From June 12 to 21, Ukraine will host the 13th edition of Children Kinofest — the country’s main event of the year for young film lovers and their parents. The festival has long proven that children’s and teen cinema can tell deep and sometimes challenging stories that stay with audiences long after the credits roll. This year, screenings will once again be free of charge in 12 cities across Ukraine, while the program features both recent European releases and classics of Scandinavian animation.

We took a close look at this year’s lineup and selected five of the festival’s most interesting films that are definitely worth booking tickets for.

“The Secret Floor” (7+)

International Competition

Family Fantasy

Instead of enjoying the summer vacation he had dreamed about, 12-year-old Karli is forced to help his parents renovate an old hotel in the Alps. However, routine disappears when an ordinary elevator turns out to be a time machine. The boy accidentally travels back to 1938. There, he finds a group of children his age, but the romance of time travel quickly fades away: all around him is Nazi Germany, where every wrong step can cost a life. This is a dynamic adventure that also carefully and clearly introduces young audiences to themes of historical memory and courage.

“Barry, the Rescue Dog” (6+)

International Competition

Adventure Drama

A story inspired by real events. Orphan Georg arrives at a monastery on the high-altitude Great St. Bernard Pass in the Alps, where monks breed dogs. The boy becomes attached to the weakest puppy in the litter, whom the monks want to get rid of because it is considered unfit. Georg secretly saves his four-legged friend and begins nursing him. This is a classic, emotional and deeply sincere film about loyalty, as this very puppy will grow up to become the legendary St. Bernard Barry, who saved dozens of human lives.

“Arco” (8+)

International Competition

Fantasy Animation

An ecological fantasy with a striking visual style. In the distant future, people live in cities in the sky and travel through different eras using rainbow capes. Ten-year-old Arco secretly takes one of these capes for his first flight and crashes in the year 2075. Earth looks frightening here: forests are being destroyed by fires, and robots raise children instead of parents. A lonely girl named Iris takes the boy under her protection and tries to help him return home. But hunters are already tracking the visitor from the future, so they must act quickly. The animated film will soon also be released in cinemas.

“Moomins and the Comet Chase” (4+)

“Northern Lights” Online Program

Puppet Animation

The festival’s ultimate cinephile must-watch. Moomintroll, Sniff and Snufkin set out for a distant observatory to find out whether a dangerous comet is really heading toward Earth. Ahead of them lie a vanished sea, strange creatures, and an attempt to save their cozy world. This is a restored version of the cult stop-motion series from the 1970s and 1980s, whose production was personally supervised by Tove Jansson. Refreshed visuals, remastered sound and a signature track by singer Björk make this screening a perfect choice for an evening family viewing at home.

“Okay, Goodbye” (11+)

Special Online Screening

Adventure Drama, Road Movie

The most mature and realistic film in the selection, aimed at teenagers. Jamie and Iman attend a special school for children with hearing impairments. One day, the girls decide to rebel — they run away from the institution to visit the grandmother of one of them, who is seriously ill. This spontaneous journey becomes a test of their friendship. Meeting different adults and overcoming difficulties on the road, the girls not only discover the real world beyond the school walls but also force that world to finally notice them.

Cinema Made by Children: Children’s Film Competition

Another reason to be proud is the traditional **Children’s Film Competition**, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over the course of six months, young Ukrainian filmmakers submitted their short films to the festival, and now 18 finalist films are ready to meet their audiences. These works will be screened on big screens in 12 cities across Ukraine as well as on the festival’s online platform.

The winners in the main categories will be selected by a professional jury, while the Audience Award will be decided directly by viewers through voting. It is worth attending at least to see what and how the next generation of Ukrainian filmmakers is creating.

Supported by: UNICEF, the EU’s Creative Europe Programme, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, and the State Film Agency of Ukraine.

Partners: Embassy of France in Ukraine, French Institute in Ukraine, UKRSIBBANK, Embassy of Norway in Ukraine, Embassy of Belgium in Ukraine, Embassy of Finland in Ukraine, Embassy of Spain in Ukraine, Goethe-Institut Ukraine, Embassy of Italy in Ukraine, Italian Institute of Culture in Ukraine, Polish Institute in Kyiv, Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, Embassy of Ireland in Ukraine.

General Media Partner: Suspilne Culture

General Television Partner: PLUSPLUS

Official Partner: Kyivstar TV

Official Online Cinema Partner: Brobaks

Media Partners: Osvitoria Media, Na Urok, New Ukrainian School, Dity v Misti, Ranok Publishing House, EasyPay

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