14/05/2025 - The world’s oldest and largest festival dedicated to children’s cinema returns with nearly 300 films, and retrospectives focusing on Slovak animation and Studio Ghibli

Tales from the Magic Garden by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar and Jean-Claude Rozec

The Zlín Film Festival, the world's largest and oldest gathering dedicated to children's and youth cinema, is all set to celebrate its 65th anniversary from 29 May-4 June. The jubilee edition will open with the distribution avant-premiere of Tales from the Magic Garden [+see also:
film review
interview: David Súkup
film profile] by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar and Jean-Claude Rozec, an animated Czech-Slovak-French-Slovenian co-production based on the popular book by Arnošt Goldflam. A total of around 300 films from 50 countries, including premieres and titles from lesser-screened territories such as Cape Verde, Uruguay and Qatar, will be shown across six competitive and several non-competitive sections. Notably, the festival continues its strong emphasis on diversity and representation, with a renewed focus on storytelling from the Global South. Artistic director Markéta Pášmová underlined the festival’s core mission: “We broaden young people's horizons by allowing them to see the world through film. It’s about more than entertainment; it’s education, empathy and inspiration.”

The International Competition of Feature Films in the Children’s Category will showcase the Hungarian-Dutch co-production I Accidentally Wrote a Book by Nora Lakos, a heartfelt story about a young girl's unexpected literary journey; the mysterious Austrian-Luxembourgish-German adventure flick The Secret Floor by Norbert Lechner; and Hola Frida!, a Canadian-French animated feature by André Kadi and Karine Vézina that introduces children to the vibrant world of artist Frida Kahlo. The International Competition of Feature Films in the Junior Category features two notable European co-productions: Jean-François Laguionie’s hand-drawn animated film set in 1950s France A Boat in the Garden [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], and Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine and Vallentine Chelluget’s coming-of-age drama set in rural Kenya Nawi: Dear Future Me (Germany/Kenya).

The International Competition of Feature Films in the Youth Category will screen Georgi M Unkovski’s DJ Ahmet [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Georgi M Unkovski
film profile]; Justyna Mytnik’s Wet Monday, about a teenage girl confronting rape trauma amidst the backdrop of Polish Easter traditions; Maria Eriksson-Hecht’s Kevlar Soul [+see also:
film review
interview: Maria Eriksson-Hecht
film profile], portraying two brothers grappling with a turbulent home life; and lastly, Nadia Fall’s Brides [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nadia Fall
film profile], about two teenage girls who embark on a journey from the UK to Syria.

The festival will also feature two major retrospectives. One celebrates Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary with some legendary anime screenings, guest talks and a master class by journalist Michael Leader. The other pays tribute to the 60th anniversary of Slovak animation, with a dual focus: a children’s strand and an adult-orientated programme spotlighting Viktor Kubal, a pioneer in the field.

The Zlín Industry Days will continue to support youth-focused filmmaking, this year with a sharpened emphasis on student cinema and emerging creators through a new section called Young Industry. This professional programme complements the established Zlín Dog student competition and the Children Without Borders conference for educators. Alongside cornerstone events like the FILMTALENT Pitching Forum and sessions on sustainable production, effective packaging and international financing, this year’s programme includes master classes by acclaimed filmmakers such as Christian Lo, Dominic James, Daria Kashcheeva and Aardman’s Will Becher.

The full Zlín Film Fest programme is available here.