45th Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival presents
6th Oulu Children's Film Forum
Wed 11th of November
The festival will host the sixth Children’s Film Forum on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. This is an international event for film industry professionals and the general public—unique in Finland—that explores the current state and future of both feature-length and short films for children and young people.
The morning program features a domestic section conducted in Finnish. The afternoon will feature an international section conducted in English. Aino Isojärvi will serve as the forum’s moderator.
The morning program features a domestic section conducted in Finnish. The afternoon will feature an international section conducted in English. Aino Isojärvi will serve as the forum’s moderator.
You can follow the forum remotely via a live stream.
Participation is free.
Wednesday 11 November
Domestic Section
10:00—11:30 a.m.
The language of communication in the morning is Finnish.
The programme is suitable for anyone interested in film education and filmmaking—from students to professionals, from babies to grandparents.
The programme is suitable for anyone interested in film education and filmmaking—from students to professionals, from babies to grandparents.
International Section
12:30—3:50 p.m.
Moderator Aino Isojärvi
The language of the afternoon session is English. The program is suitable for film industry professionals and students, as well as middle school students and older.
12:30—1 p.m.
EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH CINEMA
Film educator Eva-Maria Schneider-Reuter speaks with Lotte Dorner, Emilia Pegler and Konstantin Marx. The three German participants are members of the Youth Film Jury, a project by the Federal Association for Youth and Film (BJF) in Frankfurt. Germany has 13 juries that screen films before release and publish reviews and recommendations online. They share their experiences from various participatory projects in Germany in which they have been involved since they we’re 10 years old.
In co-operation with BJF (Bundesverband Jugend und Film e.V.) and Finnland Institut.
Recommended for ages 13+
1-1:20 p.m.
TED KJELLSSON TALKS ABOUT SECRET AGENT HÅKAN BRÅKAN 003
In this very private interview director Ted Kjellsson reveals all the secrets of Håkan Bråkan 003.
Recommended for ages 13+
1:20-1:40 p.m.
NORBERT LECHNER: HOW TO MAKE A SECRET FLOOR
German director and producer Norbert Lechner takes us to a guided tour of how to make a Secret Floor (2025 95 min).
Recommended for ages 13+
1:40-2:00 p.m.
ODYSSEY OF JOY
Director, producer and screenwriter Zgjim Terziqi presents his feature film Odyssey of Joy (2025, 99 min) and speaks about children’s film making in Kosovo and how does the future look.
Recommended for ages 13+
2:00-2:20 p.m.
LAYING DOWN LOOKING UP
Let’s get laying down and looking up with our Japanese film makers director, producer, screenwriter, editor Kousuke Sakoda and cinematographer Yoshiaki Shimane. We will share their film making experience of Laying Down Looking Up (2024, 20 min).
Recommended for ages 13+
2:20-2:40 p.m.
GREETINGS FROM GAJA’S WORLD
Director, producer, screenwriter Peter Bratuša, producer, screenwriter Špela Levičnik Oblak and actress Uma Štader present their Slovenian success Gaja's World – Follow Me (2025, 110 min) and talk about the situation of children’s film productions and how does the future look in their country.
Recommended for ages 13+
Film introduction
2:40-3:00 p.m.
NIPSTER
Swedish film Nipster (2026, 78 min) is about radical far-right eco-fascism.
How did all happen? Director Sunniva Eir Tangvik Kveum tells the story and about the reactions to the film.
Recommended for ages 15+
Film introduction
3:00-3:20 p.m.
AN AUSTRALIAN RIVER
Director, producer, screenwriter, distributor Zane Borg and actress, producer Mia Barrett speak about the making of their deep youth film River (2026, 95 min) and what is the situation of children and youth film production in Australia.
Recommended for ages 16+
Film introduction
3:20-3:40 p.m.
MASTER OF ESCAPEDirector, screenwriter, distributor of Ukrainian film Hermit Crab – Master of Escape (2026, 21 min) Valeria Kalchenko tells the story of her film. She talks about the current situation of film industry and funding in Ukraine at the moment.
Recommended for ages 13+
Film introduction
3:40-3:50 p.m.
PANEL: THE BEST THING ABOUT MAKING FILMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH?Ted Kjellsson, Norbert Lechner, Zgjim Terziqi, Kousuke Sakoda, Yoshiaki Shimane, Peter Bratuša, Špela Levičnik Oblak, Sunniva Eir Tangvik Kveum, Zane Borg, Mia Barrett and Valeria Kalchenko
All scheduled times are estimates.
Programme subject to change.