The programme

 

Join us as we bring the industry together to discuss current issues and new perspectives on children’s and youth films and series, with a special focus on this year’s theme: The epic tale. In an age where so much feels fleeting and fragmented, we need stories that bring us together more than ever before. Stories that embrace complexity, open horizons, and create connections.

That is precisely why this year, BUSTER is focusing on why the epic tale is important—and how we can ensure that children and young people have access to the big story when they encounter the world of film.

09.00-09.30 / Arrival

Enjoy a cup of coffee and a croissant and meet your colleagues.

09.30-09.40 / Opening speech by Tone Mygind Rostbøll

Tone Mygind Rostbøll, program director at BUSTER Film Festival, welcomes everyone to this year’s children’s film conference.

09:40-10:00 / Session 1: The epic tale

Anthropologist Rikke Flodin introduces this year’s theme: The epic tale. Why do children need epic stories, and what drives their engagement in the films they watch?
Participants: Rikke Flodin, anthropologist and Head of Audience Insights at Will & Agency.

10.00-10.40 / Session 2: The Class Writes with DR and BBC

With the campaign ‘The Class Writes’, children across the country are invited into the writing process behind DR Ultra’s popular series ‘The Class’. This results in both a more authentic product and a process that requires courage and risk-taking on the part of the producers. Get a close-up look at the process behind the scenes as we join DR and BBC in exploring the intersection of fiction, didactics, and the children’s own voices.
Moderator: Mette Kruse. Participants: Charlotte Alexandersen (producer, BBC) and Clara Høeg Rasmussen (project manager, Alle ord tæller)

10:40-11:00 / Break

Short break.

11.00-11.40 / Session 3: Serieskolen presents

Serieskolen is a national talent development program created by Filmværkstederne, Manuskriptskolen for Børnefiktion, and DR, which teaches and guides talented new filmmakers on their journey from idea to production. On stage, we meet the teams behind three current TV series for children and young people that have emerged from Serieskolen, as well as their producers.
Moderator: Birgitte Fredsby. Participants: The teams behind the series ‘Birds’, ‘Scooter Boys’ and ‘Mindernes Ø’.

11.40-12.00 / Session 4: Recommendations from the Ministry of Culture’s new youth report

Sanne Juncker Pedersen, Editor for Audience Development at the Danish Film Institute, outlines the challenges facing Danish children’s films today and presents the recommendations from the new B&U report prepared by the working group set up by the Ministry of Culture.
Participant: Sanne Juncker Pedersen, Editor for Audience Development at the Danish Film Institute.

12.00-12.40 / Session 5: My first cinema experience

‘Lotte og Totte: Min første ven’ has been branded as children’s first good and safe cinema experience. But what has the process been like in terms of researching how to reach the youngest target group and get them into the cinema? Film consultant Kirstine Vinderskov and the film’s director Mia Fridthjof talk about how they worked to create My First Cinema Experience.
Moderator: Julie Ravnhøj. Participants: Kirstine Vinderskov (film consultant for children and young people, Danish Film Institute) and director Mia Fridthjof.

12.40-13.40 / Lunch 

Sandwich and water is served in the foyer.

13.40-14.20 / Session 6: Families at the cinema with ‘Honey’

How do we create good Danish children’s films that bring Danish families together at the cinema? Using this year’s big Danish family film ‘Honey’ as a case study, the director and producer behind the film talk to Merete Christensen from Scanbox about why ‘Honey’ has succeeded in getting families to the cinema.
Moderator: Julie Ravnhøj. Participants: Natasha Arthy (director), Maria Stevnbak (producer, Toolbox Film) and Merete Christensen (COO & Head of Theatrical Distribution, Scanbox)

14.20-15.00 / Session 7: Strong role models – Cool girls on the big screen

Dutch director Nora Lakos has created a powerful debut film with ‘I Accidentally Wrote A Book’, which we are showing at this year’s BUSTER. With stringent visual and dramaturgical techniques, she has created a solid family film with a strong girl in the lead role. In this session, Nora meets Sabine Lemire (author of, among other things, the ‘Mira’ books) in a conversation about strong girls in leading roles. This session will be held in English.
Moderator: Rebecca Bach Lauritsen. Participants: Sabine Lemire (author) and Nora Lakos (director).

15.00-15.20 / Break

Coffee and cake in the foyer.

15.20-16.00 / Session 8: Panel discussion – How do we reach young people?

Four talented filmmakers, all of whom have created powerful youth films, meet in a discussion about how we reach young people and share their experiences of creating stories and engaging young audiences.
Moderator: Isabel Kille. Participants: Jonas Risvig (director), Mathias Broe (director), and Line Mørkeby (writer).

16.00-16.40 / Session 9: Gigi’s journey – From YouTube to the cinema

Gigi has traveled from YouTube to the big screen, going from underground to mainstream. The filmmakers behind the series take us on their journey and talk about how they managed to reach a wide audience with their latest film, ‘Brohr’.
Moderator: Mette Kruse. Participants: Adrian Hosseinpour and Malthe Emil Kibsgaard (directors, Gigis).

16.40-17.00 / Session 10: Reflections from the NoJSE report

Media analyst Johanna Koljonen shares key points from the NoJSE report and concludes the conference with some closing remarks.
Participant: Johanna Koljonen

17.00-18.00: Happy Hour

Networking, drinks and snacks in Cinemateket’s foyer.