January 15-17, 2016. Inotheatre, Odesa.
Festival photo zone:
International program
The Christmas Family, dir. Carsten Rudolf, Denmark, 2014, 90’
Six-year-old Hugo Christmas gets the surprise of his life when he discovers a magical elf hiding in his house. He can only return to his world next Christmas, so he hopes to find shelter with the Christmases, but a year is a long time to hide an elf who speaks a strange language, has magical powers, and cannot stand the summer heat.
Oddball, dir. Stuart McDonald, Australia, 2015, 95’
An eccentric chicken farmer, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog Oddball to protect a penguin sanctuary from fox attacks in an attempt to reunite his family and save their seaside town.
The Games Maker, dir. Juan Pablo Buscarini, Argentina, Canada, Italy, 2014, 111’
Young Ivan Drago’s newfound love of board games catapults him into the fantastical and competitive world of game invention, and pits him against the inventor Morodian, who has long desired to destroy the city of Zyl, founded by Ivan’s grandfather. To save his family and defeat Morodian, Ivan must come to know what it is to be a true Games Maker.
Labyrinthus, dir. Douglas Boswell, Belgium, the Netherlands, 2014, 99’
Frikke, a 14-year-old boy, comes across a computer game and discovers that is being played with real children, uploaded in the game’s labyrinth. In a race against time, Frikke tries to find the evil creator of this horrible game.
Little Robbers, dir. Armands Zvirbulis, Latvia, Austria, 2009, 80’
Cross your heart and hope to die! Can you honestly swear that at least once in your life you have not thought that robbing a bank is a good idea? Especially, if you’re five years old and that bank has just thrown your parents out of a brand new apartment, because your father has lost his job. Robby (5) is no Zorro, but he’d like to be. His sister Louise (7) thinks he’s too childish, but can’t resist the game of robbing a bank. Together they can pull off just about anything. Getting away with it is the hard part.
Winnetou’s Son, dir. André Erkau, Germany, 2015, 91’
Max’s greatest role model is the literary character Winnetou. There’s nothing the 10-year-old wants more than to be an Indian himself, even though his mop of blond hair doesn’t quite fit the image of a real Redskin. But Max doesn’t care. Whether in a tepee under the table or at summer camp, Max is absolutely confident of his Chieftain abilities. When the Karl May festival begins a search for somebody to play Winnetou’s son, Max seizes his chance. Helping him prepare for his audition is Morten, a child of exactly the same age who thinks Indians are just silly. Max is bitterly disappointed when he discovers that not even his own father believes in the success of his project. But Morten convinces his friend to believe in himself and take his chance at the audition.
Ukrainian program
Trumpeter, dir. Anatoliy Mateshko, Ukraine, 2014, 85’
A young trumpeter Mykola Shevchenko plays in a pop brass band. He composes his own music that attracts attention of the world famous musician Eugene Gaisin. It is a story of rivalry between two children’s orchestras. It is just the same as in the adult world: love, intrigue, jealousy and, of course, good that overcomes evil.
Ivan the Powerful, dir. Vіktor Andrіienko, Іhor Pysmennyi, Ukraine, 2013, 90’
An extraordinary story about the surprisingly strong, kind and true in the feelings and actions of the hero, about his amazing friends and unexpected enemies. The prototype of the main character of the film was the Ukrainian circus strongman Ivan Firtsak, who in 1928 was recognized as the most powerful man on the planet. At the height of his career in the United States, he stopped playing, breaking his contract and paying a hefty fine – and returned home. The film recreates the separate pages of the life of young Ivan, who has been worthy of serious trials, matured and became an invincible giant of strength and spirit.
Tarantella late fall, dir. Іhor Kozlov-Petrovsykiy, Ukraine, 2015, 62’
The action takes place in Odesa today and in 1937. Former graduates remember their great teacher – the founder of boarding school – Peter Solomonovich Stolyarsky. Their grandchildren study at this school and want to reconcile their grandparents as they quarreled over a false denunciation in the 1930s.
Just like that, dir. Serhii Aksyonov, Ukraine, 2015 (series)
Just like that – is a movie about children’s wisdom, the collapse of the adult state of things and worldview, rules and superstitions. There is no need to complicate anything. You simply must act. And not otherwise.
Enchanting Stories: The Elixir of Good, dir. Lіlіya Soldatenko, 2013, 80’
Dr. Golf is a good wizard. He lives in his underground lab, is constantly working on amazing elixir formulas and wants to make the world a better and better place. Dr. Golf is very fond of telling fascinating stories that he has been collecting around the world for centuries and writing in his magic book.
Elixir of Good is a charming story told by Dr. Golf about a young capricious Unur ruler who constantly spends time in his entertainment room on a monitor screen surrounded by bioworks. Unur plays, has fun, and even does public affairs by simply pushing multicolored buttons.
