Flemish talent at the Cinekid Festival

After a successful first season and an Emmy Award win, the preschool series KABAM! returns with a new set of adventurous episodes. Set in Teacher Mo’s classroom, the show follows children as they help one another overcome their fears using the power of imagination. They face fears such as going to the dentist, embarrassing themselves at school, or having a sleepover at a friend's house. Filled with relatable fears, the series serves both educational and pedagogical purposes. Once again directed by Elisabeth Hesemans, it is a Dutch-Flemish co-production involving De Mensen and VRT Ketnet.

Everyone Is Sorry Nowadays (Tegenwoordig heet iedereen Sorry) 

Frederike Migom based her film *Tegenwoordig heet iedereen Sorry* on the book of the same name by Bart Moeyaert. Bianca, the film’s nearly thirteen-year-old protagonist, seeks stability in a family where her mother’s attention is largely focused on her sick younger brother, Alan. Her father is more interested in his new girlfriend than in his daughter. Everything changes when, one day, actress Billie King suddenly appears in their living room. Bianca admires her immensely and feels truly seen by her idol. Perhaps this is even the first step toward repairing the bond with her mother...

The film had its world premiere earlier this year in the Berlinale’s Generation Kplus competition and was subsequently selected for various international festivals. It won the LEO Award for Best Children’s and Youth Film at the Filmkunstfest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. At the German children’s and youth media festival Goldener Spatz, lead actress Lisa Vanhemelrijck received the award for Best Actress. Domestically, the film will premiere at Film Fest Gent in October, and distributor Paradiso Filmed Entertainment will release it in cinemas on October 14. 

Miss Moxy

With his cheerful animated film Miss Moxy, Vincent Bal returns to the feline universe he first explored some twenty-five years ago in the feature film Minoes (based on the book of the same name by Annie M.G. Schmidt). Miss Moxy is a naive yet conceited city cat who is kidnapped by a guesthouse owner while on holiday in France. The owner intends to use her to win an animal talent show. Moxy escapes and begins the long journey home accompanied by a dog and a bird—not exactly the most suitable companions for a cat. Together, they experience exciting adventures and discover the meaning of true friendship.

Miss Moxy won the Ketnet Jury Prize at the most recent Antwerp Youth Film Festival. "Because Miss Moxy makes me laugh, moves me, and teaches me that it’s okay to be exactly who you are—even if you’re different from everyone else. The film is full of color, music, and funny moments, but above all, it carries a beautiful message about friendship, courage, and believing in yourself," said one jury member. Miss Moxy is produced by Peter Bouckaert for Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, in co-production with the Dutch company Phanta Film.

Vuurdoop

Cinekid also selected the short documentary Vuurdoop (Trial by Fire) by Jules Mathôt, part of the seventh cohort of Ket & Doc, a collaboration between the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Ketnet, and JEF. In Vuurdoop, Jules Mathôt follows several girls who are members of the youth fire brigade. They learn CPR, go out on calls, and grow as a team. Two girls, Mila and Amélie, take center stage; they became friends from their very first day at the fire brigade. That friendship is put to the test during challenging drills where they are not allowed to let go of one another. Friendship and adventure go hand in hand in this documentary, which ends on a humorous note.

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