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.
Rickshaw Girl (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Amitabh Reza Chowdhury
Bangladesh, United States of America, Germany, 2021, 110 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Naima, a brave and determined girl, wants to help her poor Bangladeshi family financially, but her undeniable artistic talent is useless in this matter. With her father gravely ill, it seems that the only thing she can do is to leave her native village and throw herself into the whirlwind of big city Dhaka. But here she faces the same economic, social and gender inequalities as most young girls in Bangladesh.
Rickshaw Girl (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Amitabh Reza Chowdhury
Bangladesh, United States of America, Germany, 2021, 110 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Naima, a brave and determined girl, wants to help her poor Bangladeshi family financially, but her undeniable artistic talent is useless in this matter. With her father gravely ill, it seems that the only thing she can do is to leave her native village and throw herself into the whirlwind of big city Dhaka. But here she faces the same economic, social and gender inequalities as most young girls in Bangladesh.
Gabi, Between the Ages 8 and 13 (2021)
Section: Competition of European Documentary Films for Young Audience, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Engeli Brobert
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, 2021, 77 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
We follow the remarkable Gabi over the course of five formative years as she wrestles with society’s stereotypes about boys and girls. When her family moves from Stockholm to a small rural town, and as puberty kicks in, Gabi must decide whether she wants to fit in with the crowd or chart her own path.
Bigman (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Camiel Schouwenaar
Netherlands, Germany, 2022, 90 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Best friends Dylan and Youssef dream of becoming professional football players. When Dylan ends up in a wheelchair following an accident, he must come to terms with his new life. His dad – and former coach – wants him to accept his disability and keep football from his life, but Dylan is determined to play again. A story about true friendship and striving to win a final in the dying seconds of the game.
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 6
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…
A Second Life (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Anis Lassoued
Tunisia, 2021, 93 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Twelve-year-old Gadeha enjoys a carefree life with his friends until he has a serious traffic accident. But his mother can't afford his medical treatment. The random people she meets at the hospital help her financially, and Gadeha survives. After his recovery, he and his family end up moving to the new home of their donors. There he discovers that their same-aged son Oussam was seriously ill, but he is now returning home. The boys quickly bond and have a great time together. Gadeha is able to stop worrying for a moment about his father, who emigrated from Tunisia to Europe and he hasn't communicated with for a long time. However, the secret that Gadeha's mother is keeping to herself begins to disturb this new life. It's a secret with implications for everyone.
A Butterfly´s Heart (2021)
Section: World Childrens Film Panorama , Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Inesa Kurklietyté
Lithuania, 2021, 105 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Juozapas is a very special boy with a big secret. His heart is protected by a glass dome and thick armor. The center of his universe is the bug hotel he built himself in an old manor house and the insects that live there. One day, Rugilė moves to town and turns Juozapas’s life upside down. Thanks to Rugilė, Juozapas overcomes his fears and becomes open to the world. Friendship works wonders!
The Apple Day (2022)
Section: Festival Laurels from around the World , Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Mahmoud Ghaffari
Iran, 2022, 79 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
A first-grade primary school teacher in a poor suburb of Tehran assigns a letter to each student and asks them to bring items starting with an assigned letter, related to their fathers’ jobs. Mehdi's father is a fruit seller and Mehdi must bring 30 apples (“Seeb” in Farsi) to class on the “S” Day. However, an unfortunate event immerses the family in a crisis. Saeed, Mehdi's older brother, must find a way to overcome this challenge and help Mehdi for “apple day”.
Bigman (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Camiel Schouwenaar
Netherlands, Germany, 2022, 90 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Best friends Dylan and Youssef dream of becoming professional football players. When Dylan ends up in a wheelchair following an accident, he must come to terms with his new life. His dad – and former coach – wants him to accept his disability and keep football from his life, but Dylan is determined to play again. A story about true friendship and striving to win a final in the dying seconds of the game.
Comedy Queen (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Sanna Lenken
Sweden, 2022, 94 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
The story of 13-year-old Sasha, who, despite her immense sorrow, refuses to mourn her dead mother. She secretly writes a list of everything she must do to survive: shave her hair, stop reading books, say no to the world's cutest puppy and, above all, become a stand-up comedian to make everyone laugh, especially her father, who secretly cries in the shower when he thinks no one can hear him.
Back to Those Days (2021)
Section: Beyond the Childhood Horizon , Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Konrad Aksinowicz
Poland, 2021, 104 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
Alek has just come back from a long emigrant stay in the US and wants to start a new life in the new post-communist Poland. Unfortunately, he’s an alcoholic and drags his wife and 12-year-old son Tomek into being co-dependent alcoholics. As young Tomek starts to have difficulties at school, he gradually begins to understand the drama of his father’s alcoholism. Alek must make a choice…
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: Golden Apple Cinema 6
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.
Comedy Queen (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Sanna Lenken
Sweden, 2022, 94 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 3
Score:
The story of 13-year-old Sasha, who, despite her immense sorrow, refuses to mourn her dead mother. She secretly writes a list of everything she must do to survive: shave her hair, stop reading books, say no to the world's cutest puppy and, above all, become a stand-up comedian to make everyone laugh, especially her father, who secretly cries in the shower when he thinks no one can hear him.
Bigman (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Camiel Schouwenaar
Netherlands, Germany, 2022, 90 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Best friends Dylan and Youssef dream of becoming professional football players. When Dylan ends up in a wheelchair following an accident, he must come to terms with his new life. His dad – and former coach – wants him to accept his disability and keep football from his life, but Dylan is determined to play again. A story about true friendship and striving to win a final in the dying seconds of the game.
A Second Life (2021)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category, Patron of Children Audience Award
Directed by: Anis Lassoued
Tunisia, 2021, 93 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
Twelve-year-old Gadeha enjoys a carefree life with his friends until he has a serious traffic accident. But his mother can't afford his medical treatment. The random people she meets at the hospital help her financially, and Gadeha survives. After his recovery, he and his family end up moving to the new home of their donors. There he discovers that their same-aged son Oussam was seriously ill, but he is now returning home. The boys quickly bond and have a great time together. Gadeha is able to stop worrying for a moment about his father, who emigrated from Tunisia to Europe and he hasn't communicated with for a long time. However, the secret that Gadeha's mother is keeping to herself begins to disturb this new life. It's a secret with implications for everyone.