_{In Havana by Kim van Haaster}

4 Feature and Medium Length Films at CICFF

CICFF screens 3 Dutch feature length and one medium length films: Buladó**, Best Birthday Ever**, My Dad Is a Sausage** and The School Garden. Feature Buladó by Eché Janga and Keplerfilm tells the magical-realistic and heartwarming story of a small family in the countryside of Curaçao. The film’s impressive festival track record includes selections at among others the New York International Children's Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival and Giffoni Film Festival. Last year the film was the official Netherlands' Oscar submission for the 93th Acadamy Awards in the International Feature Film Category. Sales are handled by Picture Tree International.

Minority co-production Best Birthday Ever by Michael Ekblad and co-producer Submarine is an animated feature film based on the Karlchen book series by Rotraut Susanne Berner. Simon Crowe Films International handles sales.

The Film Kitchen's minority co-production My Dad Is a Sausage by Anouk Fortunier follows Zoë and her dad, who is her best friend. When, on a whim, he decides to give up his job as a banker to become an actor, he gets into a big fight with her mum. But Zoë believes in her dad, even if nobody else does, and vows to help him in every way she can. It is a successful month for Fortunier’s feature, since it will hit the screens in Tallinn and Thessaloniki later this month at respectively the Black Nights Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Studio Hamburg handles sales.

The School Garden, a medium length documentary film by Mark Verkerk and EMS Films, focuses on the school garden system in the Netherlands. Each year, primary schools take their kids to the fields where the youngsters will learn how to sow, grow and cook food. The film is part of CICFF's Think Green section.

7 Short Films Screen at CICFF

Additionally, CICFF screens Dutch shorts. Free as a Bird is directed by Annelies Kruk and produced by Tangerine Tree. The short documentary premiered last month at Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam and tells the moving story of young Arianna who starts an online campaign to find a kidney donour. The film is part of the festival’s programme Be Unstoppable, which also includes In Havana by Kim van Haaster and her production company Kim Films. This doc follows Anthony, Carolina and Camilo as they show what they do in the very different places in Havana City. Sales is handled by Feelsales.

Other selected shorts are Ink* by Joost van den Bosch, Erik Verkerk and Ka-Ching Cartoons; Julieta & The Turtles in The Plastic Soup by Mirjam Marks and Tangerine Tree; Marlon Brando* by Vincent Tilanus and Room for Film; Girlsboysmix by Lara Aerts and Prospektor and Stolen Kisses by Lidi Toepoel and Kek Films.

For more information on the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, click here.
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*Film is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund
**Film is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund and Production Incentive