History
The Oulu International Children's Film Festival was born in 1982 as the brainchild of Pentti Kejonen, then the City of Oulu's film secretary. Since its inception, the festival has been co-organised by the Oulu Film Centre.
From the very beginning, the aim of the event was to reach its specific target group of children. The festival quickly established itself both at home and internationally, gaining recognition from professionals in the field.
The Star Boy Prize was first awarded to the best children's film at the festival in 1992.
In 2009, the event was renamed the Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival and has maintained its position with a solid audience base. New trends have also been constantly followed: a major change occurred when Kejonen, who had been the festival's director from the start, stepped down in 2006, and his long-time colleague Eszter Vuojala took over.
After Eszter Vuojala's retirement in 2017, Anna Asplund was appointed Artistic Director and Mika Anttolainen Operational Director. Since March 2022, Mika Anttolainen has served as Festival Director.
Previous Winners
2024
2024
Children's Film Competition: Lampo, the Travelling Dog [The Dog Who Travelled by Train] (O psie, który jeździł koleją), directed by Magdalena Nieć.
ECFA Award: Håkan Bråkan 2, directed by Ted Kjellsson.
ECFA Short Film Award: My Name Is Edgar and I Have a Cow (Jmenuju se Edgar a mam kravu), directed by Filip Diviak.
Youth Film Competition: Listen (Akouse me), directed by Maria Douza.
Finnish Film Competition: The Elf Ring (Keijurinki), directed by Nellie Rajala.
A Better World Award: Valve Film School.
2023
2023
Children's Film Competition: Håkan Bråkan, directed by Ted Kjellsson.
ECFA Award: Totem, directed by Sander Burger.
ECFA Short Film Award: Don't Blow It Up (Odpust'), directed by Alžbeta Mačáková Mišejková.
Youth Film Competition: UFO Sweden, directed by Crazy Pictures.
Finnish Film Competition: Rap and Reindeer (Revontulten räppäri), directed by Petteri Saario.
A Better World Award: Antonia Ringbom.
2022
2022
Children's Film Competition: Roi (Susikoira Roi), directed by Rane Tiukkanen.
ECFA Award: My Robot Brother (Robotbror), directed by Frederik Nørgaard.
ECFA Short Film Award: Orchestra from the Land of Silence (Orchester z krajiny ticha), directed by Lucia Kašová.
Youth Film Competition: The Albanian Virgin (Virgjëresha Shqiptare), directed by Bujar Alimani.
Finnish Film Competition: Blanket (Lakana), directed by Teppo Airaksinen.
2021
2021
Children's Film Competition: Raise the Bar (Hækkum rána), directed by Guðjón Ragnarsson.
ECFA Award: The Ape Star (Apstjärnan), directed by Linda Hambäck.
ECFA Short Film Award: 90%, directed by Jerry Hoffmann.
Youth Film Competition: Born2Drive, directed by Daniel Fahre.
Finnish Film Competition: Finders of the Lost Yacht (Pertsa & Kilu), directed by Taavi Vartia.
2020
2020
Children's Film Competition: My Grandpa Is an Alien (Moj dida je pao s Marsa), directed by Marina Andree Škop and Dražen Žarković.
ECFA Award: The Crossing (Flukten over grensen), directed by Johanne Helgeland.
Youth Film Competition: I Am Free (Я свободен), directed by Ilja Severov.
Finnish Film Competition: My dear mother, directed by Paul-Anders Simma.
2010-2019
2019
Children's Film Competition: Rocca Changes the World (Rocca verändert die Welt), directed by Katja Benrath.
ECFA Award: Too Far Away (Zu weit weg), directed by Sarah Winkenstette.
Youth Film Competition: Let me fall (Lof mér að falla), directed by Baldvin Z.
Finnish Film Competition: Maiden of the Lake, directed by Petteri Saario.
2018
Children's Film Competition: Invisible Sue, directed by Markus Dietrich.
ECFA Award: I am William (Jeg er William), directed by Jonas Elmer.
Youth Film Competition: The Invisibles (Die Unsichtbaren), directed by Claus Räfle
Finnish Film Competition: Super Furball (Supermarsu), directed by Joona Tena.
2017
Children's Film Competition: Storm: Letter of Fire (Storm: Letters van vuur), directed by Dennis Bots.
ECFA Award: Up in the Sky (Upp i det blå), directed by Petter Lennstrand.
Youth Film Competition: Mountain Miracle - An Unexpected Friendship (Amelie rennt), directed by Tobias Wiemann.
Finnish Film Competition: About the Birds and the Bees (Kukista ja mehiläisistä), directed by JJ Vanhanen.
2016
Children's Film Competition: Paw (Mancs), directed by Robert-Adrian Pejo.
ECFA Award: Going to School (Villads fra Valby), directed by Frederik Meldal Nørgaard.
Youth Film Competition: Magnus, directed by Benjamin Ree.
Finnish Film Competition: Little Wing (Tyttö nimeltä Varpu), directed by Selma Vilhunen.
2015
Children's Film Competition: Little Gangster (De Boskampi's), directed by Arne Toonen.
ECFA Award: Operation Arctic (Operasjon Arktis), directed by Grethe Bøe-Waal.
Youth Film Competition: Fair play, directed by Andrea Sedlácková.
Finnish Film Competition: If I Ruled, directed by Jenni Kangasniemi and Aino Suni.
2014
Children's Film Competition: Kick It! (Kule kidz gråter ikke), directed by Katarina Launing.
ECFA Award: The Christmas of Solan and Ludvig (Solan og Ludvig - Jul i Flåklypa), directed by Rasmus A. Sivertsen.
