SpaceBoy
Director – Olivier Pairoux
(Belgium)
Duration – 100′
At only 11 years, Jim is a gifted boy passionate about space and science. Arriving in a new town with his dad, Jim has to participate in a young scientist competition with his new classmate Emma, a sensitive and discreet girl. Despite her reluctance, Jim convinces her to imitate Kittinger’s ‘Excelsior’ project (first man to reach the frontier of space in 1960) and to build secretly a real air balloon. This calling comes from his father, Graham, an astrophysicist who was meant to carry out a space mission very soon. Since Jim’s mother died, this project is very important to him. But when he discovers Graham has given up without telling him, his world falls apart. The competition turns into an obsession and Jim wants to prove unlike his father that he won’t give up. Jim pushes Emma to her limits and drags her into an adventure which is going to bring them closer.
Birta
Director – Bragi Thor Hinriksson
(Iceland)
Duration – 85′
Birta overhears her mother’s phone conversation. She is saying to a friend that, due to her financial problems, she won’t be able to afford the family Christmas. Strong and responsible Birta decides to find a way to raise money but it’s not so easy when you’re only 11 years old.
Jim Button And The Wild 13
Director – Dennis Gansel
(Germany)
Duration – 110′
New adventures await Jim Button and Lukas the engine driver! After the two friends have defeated the dragon Frau Mahlzahn, the pirate gang “The Wild 13” seeks revenge. With their steam locomotives Emma and Molly, the Friends embark on a dangerous journey, on which Jim’s most sensitive wish could come true: he finally wants to bring the truth about his mysterious origin to light.
Glassboy
Director – Samuele Rossi
(Austria, Italy, Switzerland)
Duration – 90′
Pino is 11 years old, he is a child like many others but unlike his peers he has always lived alone. Due to a hereditary disease that puts his life at risk, he is confined to his large villa where he lives under a glass dome, far from the world that he can only observe through a window. But despite his imagination and the colorful fun fair of his room, Pino can only dream of living a life like the other boys and joining the Snerd, a ramshackle group of friends, joined at the hip, who ride their fast bikes through the streets of the town. Everything changes after the unexpected encounter with the charismatic Mavi, the leader of the group, who puts him to the test by offering him the chance to be part of the Snerd and help them compete with the opposing Band. Animated by courage and an unbridled desire for adventure and freedom, the boy embarks on the road to emancipation, testing his frailties and the rigid rules of Nonna Helena – intent on asserting her beliefs about the fate of her grandson – and of his overprotective parents, subjected to despotic grandmother. There will be trouble and, helped by his new friends, Mavi, Ciccio, Mei and Domenico, he will have to decide to engage in his personal and fundamental battle to prove that he deserves a life just like any other boy.