Sun 04.06.2023 | 19:30Mountain Onion (2022)
Section: Festival Laurels from around the World
Directed by: Eldar Shibanov
Kazakhstan, 2022, 90 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
InfoEleven-year-old Jabai sells mountain onions alongside the highway and one day he catches his idol trucker having sex with his mom. Jabai and his sister, Saniya, embark on a journey from their small village in Kazakhstan to China, to obtain the only thing that will save their father and help him become a strong man, the ‘Golden Viagra’.
Mon 05.06.2023 | 08:10Katak, the Brave Beluga (2023)
Section: World Children´s Film Panorama
Directed by: Christine Dallaire-Dupont, Nicola Lemay
Canada, 2023, 82 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
While his peers have all turned white, as expected at their age, young beluga Katak is still small and grey. To prove that he has grown up and to grant the last wish of his adored grandma, Katak departs on a perilous journey to the Great North…
Mon 05.06.2023 | 08:20Little Allan - The Human Antenna (2022)
Section: World Children´s Film Panorama
Directed by: Amalie Næsby Fick
Denmark, 2022, 80 min
Projection place: Aula
Score:
When Little Allan’s parents get divorced, and he must move to a whole new town, his desperate search for new friends suddenly finds him acting as a human antenna for his elderly, UFO-obsessed neighbor. When a telepathic alien girl, Britney, crash-lands, they must help her get home, and a unique friendship is formed. But he isn’t the only one interested in Britney. A mad taxidermy-collector is on her trail in an attempt to answer the age-old question: Is there life in space, and can he stuff it?
Mon 05.06.2023 | 08:40Big Boys (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category (over 15 years of age)
Directed by: Corey Sherman
United States of America, 2022, 90 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
Fourteen-year-old Jamie prepares for a trip with his older brother Luke and his favorite cousin Allie. But he’s surprised to learn of the unexpected presence of Allie's boyfriend Dan. Despite his initial fears, Dan's sense of humor, shared interests, and self-confidence make him an object of interest. Moreover, Dan supports Jamie against Luke, who teases his brother for lack of virility and experience in his sex life. That makes his fascination even stronger, and Jamie does all he can to get closer to Dan, while also hiding his true feelings. The director decided to bring his own queer coming-of-age story to the screen, with an emphasis on today's notion of masculinity and positive acceptance of one's physical and mental identity. This small film with a big heart stands out for its excellent script and the performance of the main actor Isaac Krasner. It had its world premiere at the BFI Flare in London.
Mon 05.06.2023 | 10:50What the Finn?! - A Summer of Surprises (2023)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category (up to 10 years of age)
Directed by: Stefan Westerwelle
Germany, 2023, 95 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
Ten-year-old Finn is a floating child. Since his parents’ divorce, he's been traveling between his two homes by train. He feels lonely and forgotten. On his first unaccompanied trip, he is robbed by a man on a train. With no backpack, cell phone, or even train ticket, the conductor hands him over at the nearest station to two crazy police officers. When he is transported from the station, Finn chances to meet the energetic 12-year-old Jola. An wild trip begins on a stolen tractor to the Baltic Sea. Of course, the kids are wanted by the police, so they must hide and invent all sorts of deceptions. They overcome dangerous pitfalls, meet many interesting people, and most importantly, get to know themselves. A kind and funny road movie for the whole family about finding courage and self-confidence; it was adapted from the award-winning novel of the same name by Martin Muser. The film is presented in its world premiere.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 08:30Juniors (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category (over 11 years of age)
Directed by: Hugo Thomas
France, 2022, 95 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
Fourteen-year-old boys Jordan and Patrick live in a small village in the south of France and are bored to death. The only thing they enjoy is Call of Duty, a popular war video game in which they compete with Korean opponents. But one day, tragedy strikes; Jessica (their PlayStation 4) breaks down. How will they get money for a new one? Influenced by circumstances, the teens come up with a crazy idea: Jordan will fake cancer and start an online collection to support his treatment. Both completely cut off from reality, the boys are convinced that their virtual lie will never reach them. Not in their village, not at school, not at home... Money flows in, but the lie gets out and threatens their friendship. A brilliant comedy with a deep message; it plays with limits and breaks traditionally accepted decorum in the face of the suffering. Vanessa Paradis appears as a mother alongside the talented young non-actors.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 08:50Bubble (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category (over 15 years of age)
Directed by: Aleksi Salmenperä
Finland, 2022, 102 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