Youth Film Competition: Ballet Boys (Ballettguttene), directed by Kenneth Elvebakk.
Finnish Film Competition: Fatima, directed by Naima Mohamud.
The Union of Film and Media Employees Finland SET - Short Film Award: The Impeccable Mr. Happy (Den förträfflige herr Glad), directed by Kaisa Penttilä.
2013
Children's Film Competition: Regret! (Spijt!), directed by Dave Schram.
ECFA Award: Regret! (Spijt!), directed by Dave Schram.
Youth Film Competition: Sanctuary (Faro), directed by Fredrik Edfeldt.
Finnish Film Competition: Hilton! - Here for Life (Hilton! - Täällä ollaan elämä), directed by Virpi Suutari.
Little Bear: Antonia Ringbom.
2012
Kaleva Prize: Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble (Niko 2 - Lentäjäveljekset), directed by Kari Juusonen and Jørgen Lerdam.
CIFEJ Prize: Arcadia, directed by Olivia Silver.
ECFA Award: Totally True Love (Jørgen + Anne = sant), directed by Anne Sewitsky.
For Tomorrow Award: Miss Blue Jeans (Miss Farkku-Suomi), directed by Matti Kinnunen.
Look at Me Award: Almost 18 (Kohta 18), directed by Maarit Lalli.
Little Bear: Matti Kinnunen.
2011
Kaleva Prize: Iris, directed by Ulrika Bengts.
CIFEJ Prize: Lost in Africa (Kidnappet), directed by Vibeke Muasya.
ECFA Award: On the Sly (À pas de loup), directed by Olivier Ringer.
For Tomorrow Award: Skyscraper (Skyskraber), directed by Rune Schjøtt.
Look at Me Award: The Little Snow Animal (Lumikko), directed by Miia Tervo.
Little Bear: Mikael Wahlforss.
2010
Kaleva Prize: The Crocodiles Strike Back (Vorstadtkrokodile 2), directed by Christian Ditter.
CIFEJ Prize: Superbrother (Superbror), directed by Birger Larsen.
Look at Me Award: Look at Me (Omaa luokkaansa), directed by Iiris Härmä.
Little Bear: Mari Rantasila.
2000-2009
2009
Kaleva Prize: The Crocodiles (Vorstadtkrokodile), directed by Christian Ditter.
CIFEJ Prize: The Magic Tree (Magiczne drzewo), directed by Andrzej Maleszka.
Look at me Award: Forbidden Fruit (Kielletty Hedelmä), directed by Dome Karukoski.
Little Bear: Niina Veittikoski.
2008
Kaleva Prize: SOS - Summer of Suspense (S.O.S Svartskjær), directed by Arne Lindtner Næss.
CIFEJ Prize: Fighter, directed by Natasha Arthy.
Little Bear: Outi Rousu.
2007
Star Boy: The Substitute (Vikaren), directed by Ole Bornedal.
CIFEJ Prize: That Special Summer (Kid Svensk), directed by Nanna Huolman.
Little Bear: Pentti Kejonen.
2006
Star Boy: We Shall Overcome (Drømmen), directed by Niels Arden Oplev.
CIFEJ Prize: We Shall Overcome (Drømmen), directed by Niels Arden Oplev.
Little Bear: Raimo O. Niemi.
2005
Star Boy: Mickybo and me, directed by Terry Loane.
CIFEJ Prize: Mickybo and me, directed by Terry Loane.
Little Bear: Koulukino - School Cinema Association.
2004
Star Boy: Count to 100 (Tæl til 100), directed by Linda Krogsoe Holmberg.
CIFEJ Prize: The Colour of Milk (Ikke naken), directed by Torun Lian.
Little Bear: Liisa Helminen.
2003
Star Boy: An angel for May, directed by Harley Cokliss.
CIFEJ Prize: Hop, directed by Dominique Standaert.
2002
Star Boy: Catch That Girl (Klatretøsen), directed by Hans Fabian Wullenweber.
CIFEJ Prize: Scars (Glasskår), directed by Lars Berg.
2001
Star Boy: My Sister's Kids (Min søsters børn), directed by Tomas Villum Jensen.
CIFEJ Prize: My Sister's Kids (Min søsters børn), directed by Tomas Villum Jensen.
2000
Star Boy: Tsatsiki, Mum and the Policeman (Tsatsiki, morsan och polisen), directed by Ella Lemhagen.
CIFEJ Prize: A Summer Tale (Den bästa sommaren), directed by Ulf Malmros.
1992-1999
1999
Star Boy: Silver wolf, directed by Peter Svatek.
CIFEJ Prize: Kirikou and the Sorceress (Kirikou et la sorcière), directed by Michel Ocelot.
1998
Star Boy: The Glassblower's Children (Glasblåsarns barn), directed by Anders Grönros.
CIFEJ Prize: The Glassblower's Children (Glasblåsarns barn), directed by Anders Grönros.
1997
Star Boy: Matilda, directed by Danny DeVito.
CIFEJ Prize: Children of Heaven (Bacheha-ye aseman), directed by Majid Majidi.
1996
Star Boy: Loch Ness, directed by John Henderson.
CIFEJ Prize: Long Live the Queen (Lang leve de koningin), directed by Esme Lammers.
1995
Star Boy: The Waterbaby (Sarahsarà), directed by Renzo Martinelli.
CIFEJ Prize: Henry and Verlin, directed by Gary Ledbetter.
1994
Star Boy: Charlie & Louise (Charlie & Louise - Das doppelte Lottchen), directed by Joseph Vilsmaier.
1993
Star Boy: Into the West, directed by Mike Newell.
1992
Star Boy: The Crumbs (Krummerne), directed by Sven Methling.