27/10/2023 - Kiddo has snagged the Lion for Best Dutch Children’s Film, while the Eurimages Co-production Development Award was bestowed upon Greece’s Nico Finds a Treasure by Konstantinos Frangopoulos

As the 2023 edition of Amsterdam’s Cinekid (15-29 October) nears its conclusion, 13 awards for the best child-orientated films, series, games and apps were handed out during a gala ceremony held on Wednesday 25 October.

This year saw the triumph of Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach’s Chicken for Linda! [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France/Italy), which was the recipient of the Cinekid Lion for Best Children’s Film. The quirky animated flick follows Linda and her mother, who find each other on a mad hunt to buy chicken. This year’s jury, consisting of Arnaud Demuynck, Daniela Persico and Emma Tirand, found Chicken for Linda! “a completely crazy, funny and exciting film” whose “graphic daring, acting and anarchic tone make it a highly original movie that will appeal to children and adults alike”. They also described it as “modern and universal, full of love and good humour”.

Meanwhile, the special Youth Jury Award went to Margien Rogaar’s Jippie No More! (Netherlands). The film tells the story of 16-year-old Jaap Peter “Jippie” (Wesley van Klink) and his family, who are all romantically challenged in their own way during the preparations for the eldest sister’s wedding. The jury statement reads as follows: “From the start, we were impressed by the fantastic atmosphere of the film, which combines a serious story with a lot of humour.” The picture will be released in Dutch cinemas on 13 December.

Among the other awardees are Zara Dwinger’s Kiddo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Zara Dwinger
film profile] (Netherlands), the winner of the Award for Best Dutch Children’s Film, and season 5 of Talking Heads (Netherlands), crowned Best Dutch Fiction Series.

Moreover, Cinekid for Professionals, the international industry programme for youth media, handed out some additional awards. In detail, three expert juries presented prizes to the best youth media projects in development. The Eurimages Co-production Development Award (consisting of €20,000 for the development of a European co-production) was bestowed upon the Greek project Nico Finds a Treasure by director Konstantinos Frangopoulos, produced by Anemon.

The Filmmore Post-Production Award (worth €5,000 to be spent on post-production) for the Best Live-action Project in Development went to Hanneke & Fiet by Mischa Kamp (Netherlands), staged by NL Film & TV. Finally, the PUBLIKUM Audience Awareness Award (consisting of a tailor-made audience research process worth €9,000) went to the Lunanime-produced Big Bang Parade (Belgium), helmed by Britt Raes, Hermien Verstraeten, Nienke Deutz, Imge Özbilge, Sine Özbilge, Karolien Raeymaekers and Martyna Koleniec.

Here is the full list of this year’s winners:

Best Children’s Film Award
Chicken for Linda! [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach (France/Italy)

Best Dutch Children’s Film Award
Kiddo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Zara Dwinger
film profile] - Zara Dwinger (Netherlands)

Youth Jury Award
Jippie No More! - Margien Roogaar (Netherlands)

Amarte Best Dutch Short Animation Award
Ursa Minor - Sanne Brouwer (Netherlands)

Amarte Best Dutch Short Live-action Award
Magma - Luca Meisters (Netherlands)

Best International Short Animation Award
The Turnip - Piret Sigus, Silja Saarepuu (Estonia)

Best International Short Live-action Award
White Lie - Eyal Elisha (Israel)

Best Dutch Fiction Series Award
Lampje - Margien Rogaar (Netherlands)

Best Dutch Non-fiction Series Award 
Talking Heads (season 5) - Menno Otten (Netherlands)

Netwerk Mediawijsheid Game & App Award 
Voiceracers - Niki Smit (Netherlands)

Eurimages Co-Production Development Award 
Nico Finds a Treasure - Konstantinos Frangopoulos (Greece)

Filmmore Post-Production Award
Hanneke & Fiet - Mischa Kamp (Netherlands)

PUBLIKUM Audience Awareness Award
Big Bang Parade - Britt Raes, Hermien Verstraeten, Nienke Deutz, Imge Özbilge, Sine Özbilge, Karolien Raeymaekers, Martyna Koleniec (Belgium)