Around the world in 12 films
For our young audiences this year, KINDERFILMFEST MÜNCHEN has selected films as vibrant and varied as life itself. We’re looking forward to having you experience the variety of these films in movie theaters again. Program director Tobias Krell a.k.a. “Checker Tobi” has selected a total of twelve short and feature-length films. These include motion pictures as well as animations and a documentary. The young protagonists are caught up in great adventures, become their own person, learn to deal with the loss of a loved one, and try to find their place in the world.
Kasperl and Seppel on their adventure.
The Kinderfilmfest will open on June 24 with the world premiere of a new adaptation of the classic children’s book THE ROBBER HOTZENPLOTZ. Just in time for the 60th anniversary of Otfried Preussler’s popular children’s story, Michael Krummenacher’s latest adaptation brings the cunning robber and the heroes Kasperl and Seppel back to the big screen as they embark on a great adventure to save their grandmother’s coffee grinder.
Father-daughter relationships
No fewer than three feature films focus on the relationship between a father and his daughter. In Catalina Razzini’s SUN & DAUGHTER, a father leaves his family and their small island in the middle of Lake Titicaca to move to the city. His daughter Lucía finds it difficult to cope with this loss and gradually learns to choose her own destiny. This debut film tells its story with great sensitivity and offers picturesque insights into indigenous life on Bolivia’s Isla del Sol.
In COMEDY QUEEN, meanwhile, a father is all the family that the protagonist Sasha has. Her mother committed suicide and her father just can’t move on. Sasha chooses humor as a weapon against grief. Although she’s also finding it hard to cope with her mother’s death, she takes it upon herself to make her father laugh again. Sanna Lenken’s touching film was awarded a Crystal Bear at this year’s Berlinale.
In the lovingly directed story WILD ROOTS, a father and his daughter meet again after a number of years have passed. This film tells the story of young Niki and of Tibor, who has just been released from prison. He struggles with his past, while she longs to reconnect with him. Both try their hardest to revive their relationship. Director Hajni Kis is a familiar face at the festival: her graduation film earned the VFF Young Talent Award at FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH in 2019.
Lucía in sun & Daughter
the comedy queen: Sasha
Father and daughter in Wild Roots
Director Joya Thome is no stranger to the festival either. Her first two films (QUEEN OF NIENDORF, LAURA’S STAR) were screened at KINDERFILMFEST MÜNCHEN in recent years. Her new documentary ONE IN A MILLION looks at several years in the lives of two girls — one living in Europe, the other in the United States — who share a bond through social media and their passion for gymnastics.
In OINK, Babs’s grandfather returns home after spending several years in the United States. Babs is won over right away when he gives her a little pig as a present. But this act turns her life and that of her family on its head. OINK by Mascha Halberstad is the first stop-motion feature film to be produced entirely in the Netherlands.
The short films are back
Even the youngest film fans can once again look forward to great entertainment: the popular short film program SHORTS FOR KIDS 5 & UP is back! This year’s program includes six delightful films.
Kinderfilmfest award ceremony
During the week of the festival, young attendees can vote to decide which film is worthy of the Kinderfilmfest Audience Award. For the first time, a distinguished jury will also present an award for the best children’s film (award sponsor: megaherz). Both awards will be presented on Saturday, July 2, at 5 p.m. in the HFF Audimax. Afterward, one of the two award-winning films will be screened.
Activities for school classes, day-care and after-school groups
Groups are welcome to attend any film screening in the morning or afternoon. Educational materials that can be used to prepare for and follow up on the festival screenings will be provided free of charge. School classes and groups of ten or more can request tickets from ticketing@filmfest-muenchen.de starting on May 11.
