ATHICFF #8
The Athens International Children’s Film Festival powered by ΔΕΗ, returned for its 8th consecutive year from November 10 to16, 2025, more dynamic and multifaceted than ever! With a rich program featuring film screenings from around the world, educational workshops, and parallel events at the Athens Concert Hall, the French Institute of Greece, Kifisia Cinemax 1 & 2, Danaos Cinema, and Village Cinemas Rentis, the Festival was transformed into a major cinematic celebration for audiences of all ages.
This year, the festival welcomed 10,000 attendees, with over 5,000 students from schools across Attica joining school screenings and educational programs. At the same time, the Festival hosted students and teachers from Kandila Junior High School in Aitoloakarnania, further strengthening the connection between cinema and the educational community.
The Festival opened on Friday, November 14, 2025, with Salta (Jump!) by Olga Osorio, an exciting adventure about two siblings traveling through time to find their mother, and concluded with Hola Frida by André Kadi and Karine Vézina, a film that sheds light on Frida Kahlo’s childhood and the power of imagination.
The program featured films for every age group, from first cinematic experiences for younger audiences to stories for teenagers addressing contemporary and meaningful themes such as identity, acceptance, relationships, and diversity. At the same time, a highlight of the program was the tribute to the legendary Studio Ghibli, celebrating the magic of animation and captivating audiences.
The Festival’s program also included sections dedicated to the youngest audience, such as Baby & Me (for babies and toddlers aged 0–3) and Shorts for Tots (short, animated films without dialogue for children aged 2+). In addition, for yet another year, the beloved Live Dubbing program stood out, where actors brought film characters to life on stage, offering a unique and interactive experience for both children and adults. At the same time, this activity is also accessible to individuals on the autism spectrum.
The festival’s educational workshops gave children the opportunity to explore the world of cinema through creative activities such as animation video creation, discovering sound effects, and experimenting with pre-cinematic optical toys, fostering imagination and self-expression.
A central role in the Festival was given to initiatives that amplify children’s voices: the Kids’ Picks & Teens’ Picks selection committees, formed by students from across Greece; the Young Reporters program, in which teenagers captured the festival’s energy through interviews, reports, videos, and photos; as well as the newly introduced Kids Jury program, which awarded its own prizes for the first time, strengthening young audiences’ active participation in cultural life.
A new initiative of this year’s Festival was “All in the Frame”, which brought issues of inclusion and visibility of people with disabilities in audiovisual media to the forefront. Following the screening of the film Loxi by Dimitris Zachos and Thanasis Kafetzis, a vibrant and meaningful discussion took place, opening an important dialogue on diversity and its place in contemporary cinema. The initiative was implemented under the auspices and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with OPANDA.
This year also marked the successful launch of the ATHICFF PLAYROOM powered by ΔΕΗ, at the foyer of the Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall at the Athens Concert Hall, where children engaged in interactive games, creative crafts, and educational activities about the environment and energy, turning learning into play.
Meanwhile, for the third consecutive year, ATHICFF for Professionals brought together creators and audiovisual industry professionals through workshops, masterclasses, and discussions, fostering networking both in Greece and internationally, as well as the development of new collaborations.
The 8th edition came to a close leaving behind powerful moments, emotion, and inspiration, reaffirming that cinema can be a powerful medium for expression, dialogue, and creativity for the younger generation.