Five upcoming feature-length fiction and animation films for children or youth will be presented to the international industry guests attending the 59th Zlín Film Festival. The projects from Czech Republic, Slovakia and Balkan countries, to which the festival dedicated its focus section this year, were selected by the Czech Film Center and the programming team of Zlín Film Festival.

SELECTED PROJECTS:

Don’t Forget to Breath | Ne Pozabi Dihati

SI, IT, HR 2019 / 98’
Director: Martin Turk
Producer: Ida Weiss (Bela film)
In co-production with: Quasar Multimedia, Studio Dim, RAI Cinema, RTV Slovenia

Klemen (15) adores his older brother Peter (18) who is his idol and best friend. The boys, raised by a single mother, are growing up in a small countryside town, spending their days on the tennis court, training to be champions. When Peter falls in love with the beautiful Sonja, Klemen’s world starts disintegrating. He feels anger towards his older brother’s voluptuous girlfriend who is bringing radical change into their life, while at the same time being hopelessly drawn to her feminine sensuality. Sonja is a fully-grown young woman, confident in her charms. Klemen is confused by the unfamiliar emotions washing over him and obsessed with Sonja in various conflicting ways. He comes up with foolish plans to break up Peter and Sonja, so he can have his brother back. But his reckless ideas only manage to drive Peter further away, and the boy has to face the consequences of actions that could result in disaster.

Fritzi – A Revolutionary Tale | Fany byla při tom

DE, BE, LU, CZ 2019 / 80’
Directors: Ralf Kukula, Matthias Bruhn
Producers: Ralf Kukula (Balance Film), Matthias Bruhn, Richard Lutterbeck (Trickstudio Lutterbeck)
In co-production with: Doghouse Films, Artémis Productions, MAUR film

East Germany, 1989. Summertime. No one knows the Iron Curtain is about to fall. When twelve-year-old Fritzi‘s best friend Sophie goes on vacation to Hungary with her family, she leaves her little dog Sputnik with her. Fritzi lovingly takes care of Sputnik, who misses Sophie a lot. When school starts again in fall, however, Sophie doesn‘t come back. Fritzi has to face up to the fact Sophie’s mother has stayed in Hungary with her daughter, like so many other East Germans hoping to reach the West from there. By chance, Fritzi stumbles into a demonstration. She sees the people around her risking arrest, committed to changing their country for the better. Inspired, Fritzi now knows exactly what to do: She has to help Sputnik find Sophie – no matter what! She got a postcard from Sophie from West-Germany, so she has a lead. With the help of her classmate Bela, she tries to follow Sputnik across the heavily-guarded border on her own.

Summer with Bernard | Leto s Bernardom

SK, DE 2020 / 90’
Director: Martina Saková
Producer: Katarína Krnáčová (Silverart)
In co-production with: Projector23

Summer is finally here! Jonas is excited to be spending the holidays with his grandpa Bernard. But with no wife or a job, grandpa is not in the best of moods. Jonas knows something needs to be done. This is the beginning of a turbulent summer story which ends in an extraordinary friendship.

The Pack | Smečka

CZ, LV 2020 / 90’
Director: Tomáš Polenský
Producers: Julietta Sichel, Jan Froněk (8Heads Productions)
In co-production with: Ego Media

David (16), a talented goalie, is placed in a new hockey team. He is determined to do everything he can to succeed. Too bad the other goalie, Miky (16), is the coach’s son! And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the team doesn’t exactly welcome David with open arms. Maybe it’s because of the little plastic box pumping insulin into his body. However, David won’t let his diabetes get the better of him! He tries to stand up to the team’s unacceptance, bracing the avalanche of bullying…

The Beanie | Kapa

SI, SE, HR 2021 / 70’
Director: Slobodan Maksimović
Producer: Ida Weiss (Senca Studio)
In co-production with: Way Creative Films, Studio Dim

Erik is a 8-year-old boy, living in a youth home due to his problematic parents. His only wish is to go home for Christmas. Instead he gets to spend the holiday with a well-off family and their 6-year-old daughter Mina, who wishes for a puppy and a sister. In the middle of the night they encounter fake Santa in the family’s living room, a thief in disguise. Full of hopes they hide in his car, but soon Santa gets rid of them and children embark on a very special Christmas adventure. Erik is determined to go home and Mina follows him. After an extraordinary journey they finally sneak into Erik’s home and he realizes his parents haven’t kept their promise and haven’t changed a bit. But he has Mina as his friend now. Eventually, they both get what they wish for, just not the way they expect it.

Find out more information HERE.