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.

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…

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.

Wind (2020)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Dadren Wanggyal

China, 2020, 96 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 6

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Gelak is an illegitimate child, living with her mom Samdan alone in a distant Tibetan village, where women are not allowed to join the Sang Offering to the Sacred Mountain. Samdan has always relied on men for a living, and Gelak has been treated as a vicious witch by the villagers. Fed up with the prejudice she has to face growing up, Gelak decides to challenge the traditions and fight for herself…

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 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.

Poly (2020)

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

Directed by: Nicolas Vanier

France, 2020, 92 min

Projection place: Kongresové centrum

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Ten-year-old Cécile has a hard time adapting to life in the village her mother, which she has just returned to. The arrival of a travelling circus finally offers her some distraction. Everyone rushes to see Poly, the flagship pony. When Cécile finds out its owner Brancalou mistreats the animal, she saves Poly! Hiding her new pony friend from the adults, Cecile finds unexpected allies in the mysterious Victor and the kids of the village. With Brancalou on their tracks, Cecile and Poly embark on an adventure full of danger and surprises...

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.

Butterfly on the Windowpane (2020)

Section: Panorama

Directed by: Sujit Bidari

Nepal, 2020, 96 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 3

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Bidya (13), a gifted student and aspiring poet, lives in a rural village of Nepal with her younger brother, Basanta (9), and her single mother. She dreams of going to the city school in order to leave the conservative society she lives in, but when she fails to secure the first position in the school term, she loses her scholarship. Learning that his sister is giving up on her dreams, Basanta struggles to give Bidya the hope she desperately needs.

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…

The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Section: Literature in Film - The Club of Heroes

Directed by: Woflgang Petersen

United States of America, Germany, 1984, 94 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 2

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Bastian Bux, a quiet boy who loves to read, is accosted by bullies on his way to school. He hides in a bookstore, interrupting the grumpy bookseller, Mr. Koreander. Bastian asks about one of the books he sees, but Mr. Koreander warns him it is "not safe". Nevertheless, Bastian "borrows" the book, leaving a note promising to return it, and races towards school. He then hides in the school's attic to begin reading The Neverending Story.

Dating Amber (2020)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category

Directed by: David Freyne

Ireland, 2020, 92 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 5

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Set-in Ireland during the mid-90’s, Eddie and Amber (both 17) are in the closet about their sexuality and decide to stage a relationship in order to stop everyone speculating. Eddie is keen to follow his dad into the military, while Amber dreams of moving to the liberal hub of London. However, their ‘ideal’ arrangement begins to fall apart, forcing Eddie deeper into denial as Amber realises that a perilous future awaits her best friend unless she intervenes.

A Colourful Dream (2020)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category

Directed by: Jan Balej

Czech Republic, 2020, 74 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 6

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A humourous adventure story dealing with the timeless theme of the conflict between unlimited power and the desire for freedom, bravery, and love. A group of street performers arrives on an island, where there is an omnipotent ruler and strict police order. A botched cannon shot during their performance triggers a number of unexpected events. Outnumbered, the young man Drin, girl Tuvi, and seagull Natan must battle against a totalitarian power. The duel will ultimately change the fates of all the inhabitants of the Island – humans and seagulls.

The Ogglies - Welcome to Smelliville (2020)

Section: Literature in Film - European Corner

Directed by: Jens Møller, Toby Genkel

Germany, 2020, 85 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 3

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The Ogglies are looking for a new home. They end up in Smelliville, a beautiful and peaceful village. Unfortunately, Smelliville has a stinky problem: The local garbage dump is spoiling the place. Something must happen! Max, son of the mayor and his ambitious wife, secretly hopes to solve the stinky problem with a crazy machine, but when Max meets the Ogglies on the rubbish dump, it becomes clear what the Ogglies might mean for Smelliville: they eat garbage!

Little Spirou (2016)

Section: Literature in Film - Comic Book Paradise

Directed by: Nicolas Bary

France, Belgium, 2016, 59 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 6

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Like every hero, the intrepid Spirou was once a kid. And when you’re a kid, you have to obey your elders. Like his entire family before him, Little Spirou is destined to become a professional bellboy. So when his mom announces that he’ll be starting bellhop academy next year, Little Spirou decides, with the help of his friends, to make the most out of their last days together, and to confess his undying love to his sweetheart Suzette.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Section: Literature in Film - The Club of Heroes

Directed by: Peter Ramsey, Robert Persichetti

United States of America, 2018, 117 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 5

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Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into the one and only Spider-Man. When he meets Peter Parker, he soon realizes that there are many others who share his special, high-flying talents. Miles must now use his newfound skills to battle the evil Kingpin, a hulking madman who can open portals to other universes and pull different versions of Spider-Man into our world.

The Book Thief (2013)

Section: Literature in Film - Young Academy

Directed by: Brian Percival

Germany, United States of America, 2013, 131 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 3

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A profoundly moving story of a girl who transforms the lives of those around her during World War II, Germany. Although Liesel is illiterate when she is adopted by a German couple, her adoptive father encourages her to learn to read. Ultimately, the power of words helps Liesel and Max, a Jew hiding in the family’s home, escape from the events unfolding around them in this extraordinary, acclaimed film directed by Brian Percival.

Trash (2020)

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

Directed by: Luca Della Grotta, Francesco Dafano

Italy, 2020, 88 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 3

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Boxes, bottles, cans. Garbage. Abandoned everywhere. Ignored by everyone. Inert. Until nightfall. Slim is an old cardboard box. Resigned to his fate, he does not believe in the legend of the Magic Pyramid: a magical place where it’s possible for all garbage to be Carriers again, useful to themselves and others. His life changes when a small box, Spark, interrupts his routine. Spark involves Slim and his pal Bubbles in an adventure which will take him to a place where he belongs, a toy store. But someone is looking for Spark: the discarded Kudo, lord of the landfill. Kudo’s gang pursues the group until they capture him. After an epic battle Slim saves Spark and they are able to find the Magic Pyramid. At its feet their destiny is fulfilled, they are given a second chance: another life.

Sami, Joe and I (2020)

Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category

Directed by: Karin Heberlein

Switzerland, 2020, 94 min

Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema, sál 6

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Sami, Joe and Leyla are an inseparable group of friends. Chatting and laughing, they roam through the suburbs of Zurich. The end of their time at school together should have been the start of an exciting summer, but the three youngsters have their hands full: Sami suffers under her overly strict parents, Joe has to look after her siblings, while her single mother works overtime, and Leyla nervously begins her apprenticeship in a canteen kitchen. For the teenage girls, tough decisions overshadow their dreams. In those defining days of their lives, their friendship seems to be the only constant. But as events take a harsh turn, even their friendship is put to the test. Determined to stand up for themselves, the three friends find out how right Leyla’s mom was when she told them: always keep more dreams in your soul than reality can destroy.