FERA at the Kids Regio Forum 2024 in Erfurt
1 July 2024
The 4th European KIDS Regio Forum took place on 27 and 28 June 2024 in Erfurt, in the region of Thuringia in Germany. The event has been held every five years since 2009, under the patronage of the European Parliament and Eurimages, the cultural support fund for European coproductions of the Council of Europe.
FERA Executive Committee member Klemen Dvornik (AIPA, Slovenia) and FERA CEO Pauline Durand-Vialle participated in this edition, in essence a 2-day brainstorming session on promoting and improving support for children’s films from across Europe, themed “Building Bridges”.
The event brought together industry stakeholders from across the value chain: Policy-makers, representatives of European national and regional film funds, filmmakers, producers and distributors.
Rikke Flodin, a partner at PUBLIKUM.io, a Danish-based tool for audience awareness, kicked-off the event with a welcome keynote presenting the results of the research project “Keeping Up With Children As Audience”. This anthropological study, which was carried out in collaboration with Will&Agency’s publikum.io from Denmark, analyses qualitative data from children aged 7-11 in 12 European countries.
The study looks into the characteristics of a European children’s film and how it can effectively cross borders in this era of diverse cultural socialisation. It shows the importance for children to grow up seeing films from their own culture, instead of one-size-fits-all entertainment, in order to form a sense of culture and community.
Pauline Durand-Vialle gave an input session on FERA’s advocacy work in Brussels, presenting the significant evolution of the political landscape in Brussels in recent years, impacted by the European audiovisual sector’s transformation and culminating in the June European elections. The following discussions focused on the implications for the upcoming European Commission and the future of cultural diversity in Europe, including for the promotion of European children’s film at EU level.
Executive Committee member Klemen Dvornik participated in the brainstorming session from the perspective of a working filmmaker making children’s films in Europe. Taking stock after the event, he says: “Events that are intended for contemplating the future of film culture and creation, such as the KIDS Regio Forum, are crucial for promoting, upgrading, and affirming a supportive environment for children’s films in Europe. Together, we reflected on the state of children’s films and the policies that would place European audiovisual production at the forefront of cultural content in Europe. At the same time, it also strengthens ties among key stakeholders connected by film creativity for children.”
Links:
1) Cineuropa: Children’s take on cinema explored at KIDS Regio
2) Cineuropa: Anne Schultka says, “The time is now” at KIDS Regio
3) Cineuropa: KIDS Regio zooms in on how to build bridges to benefit European children’s films
photos by Steffen Becker Fotodesign & Klemen Dvornik