This year an ecumenical jury has awarded prizes at the International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience "Schlingel" in Chemnitz for the first time. Thereby INTERFILM and SIGNIS reinforce their support of films for children and youth. Until now, the only ecumenical jury of a film festival for children and youth operated at the film festival in Zlín (Czech Republic) which is the oldest of its kind, founded already in 1961.
The prize winner of the Ecumenical Jury is "Hunt for the Wilderpeople", directed by Taika Waititi (New Zealand, 2016), which also won the Junior Film Award. A Commendation was awarded to the children's film "Meester Kikker" (Mr. Frog), directed by Anna van der Heide (Belgium, Netherlands, 2016). The European Children's Film Award went to "Korunní Prince" (Crown Prince) by Karel Janák (Czech Republic, 2015). Several prizes were awarded to the Vietnamese children's film "Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh" (Yellow Flowers on Green Grass) by Victor Vu (Best Child Actor, Main Award of the Department of Private Broadcast and New Media of the Saxon Free State, Commendation of the Children's Film Jury). "Buffalo Rider" by Joel Soisson (USA, Thailand 2015) was awarded with the Prize of the City of Chemnitz, "My Name is Emily" by Simon Fitzmaurice (Ireland 2015) won the Award of the Youth Film Jury.
"Schlingel" is organised by the Saxon Service for Children and Youth film in Chemnitz since 1991, cooperating since 2006 with the State Institution for private broadcasting and new media of Saxony.
Link: Festival-Website