Meow Clique, Basia, Paddy, Miffy – festival films for the young audiences during the 13th IFF TAURON Young Horizons
From first cinema experiences to further festival adventures – the 13th IFF TAURON Young Horizons welcomes young audiences to a world filled with cinematic stories, beloved characters, brand new discoveries, and movie premieres. The programme features workshops, meetings, and events for the whole family. The cinemas will screen such great animations as: Meow Clique. The Mysterious Disappearance of Herrings, Basia. My Moods are Like Stripes, or Paddy Loves Animals.
Meow Clique festival debut
Among the most anticipated films at the 13th IFF TAURON Young Horizons is Meow Clique. The Mysterious Disappearance of Herrings (dir. Marek Lachowicz, Piotr Szczepanowicz). This is the screen adaptation of the literary phenomenon by Agata Romaniuk, featuring illustrations by Malwina Hajduk. The Mysterious Disappearance of Herrings launched the book series, and now the first of the adventures featuring the cat detectives from Cieszyn is coming to the big screen. The film adaptation preserves the spirit of the original books while giving its characters a fresh, cinematic form. Young moviegoers will follow the trail of a mystery in a lighthearted detective atmosphere, rich in situational humor and comic details, set to a backdrop of lo-fi jazz. One of the screenings at Kinoteka will be accompanied by a meeting with the director and the creators of the books.
The pilot episode of Meow Clique will be screened along with Basia. My Moods are Like Stripes (dir. Marcin Wasilewski) in which the beloved five-year-old with curiosity and a keen eye for the world discovers its wonders while experiencing everyday moments of joy and anger, and having many adventures, big and small.
This year’s programme for the young moviegoers will feature a unique visual style created in collaboration with Malwina Hajduk – a graphic designer and illustrator known, among other things, for the Meow Clique book series. Her distinctive illustrations will appear on the festival merchandise designed specifically for children, who can also look forward to colorful temporary tattoos, postcards, and certificates commemorating their first visit to a film festival.
Festival stories for the youngest
The programme for the youngest moviegoers features both stories with characters known from literature and brand-new cinematic discoveries. It includes:
- Conni – Mystery of the Crane (dir. Dirk Hampel) – the Polish premiere of an animated film based on the bestselling Meine Freundin Conni (My Friend Conni) book series by Liane Schneider, illustrated by Eva Wenzel-Bürger. It is a story about empathy and helping those who cannot ask for help themselves.
- Puffin Rock and the New Friends (dir. Jeremy Purcell) – the adorable puffins, Oona and Baba, set off in search of a missing egg. This adventure-filled story takes viewers to the picturesque Puffin Rock, which some may recognize from the popular series.
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Elephant (dir. Meikeminne Clinckspoor) – Nim and her younger sister Ollie head into the forest to find the lost elephant ears. A casual trip quickly turns into an adventure full of surprises and a story about the power of trust between sisters.
The first kid-friendly film festival
The programme of the 13th IFF TAURON Young Horizons includes screenings featuring conditions tailored to the needs of the youngest viewers.
We want the first visit to the cinema to be a comfortable experience for every child – says Agnieszka Sinicka, the Programme Director. During sensory-friendly screenings, we lower the volume, keep the lights dimmed, skip the commercials, and give young viewers more freedom. These screenings are designed for those who dislike loud noises, struggle to sit still, or feel overwhelmed by a dark cinema auditorium. We want every child to find a place for themselves during the festival – she adds.
This year’s lineup of sensory-friendly screenings includes, among others: Miffy the Movie (dir. Hans Perk), Tummy Tom and the Lost Teddybear (dir. Joost Van Den Bosch, Erik Verkerk), and Paddy Loves Animals (dir. Marta Stróżycka). All three animated films will be presented as part of the My First Festival section, designed for audiences ages three and up, with titles and runtimes tailored to their needs and capabilities.
More than cinema – events for the youngest
The festival is not just film screenings, it is also a time for meetings, workshops, and collectively exploring the world of cinema. The youngest viewers can look forward to activities such as workshops on creating festival bags and magnets featuring their favorite characters, earning Film Explorer Badges, and attending popular screenings with live music, as well as movement and sensory workshops organized in partnership with the National Institute of Music and Dance. During the festival’s opening weekend, Kinoteka will host the KOLEO KIDS zone, featuring a prize-winning wheel of fortune and a variety of puzzles, riddles, and crosswords.
Tickets and film passes available
The ticket sales for the 13th IFF TAURON Young Horizons are underway. Single tickets for selected screenings are available at affordable prices. For those wishing to see more of the festival lineup, film passes (operate on a family ticket basis) are available.
