LUCAS in full swing
Frankfurt-on-Maine is currently hosting the 31st LUCAS International Children’s Film Festival (September 7-14), which kicked off on Sunday.
The event – which is the most established German festival of its kind – is organised by the German Film Institute (DIF). Its aim is to introduce children ages 5-12 to entertaining yet intelligent films, or as LUCAS director Petra Kappler describes them "engaged and independent" works.
Ten features (including eight European titles) and 19 shorts are screening in competition. They will be judged by a joint jury composed of five children and five adults (film industry personalities and professionals) who will award a prize for the Best Feature (worth €7,500) and Best Short (€3,000).
The FICC (International Federation of Cine-clubs) jury will award the Don Quixote Prize.
Eight European features are vying for honours. These include Béla Ternovszky’s Hungarian animated film Catcher- Cat City 2, French director Isabelle Doval’s My Very Best Friend, Danish titles Frode and All the Other Rascals by Niels Chr. Bubber Meyer and Karla's World by Charlotte Sachs Bostrup, Karola Hattop’s German film The Mystery of Morphus, Icelandic director Ari Kristinsson’s No Network, Norwegian director Arne Lindtner Næss’ SOS – Summer of Suspense and Martin Duffy’s Irish film Summer of the Flying Saucer.
There is a section dedicated to documentaries and another to films for young children (four-year-olds and above). Moreover, the screenings are accompanied by meetings with some of the directors, discussions, games and workshops.
Created in 1989, the ever-expanding Film Market Place will appeal to grown-up visitors.
(Translated from French)
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