KIDS Regio Berlinale Meeting Point: Connect – Engage – Inspire

In cooperation with Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg and The Financing Forum for Kids Content, Malmö

11. February 2017 | Venue: The Representation of the Federal Region Thuringia, Berlin

Children’s films form an important component of an independent and multifaceted film culture within Europe and they need our special attention in a difficult market environment. This year’s KIDS Regio Berlinale Meeting Point investigated the inspiring projects and engaging strategies that are challenging, but feasible and entailed in the changing viewing habits of the younger audience.

We have invited four competent speakers from different European cultures, who discussed the ongoing golden question – „How to motivate and build a young audience for European Independent Cinema?“. Beyond the key question they discussed:

• What does audience engagement mean for the panellists and what kind of strategies have they implemented?
• What level of engagement is necessary and possible at the development stage?
• What kind of content are the panellists looking for?
• What is possible and what can be done in different European territories?
• Should we rethink our methods and policies on „how to reach and engage with audiences“?

Alison Norrington (United Kingdom), writer/producer, CEO, Founder & Chief Creative Director of storycentral in London, will tell us what is entailed in changing viewing habits and how we can develop engaging projects for the younger audience.

Maciej Jakubczyk (Poland), Head of Education and Board Member of New Horizons Association in Warsaw, Director of Kino Dziecie Film Festival and the professional writer’s lab KIDS Film Pro, introduced the Association’s moves in order to connect with their audiences.

Hannah Higginson (United Kingdom), Engagement Producer of Watershed, a cultural cinema and digital creativity centre in Bristol shared her experience with Watershed’s new engagement strategy.

Harro van Staverden (The Netherlands), producer of the film company Phanta Basta! presented his recent children’s action drama STORM – LETTER OF FIRE, which was released in Germany in March 2017. He shared his motivation for the project, his ideas of creating new worlds for a young audience as well as how to connect to them.

Füsun Eriksen (Denmark), owner of film consultancy firm ARTOPIA and previous festival director of BUSTER Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children and Youth (2007-2016), Head of PR, Marketing and Festival manager for Trust Film Sales / Zentropa.