30/5 — 5/6/2024
64th International Film Festival
for Children and Youth

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Section: International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category (over 11 years of age)

Sea Sparkle (2023) 12

Belgium, Netherlands | 2023 | 98 min.

Twelve-year-old Lena rides a skateboard, listens to Angèle, is quite good at sailing and loves the ocean. She enjoys a carefree childhood by the sea, with her feet in the water and her head in the clouds. On her sailboat, she fights the winds and waves as passionately as her father did on his fishing expeditions. When he and the rest of his crew don't return one day, some say it was an accident, others say he was reckless. Lena is sure it couldn't have been her father's fault. It must have been a giant sea creature that overturned the ship. She just needs proof to prove everyone wrong. Lena's rage focuses her on a single task: to hunt down the underwater monster she believes is responsible for the disaster. This story of a teenager against a background of sadness, is based on the director's own experience. It was the opening film of the Generation Kplus section at this year's Berlinale.

CountryBelgium, Netherlands
Year2023
Duration98 min
Rating12
LanguageDutch
SubtitleCzech
Directed by Domien Huyghe
Screenplay Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem, Wendy Huyghe
Director of Photography Anton Mertens sbc
Edited by Peter Alderliesten nce
Contact LevelK

Biography

Belgian screenwriter and director. He attended courses at Midpoint TV Launch & Torino Series- and Filmlab. He gained interest with his short film Maverick (2017) and made his successful feature debut with the family film Sea Sparkle (Zeevonk, 2023). He is also a sought-after music video creator.

Ups and Downs of Growing Up, Festival Laurels, Mother Nature