Sixteen-year-old Evelina's life is turned upside down when she happens to spot her mother passionately kissing another woman. Like all teenagers, she feel freedom of thought and action are important, but not when it comes to her own parents. She lives in a free-spirited family, where her dad has lots of good advice for his daughter, but does not see his own marriage is in jeopardy. Evelina decides to end her mother's affair at all costs and make her parents fall in love again, or at least stay together. She knows she is the glue holding her parents together – if she has any difficulties, her parents will do anything to support her. Set in motion are a series of big decisions and actions, with all their dramatic and comedic consequences. This fresh family comedy is now a movie in the Finnish film scene. Stella Leppikorpi, the lead actress, was given the Jussi Awards as the Discovery of the Year for her performance.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 10:40Big Dreams (2023)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category (up to 10 years of age)
Directed by: Dan Pánek
Czech Republic, 2023, 98 min
Projection place: Aula
Score:
The year is 1998, in Nagano, Japan. The Czechs win the gold in Olympic ice hockey and the crowds go wild. All the kids want to be like Jagr or Hašek. Among them is Dom, an 11-year-old dreamer who looks up to his new idol. He would love to play hockey, but his parents don't have the money and doubt his abilities. On his grandfather’s advice, Dom and his friend Honza build a hockey team, calling themselves the Sabres after Hašek's home team in Buffalo. This team of disparate, underestimated kids focus on their great challenge – to defeat the Red Wings team from the next village and earn respect. After an initial defeat, the Sabres are taken over by the peculiar coach Karel, a former major league hockey player, and they gradually head for a rematch. This story of friendship, sport, pride, euphoria, and underdogs sends a message that children's dreams have many forms and that children need to be supported.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 10:50Billie Blue (2023)
Section: Beyond the Childhood Horizon
Directed by: Mariloup Wolfe
Canada, 2023, 115 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
At 16, Billie is just now catching up with her peers: in love, in height (a growth spurt has propelled her to 1m80), in having her first period. In a hurry to catch up, she begins her summer as a lifeguard at the water park with her best friends and her oh-so-perfect older sister Annette. Everything goes wrong when Billie and Annette both fall for Pierre, a talented local racing cyclist. Thus begins a heartbreaking love triangle where Billie must once and for all take her place, shine bright and fight to live the love story she deserves.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 11:30What the Finn?! - A Summer of Surprises (2023)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category (up to 10 years of age)
Directed by: Stefan Westerwelle
Germany, 2023, 95 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
Ten-year-old Finn is a floating child. Since his parents’ divorce, he's been traveling between his two homes by train. He feels lonely and forgotten. On his first unaccompanied trip, he is robbed by a man on a train. With no backpack, cell phone, or even train ticket, the conductor hands him over at the nearest station to two crazy police officers. When he is transported from the station, Finn chances to meet the energetic 12-year-old Jola. An wild trip begins on a stolen tractor to the Baltic Sea. Of course, the kids are wanted by the police, so they must hide and invent all sorts of deceptions. They overcome dangerous pitfalls, meet many interesting people, and most importantly, get to know themselves. A kind and funny road movie for the whole family about finding courage and self-confidence; it was adapted from the award-winning novel of the same name by Martin Muser. The film is presented in its world premiere.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 16:30Billie Blue (2023)
Section: Beyond the Childhood Horizon
Directed by: Mariloup Wolfe
Canada, 2023, 115 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 4
Score:
At 16, Billie is just now catching up with her peers: in love, in height (a growth spurt has propelled her to 1m80), in having her first period. In a hurry to catch up, she begins her summer as a lifeguard at the water park with her best friends and her oh-so-perfect older sister Annette. Everything goes wrong when Billie and Annette both fall for Pierre, a talented local racing cyclist. Thus begins a heartbreaking love triangle where Billie must once and for all take her place, shine bright and fight to live the love story she deserves.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 17:30Scrapper (2023)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category (over 11 years of age)
Directed by: Charlotte Regan
United Kingdom, 2023, 83 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 6
Score:
When her mother dies, 12-year-old Georgie does everything she can to avoid going to an orphanage. She has a lot on her mind for her age. She must to both grow up quickly to be able to take care of herself, and use her child's ingenuity and innocence to deceive local authorities and others. She and her best friend Ali make money stealing bikes and she pretends to live with an “uncle”. But this fake family member is soon replaced by her real father, who’s been gone so long that she doesn't recognize him. Not happy with his intrusion, she tries to find out why her father has reentered her life. This great British dramedy combines elements of the social film genre, fresh formal flavors, memorable scenes (especially the interaction between Georgia and her father), funny lines and talking spiders. The film won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema section at this year's Sundance.
