„Keeping Up with Children as an Audience“ by KIDS Regio and PUBLIKUM provides in-depth insights into the media consumption habits of children across Europe, based on extensive qualitative and quantitative data from twelve countries. It highlights differences and similarities between countries, focusing on how children aged 7-11 perceive films, their preferences for genres and characters, and their viewing habits. Both individually and in social contexts such as family and school, the report reveals children’s definitions of film, preferred content and interactions. These findings are intended to help filmmakers and media professionals create relevant and engaging content for this dynamic young audience, thereby increasing the cultural diversity and potential of European children’s films.

“If we want things to change, we need to take responsibility.” That’s one of the key conclusions that emerged from the KIDS Regio Forum Inspirational Dialogue between Edita Bilaver of Kids meet Art and Petri Kemppinen of P1 Kemppinen & Good Hand Production on the second and final day of the Forum. Both were also very clear about their expectations for the next steps. Today is not the end; it is the beginning. The 60-plus participants should engage with all of the 6,000-plus stakeholders involved in the field of children’s films in Europe – from producers and funders to festivals, and, last but not least, regional and national politicians. “We should be more bold,” Bilaver concluded. “We need to present our case in a more professional manner rather than an emotional one.” Kemppinen added: “We need to provide them with data, facts, and evidence.”