Vinski and the Invisibility Powder (2021)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Juha Wuolijoki
Finland, 2021, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
When the town of Hömpstad is swept by a crime wave and the crimes and robberies are so out-of-hand that the police need a superhero to help them, 10-year-old Vinski meets a mysterious pharmacist who gives him a bottle of magical invisibility powder that also lets you walk through walls. Vinski soon uses his new powers to help the local people, but a nasty band of crooks soon becomes interested in the secret of invisibility as well.
Beanie (2022)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Slobodan Maksimović
Slovenia, Luxembourg, Slovak Republic, Croatia, 2022, 86 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Erik is a 9-year-old boy living in a youth home due to his problematic parents. Beanie is his nickname. His only wish is to go home for Christmas. Instead, he gets to spend the holiday with a wealthy family and their 7-year-old daughter Lučka, who wishes for a puppy and a sister. In the middle of the night, Erik and Lučka encounter Santa in the family’s living room. They hide in his car, but Santa dumps them in the middle of the city. They embark on an extraordinary adventure…
Journey to Yourland (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Directed by: Peter Budinský
Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Belgium, 2022, 85 min
Projection place: Congress Centre
Score:
Riki, a 10-year-old boy, runs away from home following a mysterious emergency signal sent by a shiny stone. The strange artefact leads Riki to a breathtaking parallel world called Yourland, where wonderful machines roam golden deserts, monkeys and ravens talk, and science peacefully coexists with nature. The shining stone merges with Riki by hiding in his heart and asking him for protection. It seems everybody in Yourland is eager to procure this treasure, as it is the core of Yourland’s power and owning it provides a great deal of influence. Riki embarks on an enchanting journey full of perils, traps and humour to restore the stone, the “Heart of a Tower”, to its nesting place. It is the only way for Riki to get back home and save his own heart.
The Exploits of Moominpappa – Adventures of a Young Moomin (2022)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Ira Carpelan
Finland, Poland, 2022, 72 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
A beautiful summer’s day in the Moominvalley. When a wasp stings Moomintroll’s tail, he gets sick and loses his tail-tassel. A doctor prescribes medicine for Moomintroll, but nothing seems to help. Eventually Moominmamma decides to look for Grandma's old recipe for decoction, which should help against this particular condition. Moomintroll lies in bed sad. To cheer him up, Pappa tells Moomintroll storied about his adventurous youth.
Maika (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Directed by: Ham Tran
Vietnam, 2022, 105 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Things could be better for 8-year-old Hung, who is grieving the loss of his mother, who died a year ago. His relationship with his father is strained, his best friend is moving away, and to top it all off, a greedy landlord is bullying his father to force them out of their apartment. He finds solace by watching the night sky from the roof of his apartment building. One night, he witnesses a meteor shower and an errant falling star that lands in the nearby countryside. He investigates, but instead of finding a fallen star, he meets a new friend, and he decides to do everything he can to help her. MAIKA is inspired by the 1978 children’s TV show "Spadla z oblakov" that became extremely popular on constant reruns in Vietnam in the early '90s. With gorgeous scenery, a fast-paced narrative, and charismatic performances, this Vietnamese sci-fi film for kids is a fun-filled adventure that touches on universal themes of friendship, family, and compassion.
Gandhi & Co. (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Directed by: Manish Saini
India, 2021, 101 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
Mintoo & Mitra (both 11) are known for two things: their penchant for mischief and their friendship with Bharat Bhai, who is an embodiment of all the teachings of Gandhi. When Mintoo proclaims Mahatma Gandhi as his role model, he soon starts mimicking Gandhi’s behavior but he is nowhere close to accepting Gandhi’s values. His deception earns him rewards but little does he know how his behavior is leading him into troubled waters. Bharat Bhai takes it upon himself to teach the unprincipled boys a valuable lesson in honesty and harmony. As he rolls up his sleeves to watch events unfold, all he can hear is the voice of Gandhi saying “In a gentle way you can shake the world”.
