“The story made us travel to a magical village, on the other side of the world. The short film tells us an indigenous legend, which we were able to get to know thanks to the filmmaker. The short film has convinced with the variety of colors, dreamlike stands and literally, enchanting fish. We are very pleased to congratulate Ursula Ulmi with her film “IDODO” for this year’s Friese Award.”
“Honorable mention goes to a film that shows that cheating and unfair behavior don’t always get you far, and that instead, composure and trust can be the way to reach your goal. We are impressed by the creative style and admire the diverse flying objects that appeared in this short film. Honorable mention goes to Fantastic Flying Competition by John Croezen.”
“We awarded the first prize to “In Nature” because in our opinion this film educates very nicely about the topic of diversity & homosexuality. These are demonstrated using different animals, which are similar to humans in their behavior. Compared to feature films, the filmmakers presented it in a fun, animated way. The sound effects fit very well and give the film a personal touch. There are some great characteristics to consider and learn!”
“This year’s winning film is a documentary from the United Kingdom. The filmmaker tells her own story and that of her cousin. Her family was torn apart by the war in Syria. Ten years later, through old family videos, she tries to rebuild the relationship with her cousin through the shared memories. The film gives us a touching insight into her past, as well as her current relationship with her cousin. Now we show you this year’s winning film ‘Born in Damascus’ by Laura Wadha.”
“Honorable mention goes to Datsun, a short film from New Zealand directed by Mark Albiston. The film tells the story of fourteen-year-old Matt and his father’s Datsun. When Matt learns that his mother wants to sell his late father’s car, he sets out on a final joyride with his brother and best friend. The director tries to show us the conflict in Matt, who both hates and misses his father. The film is also accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack.”
“We are thrilled to present Mo & Friese’s first-ever live ECFA Award to a groundbreaking visual and empathetic masterpiece that is not only exciting for a very young audience, but also holds great fascination for adults.
From the opening scene, the director’s decision to reduce animation to clear colors and shapes is evident in the minimalist depiction of the strong, circular community. And it is this bold, playfully graphic style that drives the narrative throughout.
It is so clear and concise, so powerful and intelligent, that although it can be described as avant-garde, it always remains accessible, even to very young children.
The story that emerges feels feminine and warm, and is a good example of how a community can benefit and grow from taking its cues from its children.
The young protagonist, who playfully strives for balance by creatively stacking stones, is never out of sight and uses this ability to invite an outsider into her community and make him feel welcome.
The sudden arrival of the stranger has dramatic consequences for the whole village. He does not know the rules and literally, if unintentionally, destroys the town. The community reacts out of fear and distrust and confronts the helpless and homeless newcomer.
Our young heroine is the only one brave and curious enough to find out where they come from and why – and in turn, the stranger gives her access to new worlds and experiences.
So sensitively told and observed, always on the side of the children, and so beautifully and epically underscored by the embrace of the women’s joyful singing – this film is an unforgettable celebration of openness, diversity and community.
The ECFA Award goes to LUCE AND THE ROCK, directed by Britt Raes.”
“This year’s winning film of the “Give Me Five Competition” goes to a short film that not only convinces with a mixture of play and animation, but also has a strong message beyond that. A film that draws attention to the topic of environmental protection in an understandable way and encourages children and adults to think about their own behavior already in its film title.
We congratulate the filmmakers of the film “Don’t be a bottle” for the first place of the Give Me 5! competition.”
Each year at the beginning of June the festival presents nine international competition programmes. We choose current and relevant short films that meet their target group at eye level and take their personal viewpoint seriously.
Thanks to the presence of many filmmakers we are happy to bring together viewers, filmmakers and professionals in our moderated screenings.
In addition, we offer annually changing film workshops where children and young people are introduced to aspects of filmmaking to stimulate their own creativity. Furthermore, the “High 5!” competition invites children and young people to submit their own short artworks.
On 4th of June at 2 p.m. numerous up-and-coming filmmakers will show their latest works in the festival center.