Tue 06.06.2023 | 19:30Mountain Onion (2022)
Section: Festival Laurels from around the World
Directed by: Eldar Shibanov
Kazakhstan, 2022, 90 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
Eleven-year-old Jabai sells mountain onions alongside the highway and one day he catches his idol trucker having sex with his mom. Jabai and his sister, Saniya, embark on a journey from their small village in Kazakhstan to China, to obtain the only thing that will save their father and help him become a strong man, the ‘Golden Viagra’.
Wed 07.06.2023 | 08:30Big Dreams (2023)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category (up to 10 years of age)
Directed by: Dan Pánek
Czech Republic, 2023, 98 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 1
Score:
The year is 1998, in Nagano, Japan. The Czechs win the gold in Olympic ice hockey and the crowds go wild. All the kids want to be like Jagr or Hašek. Among them is Dom, an 11-year-old dreamer who looks up to his new idol. He would love to play hockey, but his parents don't have the money and doubt his abilities. On his grandfather’s advice, Dom and his friend Honza build a hockey team, calling themselves the Sabres after Hašek's home team in Buffalo. This team of disparate, underestimated kids focus on their great challenge – to defeat the Red Wings team from the next village and earn respect. After an initial defeat, the Sabres are taken over by the peculiar coach Karel, a former major league hockey player, and they gradually head for a rematch. This story of friendship, sport, pride, euphoria, and underdogs sends a message that children's dreams have many forms and that children need to be supported.
Wed 07.06.2023 | 10:30Little Allan - The Human Antenna (2022)
Section: World Children´s Film Panorama
Directed by: Amalie Næsby Fick
Denmark, 2022, 80 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 2
Score:
When Little Allan’s parents get divorced, and he must move to a whole new town, his desperate search for new friends suddenly finds him acting as a human antenna for his elderly, UFO-obsessed neighbor. When a telepathic alien girl, Britney, crash-lands, they must help her get home, and a unique friendship is formed. But he isn’t the only one interested in Britney. A mad taxidermy-collector is on her trail in an attempt to answer the age-old question: Is there life in space, and can he stuff it?
Wed 07.06.2023 | 11:0012 Hours to Destruction (2022)
Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category (up to 10 years of age)
Directed by: Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir
Iceland, 2022, 89 min
Projection place: Golden Apple Cinema 5
Score:
In the summer of 1980, 11-year-old Hanna and her band try to track down the criminals threatening to destroy the school and, thus, the planned school concert. A great and crazy musical adventure begins, interwoven with the songs of the legendary Icelandic punk musician, rocker and children's book writer Dr. Gunni. Our fearless heroes fight evil, weave between disco and punk, and end up with love and unity. The film was inspired by the famous musical “Abbababb!”, created by Gunnar Lárus Hjálmarsson (aka Dr. Gunni), one of the key figures in Iceland's underground music scene of the 1980s. This unusual, colorfully stylized and playful film is very popular in Iceland. It enticed an unusual amount of moviegoers to cinemas and was the top film for several weeks.