Photo: Niv Fux (Cinekid)

“There are so many things happening in kids & youth film and media,” Niv Fux tells SEE NL ahead of the 40th edition of Cinekid, running 10-16 October. “I'm already seeing that it’s a special kind of realm within the film industry. The people who work in it, they do it with real passion.” Niv took over as Head of Cinekid for Professionals in May of this year, after three successful years as director of Leiden Shorts.

Five months is a relatively short period to prep for a professional event, so Niv is thankful that there is an established structure in place. Nevertheless, he has initiated a number of changes designed to further streamline the experience for the professional guests in attendance. 

Cinekid’s long-standing Screening Club of streamed market content has been given the 2.0 treatment, and now has a ‘Live’ dimension, which dovetails with the festival’s theme in 2026 of ‘celebrating together.’ Films can still be watched within a ‘video library’ setting, but Screening Club Live promises to be an altogether more collaborative, more cinematic experience.

“We're highlighting a few dynamic new works by emerging Dutch filmmakers, a few short films, as well as some highly promising international series that are now at work-in-progress stage, and they will be presented for the first time, just for professionals, but within a communal setting,” says Niv of his October 13 presentation.

“We’re rejuvenating the Screening Club format,” he underlines.

Also new this year are the Expert Sessions, during which professional delegates can seek to overcome hurdles, gain reassurance or offer/receive support on all aspects of their business and craft.

“Basically, the Expert Sessions are a format in which film funds, festivals, talent initiatives and broadcasters gather to meet producers or makers and to exchange on how they can collaborate or what they can learn from each other,” Niv explains. “While the wider Industry Forum (see below) is a more discursive format that is gathered around the different issues that are pressing for Industry, this is more like, ‘hey, this is what I'm doing and this is what I'm working on and how we can maybe collaborate, or how can you help?’ It’s something that we hope will further enrich the format for professionals attending.”

 The Sessions will look to address the broadest range of sector experience. “Everything,” he confirms. “Strategy, business, content, guidance.”

This year’s Industry Forum (October 13) will again gather expert speakers from different countries who will share their insights on the children and kids' media industry. A core difference in 2026 is that instead of one keynote, there will be three. 

Linda Duits will address the professionals in Amsterdam with a talk titled ‘Glue – The Magic of Fun Explained.’ “She has really looked into the societal implications of fun and why it's important, but also how fun is constitutive of communities, how magic is formed when something is being done together, like in a choir. Linda will show us why fun and film go so well together, and how you can set-up the conditions for fun to thrive” says Niv.

In the second key-note, Dutch content creator, actress, screenwriter and journalist Samya Hafsaoui will talk about developing online community via the power of story-telling. “She will talk about how it's still possible within social media and online environments to find human connection and how the creative process, and sharing your story as a creator, is basically a way to find and engage an enthusiastic audience.”

The third key-note will be given by Pablo Núñez, an audiovisual director and practice-based researcher in Amsterdam, and promises to take a nuanced look at innovation and technology, and at AI. “While the ethical implications have to be weighed, we should also think about how kids can benefit from technology and AI, that there is fun and playfulness in all this,” says Niv. “These technologies can also be something that allows different types of experiences. It doesn't replace the human connection and the joy of coming together to watch a film within a collective experience. But I think there's also lots of creative opportunities there as well.”

“What is there that can enhance creativity?” Niv further articulates his sense of purpose. “I think that's something we're kind of all discovering and exploring. And we at Cinekid are part of that journey in that sense.”

As festival director at Leiden Shorts, one of Niv’s briefs was to foster new film talents. This is a practice he is determined to continue at Cinekid for Professionals. 

“This year, we have this new accreditation called the Young Professional Badge,” he says. “It is offered at a much lower price than the other badges because we really want these younger professionals, such as students or young alums, to have the overall Cinekid experience, and to make the professionals' programme a lot more accessible for them.”

“We want to draw them into the magical world of kids' content and see what there is for them to explore,” he signs off.

Find out more about Cinekid here.