EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S FILM ASSOCIATION www.ecfaweb.org Information on Films for jjoouurrnnaall Children in Europe! www.ecfaweb.org ASSOCIATION EUROPÉENNE DU CINÉMA POUR L’ENFANCE ET LA JEUNESSE Experts’ Meeting at Cinekid Amsterdam, October 27th 2006: No. 3/2006 September 2006 The Distribution of Artistic Contents: Films for Children in Europe The News Section At this year’s Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam (October 22nd to 29th 2006) Films, Festivals, Awards on Friday, October 27th, Cinekid and ECFA will organize a small but focu- Forthcoming Festivals sed seminar for professionals on the distribution of artistic films for child- ren in Europe. Films on the Horizon During the last few years the distribution holidays, or in the summertime, there are of „artistic“ children's films has not beco- at least five or six new films offered to the Event me any easier. The notion „family film“ family audience. ECFA’s and Cinekid’s has taken over the catalogues of the Conference on the major (US-) companies as well as the This makes it very hard for distribu- independent production in several tors of artistic children's films, who Distribution of Films countries. Furthermore the product- normally do not aim at the big audien- for Children in Europe ion of family movies has increased ces, to find screens available for their enormously over the last years; the fa- movies. When they finally succeed, Reports mily audience has become one of the key their film is the 5th or 6th in line on the target groups. Take a look at the cinema theatre's programme. A normal, commer- Italian Films for programmes in the Christmas and Easter cial release of such kind of films has beco- Children: For Example Continued on page 2 „Red Like the Sky“ by An Outstanding Film for Children from Italy: Cristiano Bortone For Example „Red Like the Sky“ Kids for Kids Festival 2006 in Cyprus It is not so easy to find quality films produced in Italy which are suitable for children. But even if most Italian producers do not consider children's ECFA in Persons films as a profitable genre, sometimes an outstanding film appears, hid- Sannette Naeyé, den in the grass of the adults’ productions. These films generally have dif- Cinekid Amsterdam/NL ficulties in the distribution market. If there is a possibility to promote, it happens through the networks who have an eye for the quality like ECFA. A Filmmaker’s Experience: film was shot between Tuscany and Ligu- ria. The action takes place in 1970. Mirco Martin Duffy and his is a bright, lively 10-year-old, crazy about movies – especially western and adventu- „Road to Mercury“ re films. One day, while Mirco is playing with an old rifle, the gun accidentally goes Irish director Martin Duffy’s „The Boy off; the boy is shot in the head. He surviv- from Mercury“ was one of the out- es, but loses his sight. At that time, Ital- standing films for children from 1996. ian law considered blind people as hope- Ten years laters Duffy published a lessly handicapped, and did not permit book about his experiences with this them to attend public school (this happen- „Rosso como il ciele“ / „Red Like the Sky“. autobiographical movie. ed only in 1975). Hence, young Mirco's Duffy’s book gives a very personal view on So, here we have „Rosso come il cielo“ parents are forced to shut their son up in how he made this film and brought it to („Red Like the Sky“) by Cristiano Borto- a special school for the blind in Genova. the audience. Thus the book also provides ne. Inspired by the true story of Mirco But Mirco is feisty and determined. With a rich source of information for all aspiring Mencacci, one of the most gifted Italian an old tape recorder and a few used reels filmmakers; it is a road map for the film- sound editors working today, (he worked he discovers that by cutting and splicing making process from script to screen. with Ferzan Ozpetek and Marco Tullio tape he can create little fairy tales made More Info: www.duffyberlin.com Giordana) who happens to be blind, the only of sounds. A brand-new world opens Continued on page 3 Dear Readers of ECFA-Journal, we need more members ... The mailing list of ECFA-Journal in- national network organisation with not much when it helps you to send creases day by day. Currently there are cultural aims ECFA will not limit the your films to the important festivals or 750 producers, sales agents, distribu- access to its information and publicati- to find the best films for your program. tors, TV-programmers, festival organi- on to members. Nevertheless we have To become a member just download, zers, journalists, educators and many to remind from time to time, that we fill in and send the subscription form more who subscribed the Journal. Un- need more members to