24/08/2023 - The projects come from 23 different countries, and include eight feature films, seven series and two works in progress

The Junior Co-Production Market is set to return to Pathé Amsterdam Noord during the Cinekid for Professionals programme (24-27 October). In total, 17 projects will be presented to the industry representatives in attendance, including eight feature films, seven series and two works in progress.

The market brings financiers, producers and broadcasters into contact with a selection of new and innovative film and series projects for children from established and emerging creators. Over the course of two days, the projects will be presented to the international children’s media industry, and the teams behind them will participate in one-on-one meetings with interested professionals.

Two prizes will be awarded to projects from the selection – the Eurimages Co-production Development Award (worth €20,000) and the Filmmore Post-Production Award (worth €5,000 and to be bestowed upon the best live-action project). The winners will be announced during the Cinekid awards ceremony on 25 October.

Stories about the environment, war and loss will take centre stage. Among them are the documentary Children of Water (Chile/Colombia), which shows kids from all over the world sharing native knowledge about water preservation, and The Secret Floor (Germany/Luxembourg/Austria), which exploits the fantasy genre to travel back to a hotel in the German Alps in 1938 on the cusp of World War II.

The best-represented category is animation, with a total of nine projects set to be showcased, followed by seven live-action projects. Among the most highly anticipated animated titles are Fox and Hare Save the Forest [+see also:
film review
interview: Mascha Halberstad
film profile] (Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg), which will be presented as a work in progress and is being sold worldwide by Urban Distribution International, and the new series ORF, a Czech-Portuguese co-production.

Speaking about this year’s selection, Cinekid festival director Heleen Rouw said: “We have succeeded in presenting a diverse selection, reflecting a broad spectrum of topics for all age groups. We see social themes presented in titles ranging from preschool to coming-of-age ones, in playful and hopeful projects, such as Big Bang Parade, an original concept in which several stories from different filmmakers are connected playfully.”

Head of Cinekid for Professionals Sara Juričić added: “The projects in the Junior Co-Production Market are more than just movies; they are the voices of a new generation ready to make a difference through the power of film. Through it, they entertain and inspire, serving as catalysts for transformative impact. [These projects are] penned with unwavering resolve and presented with the boundless ingenuity of young visionaries.”

Here is the full list of this year’s selected projects:

Feature films

Big Bang Parade (Belgium/Poland/Netherlands)
Directors: Britt Raes, Hermien Verstraeten, Nienke Deutz, Imge Özbilge, Sine Özbilge, Karolien Raeymaekers, Martyna Koleniec
Producers: Lunanime BV, Momakin, Flinck Film

The Dream Master (Denmark)
Director: Kristian Nordentoft
Producer: Copenhagen Bombay

Hanneke & Fiet (Netherlands/Israel)
Director: Mischa Kamp
Producers: NL Film and TV, Endemol Shine Israel

Nico Finds a Treasure (Greece/Netherlands/Germany)
Director: Konstantinos Frangopoulos
Producers: Anemon Productions, asterisk*, Bind Film, Lieblingsfilm

One Brother Too Many (Norway)
Director: Tove Undheim
Producer: Miso Film

The Rules of Three (working title) (Netherlands/Iceland)
Director: Margien Rogaar
Producers: Bind Film, URSUS Parvus

The Secret Floor (Germany/Luxembourg/Austria)
Director: Norbert Lechner
Producers: Kevin Lee Film Filmgesellschaft mbH, Amour Fou Luxembourg sàrl, Amour Fou Vienna GmbH

Secret of the Dragon’s Fellowship (Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Slovenia/Belgium)
Director: Vanja Hovan
Producers: Biberche Productions, Maxima Film, Palchica Productions, Bela Film, Kwassa Films

Series

Children of Water (Chile/Colombia)
Director: Joy Penroz
Producers: Raki Films, RTVC Señal Colombia

Firsts (Spain/Chile)
Directors: Bambú Orellana, Paloma Mora
Producers: Admirable Films, TV ON Producciones, TYPPO Creative Lab

Mia Moké (France/Senegal/Cameroon/Luxembourg)
Directors: Jeremie Becquer, Julien Becquer, Karim Gadjigo
Producers: Special Touch Studios, African Touch Studios, Ozemnia, Paul Thiltges Distributions

Monsterberry Jam (Ukraine)
Director: Roman Kepkalo
Producer: YARKI

Odd Adventures of Ninja & Bibby (Poland)
Director: Piotr Różycki
Producer: Laniakea Pictures

ORF (Czech Republic/Portugal)
Director: Jan Cechl
Producers: Kuli Film, One to One Films

Tata (Brazil)
Directors: Celia Catunda, Kiko Mistrorigo
Producer: Pinguim Content

Works in progress

Block 5 [+see also:
film review
film profile] (Slovenia/Croatia/Czech Republic)
Director: Klemen Dvornik
Producers: A Atalanta, Antitalent, BFilm, Living Pictures

Fox and Hare Save the Forest [+see also:
film review
interview: Mascha Halberstad
film profile] (Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg)
Director: Mascha Halberstad
Producers: Submarine, Walking the Dog, Doghouse