Schlingel 2026

Motivation: “We chose a film about growing up in a family going through difficult times. A film in which hardship and hope coexist, where serious themes are balanced with tenderness, humor, poetry, and imagination. We were moved by its delicate visual world, mixing reality and fantasy, its remarkable use of music, sound design, and silence, and the way a young outsider gradually finds friendship, freedom, and his own path. While the world around him seems to be falling apart, his own world slowly begins to open up.
And perhaps the strongest symbol is that of something meant to support him, but which also constrains him and sets him apart. Music will eventually lead him toward self-expression, love, and reconciliation with his family.
And we particularly want to celebrate the remarkable craft of its animation, whose delicate lines, soft colors, and apparent simplicity create a world that is both deeply personal and wonderfully alive”.

A major European film event based in Chemnitz, Germany,the festival is dedicated entirely to children and young audiences. Held annually, it features hundreds of international short and feature-length films, and serves as a vital networking hub for the global film industry. FIPRESCI jurors will evaluate a selection of films from the Children’s Film Competition (feature films for ages up to 10 years) and the Junior Film Competition (feature films for ages up to 13 years).