22/06/2016 - Kung Fu Lion and Totem are the latest titles supported as part of the co-development fund that was launched in 2015

Two Dutch-German co-production projects have been allocated a total of €30,000 as part of the Netherlands Film Fund and Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung’s (MDM’s) co-development fund designed to support original children’s and youth films.

Kung Fu Lion, a project written and directed by Froukje Tan, received €10,000 for a rewrite. Aimed at children aged between nine and 12 years old, Kung Fu Lion is being produced by Amsterdam-based Submarine Film along with German co-producer Neue Mediopolis Filmproduktion. The story revolves around the rivalry between two teenage kung fu trainees.

In addition, €20,000 have been allocated to Totem, a project set to be written by Bastiaan Tichler and directed by Sander Burger. The Netherlands’ Volya Films and Germany’s Pallas Film are joining forces to move forward with this project, which is also aimed at children aged between nine and 12 years old. Totem follows 11-year-old Ama, the daughter of unsuccessful asylum seekers from Africa. She is looking for her father in wintry Rotterdam, on the night her mother and little brother have been detained.

The Dutch-German co-development fund was launched in 2015 in order to develop and co-produce quality films for children from both countries and beyond. The next application deadline for this fund is scheduled for 13 September 2016.