Asteroid (2021)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Mehdi Hoseinivand Aalipour
Iran, 2021, 78 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Ebrahim is twelve. He lives with his mother and five siblings of all ages in a two-roomed shack in the heart of desert, far away from the village. Aside from feeding the children and obtaining a birth certificate for them, the main preoccupation of Ebrahim and his mother is to build a house in the village so they don’t have to walk all the way back and forth all the time…
Barley Fields on the Other Side of the Mountain (2017)
Section: Top Teen Ten
Directed by: Tian Tsering
United Kingdom, 2017, 88 min
Projection place: Castle SVOBODY
Score:
A story about the price of freedom and who pays for it told through the eyes of a teenage girl. Sixteen-year-old Pema lives in the remote mountains of Tibet. For generations, her family has farmed their barley fields in peace. But when Pema's father is taken away by the authorities, her world is shattered. A Buddhist nun from the local nunnery walks into Pema's life and invites her to join a group of locals escaping persecution by walking over the Himalayas into India. Pema is torn; can she leave her mother, grandmother and younger siblings at this time of crisis? Does she have the right, or the courage, to join her friend and seek a new life for herself? As Pema struggles with her dilemma, there is no news about her imprisoned father. The clock is ticking for everyone
Olga (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Elie Grappe
France, Switzerland, Ukraine, 2021, 86 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
2013. Olga, a talented and passionate 15-year-old Ukrainian gymnast, goes to Switzerland, where she tries to secure a place in the National Sports Centre. In Kiev, however, the Euromaidan suddenly breaks out, and her relatives are in the middle of it. As the young girl must adapt to a new country and prepare for the European Championships, the Ukrainian revolution enters her life and upends everything…
When Pomegranates Howl (2020)
Section: Festival Laurels from around the World , Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Granaz Moussavi
Afghanistan, Australia, Iran, Netherlands, 2020, 83 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
Hewad, a 9-year-old boy, supports his family by selling goods from a cart on the harsh streets of Kabul after the death of his father. At home he faces the challenge of the forced marriage of his mother to his uncle. He dreams of escaping this existence by becoming a famous actor and this dream seems more possible when he befriends an Australian photojournalist who starts documenting his life in this war-torn society.
The Path (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Tobias Wiemann
Germany, 2022, 99 min
Projection place: Congress Centre
Score:
A story about an adventurous crossing of the Pyrenees and the unexpected friendship of two children who couldn’t be more unalike. Young Rolf and his father flee Berlin to escape the Nazis. All Rolf took with him was a dog and a signed book by Erich Kästner. Now in the south of France, their destination is New York, where Rolf's mother is waiting for them. The only way to freedom a steep path over the Pyrenees, and their guide, Nuria, is only slightly older than Rolf. But the boy's father is captured and the kids must continue their dangerous journey into the unknown alone.
The Path (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Tobias Wiemann
Germany, 2022, 99 min
Projection place: Congress Centre
Score:
A story about an adventurous crossing of the Pyrenees and the unexpected friendship of two children who couldn’t be more unalike. Young Rolf and his father flee Berlin to escape the Nazis. All Rolf took with him was a dog and a signed book by Erich Kästner. Now in the south of France, their destination is New York, where Rolf's mother is waiting for them. The only way to freedom a steep path over the Pyrenees, and their guide, Nuria, is only slightly older than Rolf. But the boy's father is captured and the kids must continue their dangerous journey into the unknown alone.
Ride the Wave (2021)
Section: Competition of European Documentary Films for Young Audience
Directed by: Martyn Robertson
United Kingdom, 2021, 84 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Having participated in surfing competitions from the age of 11, 14-year-old Scottish champion Ben Larg is not afraid of a challenge. And what bigger challenge for a young surfer than one of the biggest and most dangerous cold water waves in the world at Mullaghmore, Ireland. If he gets it right, he joins an elite group. If he gets it wrong, the consequences are terrifying. Danger, opportunity, and parental dilemma collide propelling Ben and his family towards an unknown destiny.
