This annual program offers young audiences a unique cinematic experience that promotes diversity and inclusion through the art of European cinema. By showcasing a selection of films from different European countries, children and young people are introduced to various cultures, languages, ways of life, and stories that reflect the richness of Europe’s diversity.
The program encourages open-mindedness and acceptance, helping young viewers understand and embrace the variety of identities, experiences, and social realities around them. At the same time, "Exploring Europe through Film" emphasizes social and cultural inclusion, ensuring that the selected films feature stories from minority communities, individuals with different abilities, and characters from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Through this process, children are not just passive spectators but become active participants in an open dialogue about acceptance and equality.
Animation 1 (62΄)
- To be sisters (To Be Sisters) France/ 2022 / Anne-Sophie Gousset & Clément Céard / 7’
- The kite (The kite) - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland / 2019 / Martin Smatana / 13’
- The Princess and the Bandit (The Princess and the Bandit) - Russia / / 2020 / Mariya Sosnina & Mikhail Aldashin / 3’
- My friend Tiger (My friend Tiger) - Russia /2016 / Alexey Alekseev / 3’
- Luce and the Rock (Luce and the Rock) - Belgium, France, Netherlands / 2022 / Britt Raes / 13’
- Sunflower (Sunflower) - Russia / 2023 / Natalia Chernysheva / 4’
- Fly (Fly) - Spain/ 2020 / Carlos Gómez-Mira Sagrado / 15’
Available educational material - Elementary School A-B-C
Animation 2 (65΄)
- Don’t Blow it Up (Don’t Blow it Up) - Czech Republic / 2022 / Alžbeta Mačáková Mišejová / 8’
- The kite (The kite) - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland / 2019 / Martin Smatana / 13’
- Smile (Smile) - Sweden / 2021 / Jonas Forsman / 7’
- The witch and the baby (The witch and the baby) - Russia/ 2020 / Evgenia Golubeva / 5’
- Luce and the Rock (Luce and the Rock) - Belgium, France, Netherlands / 2022 / Britt Raes / 13’
- Sunflower (Sunflower) - Russia / 2023 / Natalia Chernysheva / 4’
- Sounds Between the Crowns (Sounds Between the Crowns) - Czech Republic/ 2020 / Filip Diviak / 15’
Available educational material - Elementary School A-B-C
Animation (42΄)
- The Little Bang (The Little Bang) - South Korea/ 2020 / Jihyeon Bae / 7’
- Bemol (Bémol) - Switzerland / 2021 / Oana Lacroix / 6’
- Smile (Smile) - Sweden / 2021 / Jonas Forsman / 7’
- Little snowman (Little snowman) - Russian / 2021 /Aleksey Pochivalov / 4’
- Magic hock (Magic hock)- Russian/ 2016 / Alexey Alekseev / 3’
- My friend Tiger (My friend Tiger) - Russia /2016 / Alexey Alekseev / 3’
- Warm star (Warm star) - Russian / 2020 / Anna Kuzina / 5’
- Sunflower (Sunflower) - Russian / 2023 / Natalia Chernysheva / 4’
Available educational material
Kindergarten / Elementary School A-B-C
Yuku and the Flower of the Himalayas
Arnaud Demuynck & Remi Durin, France, 65’, 2022
Yuku is a little mouse who loves listening to her grandmother’s stories. One of them tells of the rare Himalayan Flower, which grants its possessor eternal light. Armed only with her unmatched courage and a ukulele, Yuku sets off on a journey full of colors and music, determined to find the flower and give it to her grandmother.
Topics: love, courage, friendship, family – Dubbed in Greek – Educational material available – Kindergarten / Elementary School A-B-C
Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds
Benoît Chieux, Belgium - France, 65’, 2023
In this thrilling animated adventure, the story follows 5-year-old Juliette and her 8-year-old sister, Carmen, two girls with vivid imaginations. They are lucky to have as their neighbor Agnès, a children’s book author who writes about a fantastical world called the Kingdom of Winds. One day, the sisters discover a passage between our mundane world and this magical universe, where they transform into cats! But in this world lurks the all-powerful wizard Sirocco, who can control the wind…
Topics:: courage, brotherly love, friendship, empathy – Translated into Greek – Educational material available – Elementary School A-B-C
Fortune Favors the Brave
Norbert Lechner, Germany, 95’, 2016
Young Vietnamese girl Lin Thuy is forced from an early age to take responsibility not only for herself but also for her younger sister, when their separated mother must return from Germany to Vietnam. No one must discover that the two little girls are living alone, especially the police and social services. Meanwhile, Pauline, their stubborn pre-teen neighbor who is endlessly bored, threatens to reveal Lin Thuy’s secret. A film about growing up and the strength found in unusual friendships.
