Sparks Junior for children aged 9+ aims to spark a passion for the medium of short film, inviting young audiences to discover the world of cinema. The selection of serious, amusing, and exciting works inspires discussion and offers families an ideal introduction to the universe of shorts.
Recommended for ages 9+
Summer of Dreams
Kim Faber / Netherlands 2024 / 17'17" / DCP / colour / Dutch / Doc
Eleven-year-old Lotte was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, and since then, her life has revolved around hospitals, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy. It has turned her world completely upside down. Now, Lotte is about to embark on a special week, as she’s going to a summer camp especially for children like her. Here, she hopes to finally just be Lotte again and enjoy life without worries. At the camp, Lotte meets children who are going through the same experiences and makes friends who truly understand her.
Amigs hani Angscht
Jiani Fei / Switzerland 2025 / 4'30" / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Ani
When a young woman is called to speak in front of a crowd, she panics. In a fantastical dream world, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery — will she find the courage to face her fear?
Float
Lydia Matata / Kenya 2025 / 12'16" / DCP / colour / Swahili / Fic
Fourteen-year-old swimming champion Wendo is dreading the first day of practice with her team after a long Christmas break. As Wendo struggles to get comfortable in her own skin during the grueling swimming practice, she finds an ally in Mariam, a Muslim cleaner with a totally different perspective on what constitutes a «great body». Their swimming session becomes an exchange, as each teaches the other how to get comfortable.
Marta, Aisha, and the Volcano
Alexandre Peralta / Spain 2025 / 7'7" / DCP / colour / Spanish / Doc
The film portrays the friendship of two young girls who experienced the volcanic eruption in La Palma, Canary Islands, in 2021. Through their eyes, the documentary short evokes the power of nature and human resilience in the face of loss and uncertainty.
Hugs
Nicolas Fong / France 2025 / 6'30" / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Ani
During a bike ride, someone catches two people tenderly embracing. He lets himself be carried away by daydreams, imagining all sorts of cuddles... And so begins a journey through multiple hugs: hugs of comfort, compassion, tenderness, but also muscular hugs, soft hugs, explosive hugs, and then group hugs, or the self-hug... At the end of this journey, our cyclist feels quite alone, but is he really as alone as he thinks he is?
Happy Snaps
Tyro Heath / United Kingdom 2024 / 12'2" / DCP / colour / English / Fic
On the Isle of Sheppey, two boys try to enjoy a last day together. Their adventures are captured by Gabriel, who has cerebral palsy, on an old camera. But as the day goes on, fears about the future cloud their friendship.
The Locker Room
Sebastian Granskog / Finland 2024 / 10'11" / DCP / colour / Finnish / Fic
Two young boys in middle school are forced to confront their biggest fear: the school’s locker room.
Reading Between the Lines
Jochen Rall / Switzerland 2025 / 6'31" / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Ani
In a tram, a few passengers share a bench, including a bespectacled woman, a broad-shouldered man, and a gentleman in a hat. All three bury themselves in their newspapers so that no one can disturb them. Gradually, the newspapers start to flutter, the express trains start to move, the footballers chase their balls, and the models throw kisses at each other with a wave of the hand.
