The Magic Lantern film club for children invites us on a journey of discovery with a short film programme that takes us into the realms of nature, dreams, and play. Alongside the diversity of life and emotions, the films also showcase a variety of cinematic techniques and genres. Young and old are invited to discover these enchanting shorts on the big screen.
Recommended for ages 6+

Frogs and Feathers
Lykke Sand Michelsen / Denmark 2025 / 13' / DCP / colour / Danish / Fic
On her birthday, Anna (10) returns to the frog sanctuary she built with her father, who passed away. Dark clouds of black crows gather, threatening the frogs she’s trying to protect. Anna brings home a frog she saved by the lake, but her mother, worried and frustrated, asks her to let it go. Both grieving in their own way, Anna feels misunderstood and alone. When she kisses the frog, it magically transforms into a silent, mysterious boy. Together, they build a scarecrow to scare away the hungry crows. When their plan fails, Anna must learn to let go and trust nature’s course.

Dancing in the Rain
Chao-chun Yeh / Taiwan 2024 / 6'26" / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Ani
The film starts with a little girl lying on the floor of her room. The rain starts and she falls asleep. Her journey with mice starts in her dream world.

Linie 12
Sarah Schulz/Christopher Schmier / Germany 2025 / 8'34" / DCP / colour / German / Ani
In a world of towering mountains, dutiful conductor Peregrin navigates his train through dangerous terrain like a well-oiled clock. One day, the free-spirited musician Clara smuggles herself into his machine room. Soon, catastrophe strikes, and Clara and Peregrin have to overcome their differences to save the train from derailing.

The Rumble-Bumble Rally
Annette Saugestad Helland/Johan Kaos / Norway 2024 / 8'40" / DCP / colour / Norwegian / Ani/Fic
Did you know that the living room is actually a racetrack? And that there’s a scary cave under the sofa? Dad asks Mathilde (5) to tidy up her toy cars. They are having guests, and everyone must do their part. But tidying isn't exactly Mathilde’s favourite thing. Luckily, her two tiny imaginary friends appear – and that’s when things get wild!

Risky Routes
Jonas Steiner / Switzerland 2025 / 6' / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Fic/Doc
Every year, thousands of toads make the arduous journey back to the waters of their birth to reproduce. They have to overcome numerous dangers along the way – dangerous roads and other obstacles turn their journey into a fight for survival.

Moisination
Beatrice Kluge / France 2024 / 2'10" / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Ani/Exp
A strange moving world of moldy blotting paper where creatures and plants appear.

Les Bottes de la Nuit
Pierre-Luc Granjon / France 2024 / 12'22" / DCP / black & white / English/French / Ani
While his parents are entertaining friends, a child leaves home in the middle of the night, heading into the undergrowth, rubber boots on his feet. There, a little creature, curious and solitary, takes him into the heart of the forest to meet its nocturnal inhabitants.

Ups!
Luís Canau/Galvão Bertazzi / Portugal 2024 / 11'17" / DCP / colour / no dialogue / Ani
A boy lives in a dysfunctional family surrounded by an oppressive cacophony of sounds. A day at the beach might bring the long-awaited opportunity for a break from a hellish existence. The parents, the boy, and his sister put everything they can in the family car and drive away. The boy dreams of playing with his bucket and shovel in the sand, by the sea, but it is not easy to reach the destination. If they arrive at the beach, will they enjoy a peaceful day, or will they face something unexpected?