MINISTER ROUVOET OPENS CINEKID 2009
FESTIVAL OPENS WITH BEST FILM BERLIN AND FILM OF FAMOUS KID'S BOOK
Press release, 27 August 2009, Amsterdam
This year Cinekid opens with two films. It's not me, I swear! (Philippe Falardeau), the film that won both the jury prize and the children's jury prize at the Berlin Film Festival. And Little Nicolas (Laurent Tirard), which was made for younger children and will only to be seen in the cinema during Cinekid. The film is based on Le petit Nicolas, the famous French children's book by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé.
The afternoon will be introduced by Carolien Gehrels, councillor for Art and Culture in Amsterdam. After this, the festival will be officially opened by André Rouvoet, the Dutch Deputy Prime Minister, and also the Minister for Families and Children. He will be accompanied by presenter Ewout Genemans and a large number of children.
The films
It's not me, I swear!, Philippe Falardeau, Canada, 105', 11+
In the summer of 1968, Léon Doré (Antoine Lécuyer) almost hangs himself by accident. He is ten years old and has a lot of problems and a rich fantasy life. His parents argue a lot and the neighbours are dreadful. Plus there's Léa, who is annoying and always right. When his mother (Suzanne Clément) decides to leave home and go to live in Greece, Léon is prepared to do anything that will help him not feel the pain. He becomes an expert in attempted suicides, destroys the neighbour's house, becomes a professional liar and even falls in love with Léa. One way or another, all of this helps him feel a whole lot better.
Little Nicolas, Laurent Tirard, France, 90', 7+
Nicolas has a quiet, simple life. He has parents who love him and friends with whom he has a lot of fun. In fact, there is nothing that Nicolas wants to change in his life. But one day he hears a conversation between his parents that leads him to believe that his mother is pregnant. He panics and imagines the worse: once his little brother is born, he'll get all the attention and his parents will no longer be concerned about Nicolas.
After 15 September the full Cinekid programme will be available at www.cinekid.nl. The festival will be held in Amsterdam at Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek and in The Movies. In Amsterdam Cinekid will be held from 14 to 23 October. Cinekid on Location will be held between 14 October and 1 November in various locations throughout the Netherlands.
Not for publication:
For further information: Tyche van Bommel, Head of Marketing & Communication, t.vanbommel@cinekid.nl, 00 31 (0)20 531 78 90