A film feast for the youngest viewers – the 9th edition of the Children's Cinema International Film Festival begins

As every year, the next installment of the Kino Dzieci International Film Festival kicks off at the end of September. This year, we're meeting for the ninth time! What awaits us at this year's edition? Interesting and, as always, highly valuable films for children, plus a range of additional events, including meetings with directors and actors, workshops with artists and educators, nature walks, and live music.

The celebration for the youngest film enthusiasts will last a full month. The hybrid format has proven successful for several years. From September 24th to October 2nd, films will be shown in 20 cinemas across Poland, then from October 6th to 23rd, the program will be available online.

Children's Cinema International Film Festival – valuable films for children

Kino Dzieci (Children's Cinema) is a film festival aimed at children aged 4 and older and their guardians. The New Horizons Association has been organizing the event since 2014, aiming to share intelligent, valuable films for children with a wide audience. Each selected film stands out for its educational value and aesthetic appeal. The films address important, often challenging, topics and can serve as a starting point for parents to discuss them with their children.

IFF Children's Cinema for the 9th time.

The 9th edition of the festival features 159 exceptional titles. The program includes feature films, short films, live-action and animated films, and documentaries. This year, all selected titles have been grouped into 12 sections, varying in theme and genre. A new feature is the "Road to the North" section, featuring specially selected Norwegian documentaries. As every year, the Children's Cinema will also showcase the cinematography of a selected region. This time, it will be the Netherlands. The Main Competition will, of course, feature the most interesting international productions that have not yet been released in Poland.

Opening film - the latest installment in the series "Lasse and Maja's Detective Agency"

The festival will open with the next installment in the popular Lasse and Maja adventure series , titled "Lasse and Maja's Detective Agency. The Secret of the Scorpion." This will also be the world premiere of this film. All fans of the Valleby duo will be delighted to hear that on September 24th, immediately after the premiere, there will be a meeting with director Tina Mackic and Nils Kendle, who plays the titular Lasse, at the Muranów cinema.

The main competition - as many as 3 Polish accents

This year, the main competition will feature 10 feature-length films, including three Polish productions. Most will be shown for the first time at the festival. Each is an invitation to a journey full of adventure and unforgettable emotions. After the screenings, audiences from the 20 festival cities will vote for the best film in a plebiscite, which will receive the Fern Flower Award. The jury will also select the best titles presented in the film discovery competition and the short documentary review. Among the titles presented in the Main Competition, we will find three Polish films.

"Hug Me. Honey Seekers" – directed by Anna Błaszczyk; 70 min.; age: 4+

This is another animated adventure of two teddy bears – father and son – from the popular book "Hug Me" by Przemysław Wechterowicz, illustrated by Emilia Dziubak. This time, Little Bear dreams of a honey cake for his birthday. Unfortunately, it turns out that all the beehives in the forest are empty. Dad decides to rise to the occasion to fulfill his son's wish. A warm and touching story about the father-son relationship and the trust we should place in our children.

"Detective Bruno" – directed by Magdalena Nieć, Mariusz Palej; 110 min.; age: 6+

This is the story of eight-year-old Oskar, a fan of the TV series "Detective Bruno," who decides to enlist his favorite detective to find a surprise left for him by his deceased parents. Unfortunately, the Bruno in the film is actually a cynical actor who dislikes children, but he joins the project anyway. The two plunge into adventure, and over time, Oskar increasingly turns Bruno's life upside down. This adventurous story touches on difficult themes, such as the loss of loved ones and self-confidence.

"Too Big for Fairy Tales" – dir. Kristoffer Rus; 103 min.; age: 9+

Waldek's life, previously filled primarily with computer games, is shaken to its core by a true earthquake. From his overprotective mother, he is temporarily placed under the wing of an energetic, eccentric aunt, who introduces entirely new rules and discipline. And although Waldek must survive a true survival camp, he also learns life's most valuable lesson. A valuable story about growing up and the benefits of self-improvement. Other children's films in the main competition include: "Karl Rabbit's Best Birthday," "Yuku and the Magic Flower," "The School of Magical Animals," "A Head Full of You," "The Match for Everything," and "The Summer I Learned to Fly." This last film, in particular, seems to have captured the attention of organizers and connoisseurs of youth cinema. It's a story about an intergenerational vacation that, despite its difficult beginnings, can become a beautiful memory. It's an ideal choice for both young and old, presenting important topics and a difficult story in a thoughtful, lighthearted way. A detailed festival program, information about individual children's films , and the schedule are available at kinodzieci.pl. Tickets for in-person screenings can also be purchased on the official festival website or directly at the cinema.

Children's Cinema International Film Festival – more than just films

In addition to the extensive film program, this year the organizers have prepared over 20 unique workshops, such as building a space rocket and building a home projector. The workshops will take place on both festival weekends. A detailed schedule of creative workshops and workshops with artists is available at kinodzieci.pl. In addition to the in-person events, from September 24th, engaging online materials will also be available, including creative video tutorials that will teach you how to make a recycled camera, design a cinema, or create a statuette for the best film. The workshops will be available at kinodzieci.pl. Access will be unlimited and free. In addition to the tutorials, you'll also find interviews with directors, actors, and other filmmakers.