IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary | IDFA Festival

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IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary

IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary

The IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary offers world-class films that challenge our understanding of youth documentary. Curated by filmmaker Niki Padidar, the selection showcases compelling films that take on complex realities and leave room for interpretation, presented for two distinct age groups: 9- to 12-year-olds, and 13-year-olds all the way to adulthood.

C

Crushed

Crushed

For 13+ years. It's the summer when Camille turns eighteen and falls in love with Jean. A perfect boy, who later turns out be violent. As she recalls this summer, we see images of junk cars in a wild race that ends in their demolition.

D

The Daughter of Both Women

The Daughter of Both Women

Malena Montiel, Nora Alberdi Odriozola, Iona E. Quesada, Alejandra López Puebla, Nhoa Carmona Aguilar

Age section 13+ years. Catalan teenager Iona starts her story with the words, “I hate my mother.” The details are then filled in via video clips and diary entries. Her anger hides many questions, which she explores in this sincere and relatable film.

E

Everything Will Be Alright

Everything Will Be Alright

Eefje Blankevoort, Lara Aerts

Age section 13+ years. Eighteen-year-old Samrawit was just a child when she decided to flee Eritrea on her own. In this film, in which we also see her directing some scenes, she shares moments from her escape story and from her life in the Netherlands.

F

the Flower by the Road

the Flower by the Road

Giorgi Parkosadze

Age section 9-12 years. A few dreamlike glimpses into the life of a young girl who is on her way to meet a beloved friend, and for whom nothing exists but the here and now.

H

Hard to Break

Hard to Break

Anna-Maija Heinonen, Krista Moisio

Age section 13+ years. Atte, 18, and Jonsu, 16, are popular on Snapchat. It may look like their lives are just one big party, but they each have their problems. Even their relationship comes under threat in this coming-of-age film driven by the energy of the teenagers.

Hey Dad

Hey Dad

Age section 13+ years. In this short, contemplative Taiwanese animation, a young man searches for the courage and the words to reveal the secret that stands between him and his father. After 20 years, has the right time finally come?

I

The Invisible Ones

The Invisible Ones

Martijn Blekendaal

Age section 9-12 years. An exciting exploration of what life is like for a child needing to be invisible – either in order to survive, or to feel safe. Specially for these children, the filmmaker creates a superhero—on screen, but invisible.

M

My Homeland

My Homeland

Tabarak Allah Abbas

For 13+. A surprising anime in which people are replaced by cyborgs. A young couple has to conquer robots to save their baby. Mixing fantasy and migration, the film creatively shows a new perspective on a familiar subject.

P

A Place to Call Home

A Place to Call Home

Parisa Aminolahi

For 9-12 year. A father and his 2 daughters have ended up in a beautiful, yet strange place. Something seems off. Where is everybody? How long will they stay here? And what happened to their friends and their parties?

S

Simply Divine

Simply Divine

Mélody Boulissière

Age section 13+ years. Accompanied by beautiful oil painting-style animations and archive footage, 91-year-old Nușa talks about a relationship she had with a soldier when she was young. She lost contact with him while he was at the front, but has never forgotten him.

Somewhere to Be

Somewhere to Be

Age section 13+ years. A vertical phone screen, filmed for eight minutes. That’s all this short film needs in order to show what it means to have every trace of your former existence erased. A powerful illustration of the far-reaching effects of state repression.

W

What’s the Film About?

What’s the Film About?

Age section 9-12 years. Rehaan (11) and Mitra (8) don’t feel like the conversation that their mother, the director of this film, tries to start during their camping trip: she wants to tell them about inappropriate touch. It leads to comic and unexpectedly frank moments.

With Grace

With Grace

Julia Dahr, Dina Mwende

Age section 9-12 years. An upbeat tale in which 13-year-old Grace shows how her close-knit family, who live in rural Kenya and are completely dependent on the seasonal weather, are dealing with the consequences of climate change.