These kids' films will be shown at the 22nd ZFF

At the Zurich Film Festival, we don't just want to show films – we want to spark a passion for cinema. That’s why this year's ZFF for Kids program features eight films for children and teenagers. To make sure that everyone can enjoy them, most of the films will be shown in German. Films available only in their original language will be dubbed live on site. Tickets will be available for purchase starting September 14. The ZFF for Kids program is supported by UBS.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM by Steve Cox, Matthew Walker

Both young and old movie fans alike can look forward to this year's ZFF kids' film program. Because Shaun is back with another adventure full of sheep and thrills. He and his friends at Mossy Bottom Farm are looking forward to Halloween. But right in the middle of the preparations, the clumsy farmer accidentally destroys the flock’s pumpkin patch. But what is Halloween without pumpkins? Shaun won't let his friends down. To save the celebration, he turns into a mad scientist. What starts as a harmless experiment quickly spirals out of control. With the farmer missing and a wild monster roaming the Mossingham woods, the stage is set for a monstrously fun family adventure.

DER REGENBOGENFISCH by Florian Moch

This year, a world-famous children's book classic is also making its way to the big screen.
With its iridescent scales, the Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the ocean. However, its vanity and pride cause it to keep the other sea creatures at a distance. It is only when the Rainbow Fish realizes that you can't win friends through beauty that he begins to share his glittering scales with the other fish. This children's book classic by Swiss author Marcus Pfister has been adapted for the big screen by the Augsburger Puppenkiste for the first time. A unique and contemporary interpretation, it features fresh touches and attention to detail in Swiss German.

MUMBO JUMBO by Karsten Kiilerich und Stine Marie Buhl

With MUMBO JUMBO, yet another film adaptation of a children's book is being presented at the festival for the youngest movie fans.
Mumbo Jumbo, a small Nile hippo, has always wanted to be big. When he suddenly grows to a gigantic size, nothing in his life is the same. He accidentally tramples everything around him wherever he goes, and he can’t even fit inside his own house anymore. With the help of his three best friends, Mumbo Jumbo embarks on an exciting adventure to find the famous witch Baba Yaga. She is his only hope of becoming small again. A beautiful film adaptation of a children's book about acceptance and friendship, showing that what's inside is what counts.

DAS GEHEIMNIS DER GESTOHLENEN MASKE by Nancy Mac Granaky-Quaye

Things take a mysterious turn for Johanna and her friends: For the first time, Johanna receives a visit from her grandfather, Kito, who is from Tanzania. While visiting the Ethnological Museum together, they make a shocking discovery: one of the masks on display looks exactly like the one stolen from Kito’s family many years ago. Shortly afterward, the mask disappears again, and Kito becomes a suspect. With the help of her friends Anton and Sweta, Johanna forms an investigative team and uncovers unexpected connections between the past and present. What if there’s more to the mysterious disappearance than they thought? Will they manage to find the mask again?

EXTRAORDINARY by Marina Andree Škop und Vanda Raýmanová

Another adventure awaits 10-year-old Alice: When her parents mysteriously disappear one day, she turns to a group of young detectives. Her autistic brother, Milan, joins her on her mission – because wherever Alice goes, Milan goes too. What initially seems to complicate the situation soon proves to be their greatest strength. With his unique perspective, Milan proves invaluable to their detective work. Through understanding and courage, they get closer to solving the case and discover the power of acceptance, teamwork, and lasting friendships.

ATLAS OF THE UNIVERSE by Paul Negoescu

10-year-old Filip decides to take matters into his own hands.
He accompanies his father into town. He's finally going to get new soccer cleats. But when his father decides to chat with an old friend, Filip sets off on his own. At the shoe store, however, he has a little mishap and accidentally buys two right shoes. Too embarrassed to tell his parents, Filip decides to solve the problem himself. Along the way, he befriends a stray dog and names him after his favorite soccer player. An encouraging story about how far you can go when you believe in yourself.

MIRA by Marie Limkilde

Mira, a 12-year-old, is dealing with the difficulties of becoming an adult: She loves being creative and spending time with her best friends, Naja and Louis. But when Beate joins their class and becomes friends with Naja, everything changes. Mira suddenly feels left out and wonders if she can stay true to herself when everything and everyone around her seems to be changing. Should she cancel her art exhibition and try to be more like the other girls in class who always talk about love? An entertaining family drama about the fine line between childhood and adolescence – and about the desire to hold on to one’s childlike self.bewahren.

NOT A HERO by Rima Das

11-year-old Mivan grew up in the heart of the city. But now, he is being sent to live with his distant aunt, Pahi, in the family’s home village. Accustomed to the pace and comforts of city life, Mivan initially finds village life slow and unfamiliar. However, the more he immerses himself in his new daily life, marked by adventures with neighborhood kids and an unexpected friendship with a horse, the more he opens up. A sense of belonging grows within him. Without grand gestures, NOT A HERO tells the story of a child’s transformation and adults rediscovering what they had long left behind.

ZFF for Schools

In addition to the public kids' program, the ZFF for Schools initiative offers an exciting film program for school groups, designed to spark enthusiasm for film at an early age. We’re especially pleased that the Stadt Zürich increased the ZFF for Schools allocation from 1,500 to 3,000 seats, enabling us to reach more children, teens, and families in the future. You can find more information about ZFF for Schools here.