Still: Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend for Tummy Tom - Erik Verkerk & Joost van den Bosch

Tummy Tom 2: A New Friend for Tummy Tom* — directed by Erik Verkerk and Joost van den Bosch and produced by Phanta Animation — will be featured in the festival’s Kids feature-length section (for children under the age of 10).. This sequel follows Tummy Tom and Cat Mouse as their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of a new dog. Sales for the film are handled by Incredible Film.

Benjamin Bat*, directed by Patrick Raats & Sarah Sutter and produced by Storyteller Productions together with Zeilt Productions (LU), will screen in the same feature-length section. The film, which opened Cinekid 2024, tells the story of Benjamin, a young bat afraid of the dark. When he falls in love with a bird, he becomes an outcast in his family.

When the Light Breaks** by Rúnar Rúnarsson will be presented in the BIKY Youth Plus feature-length section (for teenagers aged 15 to 18). A Dutch minority co-production by Revolver (sales by The Party Film Sales), the film was previously selected for Cannes' Un Certain Regard and TIFF. Set over the course of a long summer day in Iceland, it follows Una, a young art student, as she encounters love, friendship, sorrow, and beauty from one sunset to the next.

In the short film section for Kids (under the age of 10) are two Dutch productions: 

COO-RAGE*, directed by Alina Milkina and produced by Spotted Bird, follows unwanted pigeons demanding their right to housing. The film previously premiered internationally at BFI London after its world premiere at the Netherlands Film Festival.

And Quota, directed and produced by Job, Joris & Marieke, explores a world where every global citizen must have their CO2 emissions tracked. Sales are handled by SND Films, with Kaboom Distribution managing festival circulation. The film was selected for Clermont-Ferrand and had its world premiere in TIFF’s Short Cuts program, where it received an Honourable Mention. We spoke to the directors leading up to TIFF, read the interview here.

Lastly, in the short film section – BIKY Youth (for teenagers aged 11 to 14) is Summer of Dreams, directed by Kim Faber and produced by Tangerine Tree, centers on 11-year-old Lotte at a summer camp for children with cancer. There, she finds support and friendship among peers who understand her, as she tries to forget her daily worries and find balance between fun and the challenges of her disease.

Find out more about Busan International Kids & Youth Film Festival here.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*film supported by the Netherlands Film Fund