continue and at the bottom of our website fortunately most of them have not yet improve our activities in future. The www.ECFAweb.org become members of ECFA. As an inter- annual membership fee of 200 Euros is ECFA-Journal 3/2006 - 1 - Continuing from page 1 The News Section: The Distribution of Artistic Children’s Films in Europe Films, Festivals, Awards me very difficult; therefore many distribu- The conference will discuss if all these tors depend on the so called „second dis- good intentions are indeed stimulating for Plein la bobine - Sancy Film Festival for tribution chain“: the cultural and school the distribution of artistic children's films Young People, Massif du Sancy, La screenings. as well as for the co-operation among the Bourboule & Le Mont-Dore, France distributors in different countries. Films for children from 3 years up: At the same time it turned out that TV- Professionals’ jury award: „At Home channels have not increased the number 2. Artistic children's film in cinema? Or …? of feature films they programme for child- Will the film theatre remain the first base with Mrs Hen“ („Chez madame Poule“), ren – on the contrary. Also therefore, the for the artistic children's films distributi- by Tali, Canada 2006; on? Or will the alternative distribution Young jury’s people’s choice awards: platforms become the main focus for dis- „The Propellerbird“ by Jan Locher and tributors. Or will „artistic children's film“ Thomas Hinke, Germany 2005; be regarded as such a niche product that Films for children from 7 years up: movies will be made available for (digital) Professionals’ jury award: „Badgered“ by TV, DVD, VoD, cell phones … without Sharon Colman, UK 2005; showing in the movie theatres first? Young jury’s award: „Imago“ by Cédric What will be the future plans of Babouche, France 2005; 1. the TV buyers; People’s choice award: „Alone“ („Seul“) 2. the distributors? by Corinne Garfin, France 2005; Films for young people from 12 years up: 3. The marketing of artistic A topic at ECFA’s experts’ meeting in Professionals’ jury award: „Panther children's films Amsterdam: case studies on the marketing The way of marketing is quite decisive for Martin“ by Terje Rangnes, Norway 2005; campaigns of „Winky’s Horse“. Young jury’s award: „At the time“ („A l'é- the results of these kind of movies in the theatres (and afterwards). This conferen- poque“) by Nadine Buss, France 2005; possibilities for the committed distributors ce will not refer to the unpayable cam- People’s choice award: „Old Crab“ to regenerate their investments in artistic paigns of major companies, but will pre- („Vieux crabe“) by Camille Bialestowski, films for children are becoming more and sent three case studies of marketing cam- France 2004; more limited. paigns for one film: Winky's Horse in: Contact: Plein la bobine - Sancy Film France by Marie Bourillon Festival for Young People Perhaps the future, with the upcoming dif- (Les Films du Préau) c/o Hotel de Ville ferent distribution platforms at one side Sweden by Rose-Marie Strand F-63150 La Bourboule and the digital evolution on the other, will (Folkets Bio) bring some solutions to this difficult situa- Norway by Svend B. Jensen (Arthaus). Phone: ++ 33-473-370363 tion? Fax: ++ 33-473-370363 4. The Digital Future in Cinema E-Mail: [email protected] All this is enough reason for ECFA (the It becomes more and more clear that the Internet: www.pleinlabobine.com European Children's Film Association) to change towards global digital cinema has organise a conference on the distribution started. Arriving at the end of the “pelli- Giffoni International Film Festival for of artistic children's films in Europe. cule era” is just a matter of time (and Children and Young People, Giffoni/ money) and the major companies and mul- Free to Fly-section: The conference will bring together as many tiplex cinemas will be the best prepared. of the committed distributors as possible, But how will the situation be for the smal- Best feature film: „We Shall Overcome“ but the subject also tackles the interest ler art-house distributors and exhibitors? by Niels Arden Oplev, Denmark 2005; of public cultural decision makers, TV-pro- The conference is hoping to get some best short film: „Vincent“ by grammers, producers, exhibitioners, edu- answers from Mr. Kommer Kleijn, Director Giulio Ricciarelli, Germany 2005; cational workers ... of Photography and Image Technology Grand Prix of the jury: „Mother of Mine“ Consultant. by Klaus Härö, Finland 2005; Special awards: „Opal Dream“ by Peter The following topics will be discussed in 5. Start of Grouping (on invitation only) Cattaneo, UK/Australia 2005, & „Zozo“ the conference: Here there will be the opportunity for dis- tributors of artistic children's films pres- by Josef Fares, Sweden 2005 (also hon- 1.