The third edition of KinoKino International Film Festival for Children officially closed with the announcement of the award-winning films and an award ceremony at the Europa Cinema. The decision was reached independently by two juries: the professional jury and the children’s jury.

This year’s professional jury consisted of one of our most prominent film and theatre actresses Daria Lorenci Flatz, the famous Bosnian and Herzegovinian actor Moamer Kasumović, and the award-winning Croatian animator and illustrator Zdenko Bašić. The best film award went to the German film At Eye Level by the directing duo Joachim Dollhopf and Eva Goldbrunner, because “it reminds us that, although we live in a world insisting on differences and gaps, these differences are only an illusion and the need for love is common to everyone and above all.” The film also won this year’s Audience Award.

The professional jury gave a special mention to the French film Heartstrings, praising the outstanding quality of performances by the child actors Alix Vaillot and Jean-Stan Du Pac.

The children’s jury of the third KinoKino Festival consisted of five primary schoolchildren: Anouk Kivađ, Antonia Kurtović, Armando Luque Akrap, Mia Mišković i Alex Rakoš. Their film of choice was the French title Heartstrings, directed by the famous actor and director Michel Boujenah. To the statement of the children’s jury, they chose this film because “it stirred most emotions in us and inspired us to follow our dreams regardless of what stands in our way.”

Their special mention went to the Norwegian film Oskar’s America by debut director Torfinn Iversen, a story well told depicting the problems of life in a way children can understand and relate to.

Although the winners have been named, KinoKino Festival’s programme continues on Sunday as well. At 5:30pm the winning film At Eye Level will be screened, and the day begins at 11am with the programme First Time at the Cinema. This line-up of animated films is suitable for preschool children who meet moving images on the big screen for the first time. Based on last year’s large interest, this year it will be screened in both of Europa Cinema’s auditoriums, the large auditorium and the Müller Hall. Sunday continues at 3pm, with a classic to the choice of this year’s professional jury member, Bosnian and Herzegovinian actor Moamer Kasumović – the entertaining timeless title Mon Oncle by the iconic French comedian Jacques Tati.