demands, which puts him to the test and makes him mature before the summer's end.

The Ape Star (2021)

Section: Literature in Film - European Corner

Directed by: Linda Hambäck

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, 2021, 76 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 1

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There is nothing the orphan Jonna wants more than a mother. The feisty young girl dearly wants to be adopted. Jonna will accept anyone, really, so long as her new parent loves Jonna… and only Jonna. But when her potential new mom drives up to the orphanage in an old car, she gets a big shock when the door opens and a gorilla steps out! Now she’s not so sure she wants to leave…

Martin and the Magical Forest (2021)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category

Directed by: Petr Oukropec

Czech Republic, Germany, Slovak Republic, 2021, 80 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 2

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Martin (or "Mazel") is addicted to his phone; nature and the forest are anathema to him. He has to go to a camp in the woods where phones are forbidden; he's never experienced anything like it. There’s a big camp game every team wants to win, but Mazel lacks the skills to win. One night, he discovers that the forest is full of mysterious magical creatures and the forest creatures need a few of Mazel's things in order stop the nearby miners and their test drillings. Helping Mazel, they turn him into an experienced woodsman, leading his team to victory. But it is not advisable to play too much with ancient forest creatures; water disappears from the forest, tensions with the miners grows, and people become suspicious of Mazel. An inconspicuous camp adventure leads to a finale where the fighting creatures of the forest stop hiding.

Zip and Zap and the Captain´s Island (2016)

Section: Literature in Film - Comic Book Paradise

Directed by: Oskar Santos

Spain, 2016, 105 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 4

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This Christmas, naughty twins Zip and Zap have taken their old tricks too far. Their punishment will be a business trip with their parents to a distant island. But a terrifying storm rolls in and they never reach their destination. Seeking shelter, they find an enormous Victorian mansion which just happens to be a children’s home run by the apparently friendly Miss Pam, but nothing is as it seems…

Even Mice Belong to Heaven (2021)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category

Directed by: Denisa Grimmová, Jan Bubeníček

Czech Republic, France, Poland, Slovak Republic, 2021, 87 min

Projection place: Kongresové centrum

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Two enemies, the mouse Šupito and the fox Bělobřich, meet again (reluctantly) in the animal afterlife after an unfortunate event. With the absence of natural instincts and the unusual distance from earthly things, a friendly bond develops between them over time. Their desire to stay friends forever is fulfilled even after returning to earth, where they are inadvertently born in exchanged roles. Friendship can overcome even the seemingly impossible.

Marona´s Fantastic Tale (2019)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Anca Damian

Belgium, France, Romania, 2019, 92 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 2

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The victim of an accident, a small female dog remembers the different masters she has unconditionally loved. With her unfailing empathy, Marona has brought lightness and innocence to each of the homes she has lived in.

Call me Blackbird (2020)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category

Directed by: Pavel Mirzoev

Russia, 2020, 93 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 4

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At first glance, Kostya is a completely ordinary 14-year-old boy. He is quite a capable rapper, but doesn't believe in himself, doesn't have many friends, and isn't good at school. He is attracted to his red-haired classmate Dina, who is going out with the popular and successful Valer. Kostya lives with his mother because his father has left them for another woman, which he views as a betrayal and he's ready to hate his father. All this until he meets a new and mysterious friend on the Internet…

The Peppercorns and the Secret of the Deep Sea (2020)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Christian Theede

Germany, 2020, 90 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 1

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An unbeatable team of five teenage friends, the “Peppercorns” detective gang, unites to find out who is behind the kidnapping of a missing oceanographer who has discovered a means of getting rid of plastic waste in the ocean, and who has made some enemies. One shady garbage dealer seems to have no scruples. A race against time begins to save her life and their future.

Kids are Fine (2021)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category

Directed by: Ji Won LEE

South Korea, 2021, 108 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 6

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With an ailing mother and a very busy father, Da-yi is used to doing everything by himself. His family moves closer to his mother’s hospital so Da-yi can visit his mother every day. Though in a new neighborhood and school, Da-yi does not feel lonely as long as he is with his mother. He visits his mother every day to spend time with her. Gradually adjusting to his new school, Da-yi becomes best friends with his classmates Yu-jin and Min-ho. As he spends more time with his friends, he spends less time thinking about his mother. However, when his mother’s condition worsens and she is transferred to a faraway hospital, Da-yi gets worried that he may never see her again and heads out on the search with his friends.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Section: Literature in Film - Young Academy

Directed by: Tim Burton

United States of America, 2016, 128 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 2

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When his beloved grandfather leaves Jake (16) clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers – and their terrifying enemies. Ultimately, Jake discovers that only his own special peculiarity can save his new friends.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Section: Literature in Film - The Club of Heroes

Directed by: Gary Ross

United States of America, 2012, 137 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 3

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In the ruins of the former North America lies Panem, whose capital is The Capitol, ruling over 12 disctricts. Each year a boy and a girl from each district are sent to the Capital to compete in The Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the game. She relies mainly on her instincts and faces opponents who have trained for combat all their lives. If Katniss is ever to return home, she must make fatal decisions in the arena.