All films are maximum 5 minutes long and the young talents are not older than 13 years.
The Mo- and the Friese-Jury will award the prizes for the first three winning films.
On June 5th at 7 pm the award ceremony for the winning films will take place in the festival center.
Our four juries are still busy sifting through the films and we are very excited to see who will get to hold our trophies.
We will be showing numerous short film programs for children and young people until 6.6.
Tickets can be purchased directly on our website.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Short films (including those for adults) are often dismissed as kids’ stuff, as a practice platform for the big brother feature-length film, in which students* learn their craft. But the short film is much more than just the lean version of the feature-length film!
It is a place to experiment, to fantasize, to try things out or to concentrate on a topic. Due to it’s relatively small budget and shorter production period, the short form offers great artistic freedom and plenty of room for experiments. Moreover, short films are less standardised than feature-length films, which often have to adhere much more to visual or narrative conventions due to financial pressure.
The fact that short films are thus sometimes much more uncomfortable for our (entrenched) viewing habits than feature-length films is a hurdle worth overcoming.
The fact that it leaves us alone with our thoughts again after a short time and thus limits our deep immersion in a story, leaves us time for reflection and discussion. This is not only of great advantage for it’s use in schools, but also crucial for media reception in general.
Moreover, short film can move through all genres. Therefore, a short film programme always offers the possibility of direct comparison and contextualisation. And this is necessary and beneficial for the development of media understanding and for shaping one’s own taste. All this makes short film extremely suitable for young audiences, who are often much more receptive to experimental forms and surprises.
Last but not least, however, a major advantage of the short film, especially for younger children, lies simply in its brevity. Because of the limited attention span of children, short films offer an ideal introduction to the cinema as a new and magical place.
If you like to watch a lot of films – preferably in the cinema – and can’t stop talking about them afterwards, then you’ve come to the right place!
Because all you need for our jury is a passion for films and time during the festival week.
If you are between 8 and 10 years old, you can apply for the jury of the Friese Award, between 11 and 14 for the jury of the Mo Award and between 15 and 18 for the NEON Award.
As a member of the children’s or youth jury, you discuss your cinema experiences with other film fans and decide which films win the prizes. So there are lots of film treasures waiting for you and your personal judgement!
Mo&Friese Junges Kurzfilm Festival
c/o Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg e.V.
Bodenstedtstr. 6 | 22765 Hamburg
kinder@shortfilm.com
February the 15th to April the 15th 2022.
The Friese Prize is awarded by five jurors between 8 and 10 years old for the programs from 4 and 6 years old.
The Mo Prize goes to a film from the programs from 9 and 12 years, chosen by 11 to 13 year olds.
For films from the age of 14, a jury of young people between 14 and 18 will award the NEON prize
All prizes are endowed with 1000 euros each.
High 5!- Competition
“Everything turns!”
Send us your films for the young filmmakers competition!
Do you have an idea or already a finished story that’s all about shooting? Then get a camera and bring it to life on the big screen in the Give Me 5! young filmmakers contest!
How fast does your everyday life go? Is it calm, slow or dizzyingly fast? Even though the pace is always changing, life is somehow always in motion and rarely really stands still. What is spinning around you? What are you spinning around? And are you always spinning in the same direction?
Show us what’s on your mind: People spinning around each other? Storms kicking up leaves? Fidget spinners, record players, carousels, or your parents’ arguments on an endless loop? Is there something that really makes you go crazy?
No matter if dreams, experiences or completely absurd pictures. Shoot your film and apply with it to Gib Mir 5!
To take part in the Gib Mir 5! young filmmakers competition, you should be no older than 13 and submit your film, which should be no more than 5 minutes long, to us from the beginning of 2023 until March 21, 2023.
We are looking forward to your films!
Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg e.V.
Mo&Friese Junges Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg
Bodenstedtstr. 16 | 22765 Hamburg
kinder@shortfilm.com
Einreichfrist: 20. März 2022