Gaja's World - This is My Planet! (2022)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Peter Bratuša
Slovenia, 2022, 95 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Being from a separated family, Gaja (14) confronts her envious classmates, experiences social network identity theft, and learns about true friendship. Aimed at teenagers as well as parents, this dynamic story is full of humor, emotion, and suspense and revolves around common problems, parental separation, and the dangers of the internet.
Best Birthday Ever (2021)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Michael Ekblad
Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, 2021, 75 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
The story of Little Charlie, a small rabbit who lives with his loving family, and pets in a house at the edge of town. Like many 5-year olds, Little Charlie goes to a kindergarten and plays with his friends in the neighbourhood. He is used to having his parents’ full attention – but all that changes when his baby sister Clara is born, leading to an unexpected adventure with his best friend Monica.
Vinski and the Invisibility Powder (2021)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama
Directed by: Juha Wuolijoki
Finland, 2021, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
When the town of Hömpstad is swept by a crime wave and the crimes and robberies are so out-of-hand that the police need a superhero to help them, 10-year-old Vinski meets a mysterious pharmacist who gives him a bottle of magical invisibility powder that also lets you walk through walls. Vinski soon uses his new powers to help the local people, but a nasty band of crooks soon becomes interested in the secret of invisibility as well.
Singo (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Directed by: Alireza Mohammadi
Iran, 2022, 82 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
From the first scene, it's clear that our hero, Shafa, is no ordinary girl. She races motorcycles, defends weaker friends, and saves animals from danger. Shafa lives with her father and two siblings on the island of Singo, a fishing community with strict rules. It is ruled by a local rich man who thinks money can buy everyone and everything. One day, Shafi's dad catches some very rare crabs, called horseshoe crabs, whose blood is worth a lot of money. The profit from their sale is to be distributed among all the island's inhabitants. But Shafa feels bad for the animals and releases them into the sea at night. Anger and blame fall on her father and the whole family faces the unpleasant consequences. The brave girl, however, refuses to be cast out by the locals. She sets out for a nearby island where rare crabs are said to live to save her loved ones from impending disaster.
Gandhi & Co. (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category
Directed by: Manish Saini
India, 2021, 101 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
Mintoo & Mitra (both 11) are known for two things: their penchant for mischief and their friendship with Bharat Bhai, who is an embodiment of all the teachings of Gandhi. When Mintoo proclaims Mahatma Gandhi as his role model, he soon starts mimicking Gandhi’s behavior but he is nowhere close to accepting Gandhi’s values. His deception earns him rewards but little does he know how his behavior is leading him into troubled waters. Bharat Bhai takes it upon himself to teach the unprincipled boys a valuable lesson in honesty and harmony. As he rolls up his sleeves to watch events unfold, all he can hear is the voice of Gandhi saying “In a gentle way you can shake the world”.
Giant Little Ones (2018)
Section: Top Teen Ten
Directed by: Keith Behrman
Canada, 2018, 94 min
Projection place: Castle SVOBODY
Score:
A heartfelt and intimate coming-of-age story about friendship, self-discovery and the power of love without labels. Adolescents face enormous pressure to make life-defining decisions every day and they want to lock in their identities sooner than later. All of this pressure is exacerbated by physical and social changes. Franky is under more pressure than most. His life was altered when his father left his mother for a man. Franky is left confused and angry toward his father for breaking up the family. Things are further confused for Franky when his wild birthday party ends in a sexual encounter no one could have imagined, including his best friend and girlfriend. As Franky's world crumbles, he and his friends are forced to decide what kind of people they want to be.
My Brothers Dream Awake (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category
Directed by: Claudia Huaiquimilla
Chile, 2021, 85 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Ángel and his younger brother Franco have been incarcerated in a juvenile prison for a year. Despite the difficulties, they have formed a solid group of friends with whom they spend their days sharing dreams of freedom. Everything changes when the arrival of a rebellious young man offers a possible escape: the only door to make those dreams come true. Inspired by many true events.