Topics:: friendship, solidarity, family, diversity, cultural differences – Available educational material Grades 4–6 (Primary School)
Block 5
Klemen Dvornik, Slovenia-Czech Republic-Croatia-Serbia, 79’, 2024
When 12-year-old Alma discovers that her father's company plans to demolish the playground, she gets determined to save green areas. Alma has no choice but to join forces with her worst enemies -Luna's skate gang. The battle over the playground evolves into a conflict about unity and forgiving one another.
Topics:: friendship, family, environment – Grades 4–6 (Primary), Middle School
Dear mr. Fuhrer
Christian Lerch, Germany, 94’, 2021
1945, just before the end of the Second World War: Anna and her 11-year-old son Felix have to flee bombed out Munich for the countryside. While Anna has a very tough time playing the convinced National Socialist, Felix is increasingly seduced by the Nazi propaganda and their supporters.
Topics: war, nazism, propaganda – Available educational material – Middle School, High School
Greetings from Mars
Sarah Winkenstette, Germany, 84’, 2024
Tom is different from the other children. He dislikes changes, red objects, and loud sounds that overwhelm him. His passion is space. He loves running around in his astronaut suit, and in difficult moments, he chooses to wear his helmet. When his mother suddenly has to travel to China, Tom must go stay with his grandparents. Or is it, in fact, a mission to Mars?
Topics: νευροδιαφορετικότητα, στερεότυπα, οικογένεια – Διαθέσιμο εκπαιδευτικό υλικό – Grades 4–6 (Primary), Middle School
Oskar and Lilli
Arash T. Riahi, Austria, 102’, 2020
The Chechen refugee kids Oskar (8) and Lilli (13), who have been living in Austria for six years, are about to be deported along with their mother. When their mother attempts suicide it results in the short-term suspension of the deportation – but also in the forced separation of the family. The children’s hope that they will be reunited with their mother is nourished by their love for each other and challenges all bureaucratic obstacles with passion and poetry. A bitter-sweet odyssey about the many ways of perceiving the world around you in order to survive.
Topics: refugees, family, love, siblings, hope – Available educational material – Γυμνάσιο, Δ-Ε-Στ Δημοτικού
Rocca Changes The World
Katja Benrath, Germany, 101’, 2019
Brave, funny, and one of a kind: that’s Rocca. Rocca is eleven years old and lives a rather unique life. While her dad is watching over her as an astronaut from outer space, Rocca lives alone with her squirrel and is attending a normal school for the first time in her life. At school her carefree and non-conformist way of life instantly stands out. She fearlessly confronts the class bullies, because first and foremost Rocca stands up for justice. That’s why she makes friends with the homeless Caspar and tries to help him. All the while she is also attempting to win over her grandmother’s heart.
Topics: family, solidarity, illness, loss, power of art, imagination, friendship – Available educational material – Grades 4–6 (Primary), Middle School
Phantom owl forest
Anu Aun, Estonia, 90’, 2018
An adventure film following 10-year-old Eia, whose Christmas holidays take an unexpected turn when she finds herself at a mysterious farm in the South Estonian countryside. She follows her heart to save an ancient forest, helps two lovers find each other, and discovers her own destiny: to unravel her family’s long-hidden secret.
Topics: nature, family, Christmas – Grades 4–6 (Primary), Middle School
All I Want for Christmas: The Magic Time Machine
Christian Dyekjaer, Denmark, 92’, 2022
Lucia continues her studies at Santa’s School. At a pre-Christmas gathering, the Principal, looking rather confused, drops a bombshell: Christmas is canceled! With a bit of magic, a time machine, and plenty of courage, Lucia and her friends set out to save Christmas.
Topics: χριστουγεννιάτικη ιστορία, θάρρος, φιλία - Grades 4–6 (Primary), Middle School
The flea
Dimitris Spyrou, Greece, 90’, 1990
Elias lives in a village in the mountains near Olympia and is about to finish Primary School. Nobody calls him by his name though; he’s mostly known as “The Flea”, the name of the handwritten newspaper he edits and publishes by himself. His fellow-villagers tend to mostly taunt Elias and yet he dreams of travelling. “The Flea” helps him escape his village’s boundaries and gives him the wings he needs to fly away.
Topics: dreams, school, rural life, tradition, children's games, countryside – Available educational material – Elementary, Middle School
We have a dream
Pascal Plisson, France, 96’, 2023
Who said living with disabilities meant giving up one’s greatest dreams? Maud (France), Charles (Kenya), Nirmala and Khendo (Nepal), Xavier (Rwanda) and Antonio (Brazil) are extraordinary children who will prove that love, inclusive education, humour and courage can move mountains, and that fate is sometimes full of surprises.
“We Have a Dream” is available dubbed in Greek, with subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) as well as audio description for the visually impaired (AD).
Topics: documentary, disability, inclusion – Available educational material – Elementary, Middle School, High School
English 
Greek