Night of the Beast (2020)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Mauricio Leiva Cock

Colombia, Mexico, 2020, 70 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 4

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Do you have the force to hold on to your Iron Maiden tickets? Using some of Iron Maiden’s most famous tracks, such as Aces High and The Trooper, Mauricio Leiva-Cock tells the story of two young metalheads coasting aimlessly through Bogota’s alleys on the day of Iron Maiden’s first-ever concert in Colombia. Their day is wrecked and their friendship is tested when hoodlums steal their most valued possession: the tickets to see their favorite band perform live.

Mission Ulja Funk (2021)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Barbara Kronenberg

Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, 2021, 90 min

Projection place: Kongresové centrum

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When Ulja (12) is prevented from pursuing her passion, astronomy, she decides to take matters into her own hands. With a stolen hearse and a 13-year-old classmate as a driver, she makes her way across Eastern Europe to watch the impact of an asteroid. In doing so, she not only has to shake off her persecutors, but also her pragmatic view of friendship and family.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)

Section: Literature in Film - The Club of Heroes

Directed by: Thor Freudenthal

United States of America, 2010, 94 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 1

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Middle school is not an enjoyable experience for preteen Greg Heffley, but a horrid ordeal of social land-mines that he must bear. To do so, he devises schemes to win him the recognition and status he feels he deserves – all of which fail miserably. Greg chronicles his misadventures, thoughts and opinions in a diary to prepare for the day that he will no longer have to put up with nonsense.

Twigson and the Sea Monster (2020)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Tove Undheim

Norway, 2020, 71 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 2

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The new adventures of Twigson and Junior. This time, they travel on holiday with Aunt Thea to Summer Island where they make a new friend, Eddy. It is rumored that a sea worm has been observed in the fjord, and it will not be long before the energetic sea worm expert Blegen shows up, with his strange devices and instruments. It will be an exciting summer holiday with friendship put to the test in the hunt for the mysterious sea worm.

Spaceboy (2020)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category

Directed by: Olivier Pairoux

Belgium, 2020, 100 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 4

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Arriving in a new town with his dad, Jim, a gifted 11-year-old boy, has to participate in a young scientist competition with his new classmate Emma. Jim convinces her to secretly build a real air balloon. Pursuing his father’s dream of going to space, Jim drags her into an adventure which brings them closer.

Night Forest (2021)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category

Directed by: Andre Hörmann

Germany, 2021, 96 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 5

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Paul and Max are best buddies. On the first day of their summer vacation, they sneak out of their homes and venture into the green wilderness that surrounds their little mountain village. They are on a mission to find a legendary cave hidden somewhere in the mountains. The boys follow the traces of Paul’s missing father Thomas, who is seen as a madman by everyone in the village. To find the path to the cave, the boys must decrypt Thomas' notes about an ancient local tale. Alone in the woods, both boys experience a newfound sense of freedom and light-heartedness. As they blaze their trails through the deep forest and steep mountains, the runaways face challenges far greater than they had imagined, leading them to face their greatest fears and discover more about each other and their very different home lives.

Sun Children (2020)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category

Directed by: Majid Majidi

Iran, 2020, 99 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 2

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In bustling Teheran, 12-year-old Ali and his friends, a gang of mischievous street children, are hired by a dangerous criminal to pull off a heist of buried treasure hidden close to a school. To gain access, the kids must enroll in school where, through education, they begin to discover a different treasure: the one within themselves.

Kids Cup (2021)

Section: Competition of European Documentary Films for Young Audience

Directed by: Line Hatland

Denmark, Finland, Norway, 2021, 90 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 4

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Friendship, trials, victories, and loss – the young players at the world's biggest soccer tournament for kids, Norway Cup, have a lot of challenges even off the football pitch. Afnan from Palestine, Khalidi from Tanzania/USA, Yu from China, Fred from Brazil, and Anna from Norway have all trained hard the last year to prepare for the Cup. Their goal is to win, but they cannot all bring the trophy home.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Section: Literature in Film - Comic Book Paradise

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Japan, 1984, 117 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 6

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A thousand years after a global war upset the balance of the ecosystem and human settlements are scattered along the Toxic Jungle, a toxic forest full of gigantic insect creatures, Princess Nausicaä from the Valley of the Wind discovers beauty in the forbidden area and learns to understand its ecological laws. Meanwhile, tensions are rising between the two most powerful states; they will soon go into open war over a weapon from the time of the global war…