From November 10 to 16, the Athens International Children’s and Youth Film Festival returns for its 8th consecutive year, bringing magic to the big screen across the Athens Concert Hall, Kifisia Cinemax 1 & 2, Danaos Cinema, Village Cinemas Renti, and the French Institute of Greece.
Stories That Spark Imagination
This year’s lineup celebrates courage, curiosity, and the boundless imagination of childhood.
The Songbirds’ Secret (Antoine Lanciaux, France, 2025) follows nine-year-old Lucie as she unearths a long-buried family mystery during her summer in the village of Bectual—with a little help from her new friend Yann and two talented songbirds.
In Hola Frida (André Candi & Karine Vézina, France–Canada, 2024), young Frida finds color and freedom through her imagination after a polio diagnosis confines her to her room—a heartfelt ode to resilience and creativity.
Arco, the Time Traveler (Hugo Bienvenu, France–USA, 2025) whisks audiences into the future, where 10-year-old Iris discovers a mysterious boy who’s fallen from the year 2075. Together, they embark on a journey across time and friendship.
Tales of Friendship and Discovery
In Pixie: New Beginning (Christoph Komander, Poland–Czechia, 2025), Hania and her classmate Michal set out to prove that elves truly exist, learning along the way that belief can bridge worlds.
The Secret Floor (Norbert Lechner, Austria–Luxembourg–Germany, 2025) blends mystery and history as 12-year-old Karli discovers an elevator to 1938, forming an unexpected friendship in the shadow of looming war.
In The Children of Silver Street (Mehdi Avaz, Denmark, 2025), four siblings hide their mother’s disappearance while navigating an unconventional new guardian in this warm, witty drama about chosen family.
And Living Large (Kristina Dufkova, Czech Republic–Slovakia–France, 2024) tells the story of Ben, a young musician learning self-acceptance and body positivity with humor and heart.
A Green Vision for the Future
Staying true to its eco-conscious mission, the festival’s Green Section features six films inspiring care for the planet, including Green Oranges, Oops!, Dawn, Trapped, The City’s Creatures, The Little Ancestor, and How Smart Are Crows?—supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Greece.
