The festival's mission is to bring quality cinema closer to children and young people, nurturing their creativity and critical thinking through film and workshops for the whole family.
The 18th edition of KINOdiseea, Romania's first international film festival for young audiences, will take place between 10–18 October 2026 in Bucharest, across five venues: Sala Gloria, Cinema Muzeul Țăranului Român, Centrul Cultural Armean, Școala Gimnazială 149 and Liceul Teoretic Școala Europeană București.
Under the concept "The Superpowers of the Future," the festival brings 146 events: feature-film screenings (30) and short-film screenings (70), workshops (28), interactive and recreational activities (13), Q&As (4) and family-friendly sessions (1). The festival jury is made up of Dana Rogoz, Olimpia Melinte and Andi Vasluianu.
A film, theatre and television actress whose performance in Caníbal earned her a Goya Award nomination for Best New Actress and an award from the Spanish Actors' Union. Her portfolio spans Romanian and international titles including Sette opere di misericordia, București NonStop, Moromeții 3 and the series VLAD, and she also holds a doctorate in acting.
Began her career as a child, becoming a familiar face to several generations of viewers. A 2008 graduate of UNATC, she has appeared in numerous theatre productions and films. Her lead role in MO (directed by Radu Dragomir), winner of international awards, her directing and writing debut with the short film REMOTE (2023), and her most recent role in Dus-Întors (2026, directed by Cristian Bota) confirm her artistic range.
One of the most acclaimed actors in contemporary Romanian cinema. With a career spanning more than two decades and collaborations with leading directors of the Romanian New Wave, Andi is a Gopo Award winner, recognized for the natural, versatile way he builds his characters on stage and on screen.
At the heart of the story is Kaja (Amalie Stuve), a small and courageous cell living in the kidneys of Erik, a 10-year-old boy. While all the other cells divide normally, Kaja does not — she is indivisible, frustrated, and, from her own point of view, completely useless. She sets off on an adventurous journey through the body itself, to find out how it actually works.
Awards and nominations: Amanda Awards, Norway — 2026 nomination, Best Screenplay (Martin Lund, Thorkild Schrumpf).
When her parents mysteriously disappear, a determined 10-year-old girl joins forces with a club of young detectives and her autistic brother, whose unique perspective unexpectedly uncovers a criminal conspiracy.
Awards and nominations: Pula Film Festival 2026 — Big Golden Arena nomination for Best Film (Marina Andree Skop, Vanda Raymanová, Tibor Keser), Golden Arena for Best Costume Design (Zorana Meic), Golden Arena for Best Production Design (Stefano Katunar), Golden Arena for Best Visual Effects (Tomáš Danay, Peter Budinský, Vanda Raymanová, Ivana Sebestová, Michal Struss, Krsto Jaram and Marek Jezo).
Twelve-year-old Billie runs from the chaos at home, taking an analogue camera and a roll of film with her. She sets off in search of the place where she and her sister once felt that anything was possible, trying to recapture the magic of childhood.
During a summer holiday in the late 1950s, young Elisabeth's life takes an unexpected turn when her little brother Leo disappears. Leaving her favourite books behind, she sets off on a challenging quest, her courage tested as she tries to free an unusual captive creature, native to the enigmatic tepui mountain plateaus of Venezuela.
Hania, an 11-year-old girl who believes in elves, becomes the target of ridicule. To save the fantastical world she built around her recently deceased mother, she must prove to everyone that fairy-tale creatures really do exist. Together with Michał, an outsider from school, she discovers Sindri, an elf from the nearby forest who promises his help. Thus begins a winding adventure, as Hania discovers the power of friendship and the consequences of lies, ultimately coming to accept the loss of her mother.
Awards and nominations: Locarno International Film Festival 2025 (Locarno Kids section), Schlingel International Film Festival 2025 — winner, Best Child Actor/Actress, Athens International Children's Film Festival 2025, Zagreb Film Festival 2025, Kineko International Film Festival 2025, Bulbul International Children's Film Festival 2025, Just Film Youth Film Festival, Tallinn 2025, Schwäbisch Gmünd International Children's Film Festival (KiKiFe) 2026 — winner, Best Young Actress, Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival 2026, Kyoto International Children's Film Festival 2026 — Audience Award winner.
Lucy, a mysterious girl with unique visions, meets Milly, her secret friend. Together they set off on a magical quest to uncover the mystery behind her strange powers.
Eleven-year-old Meissy discovers that her father, Tom, isn't travelling the world but wandering around her home town. Wanting to get to know him better, and against her mother's wishes, she sets off on adventures with Tom, only to discover that he suffers from schizophrenia.
Conni's parents are away, and this time she has an exciting adventure at home, together with her cat Mau, her friends, grandpa Willi, a grumpy neighbor, and Klaus, a migrating crane who urgently needs help.
Awards and nominations: Australian International Kids Film Festival — Official Selection 2026, Children's Animation, "Der neue Heimatfilm" Festival in Freistadt, Austria — Programme Selection 2026.
It's summer, and 11-year-old Iris roams the streets freely with her older friend Danae. That's when she learns that her estranged father, Aris, has returned to town for his own father's funeral.
Atlas of the Universe tells the story of Filip, a 10-year-old boy whose joy at buying a pair of shoes for a long-awaited football match is overshadowed when he's mistakenly given two right shoes. Filip must set off on his own to find the matching pair.
Organized by Asociația Culturală Metropolis
54 Mătăsari St., Sector 2, Bucharest · contact@asociatiametropolis.ro
KINOdiseea reservations and information: rezervari@kinodiseea.ro
This project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or the way in which the project's results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the grant beneficiary.
KINOdiseea, the international film festival for young audiences, comes to Cinema Unirea in Botoșani between 15–18 October 2026. The 18th edition brings European films and animations live-dubbed in Romanian, with stories about friendship, courage and discovery, alongside creative workshops and activities for children and parents. Admission is free, subject to availability.
Audiences in Botoșani will discover a selection of sensitive, imaginative European films and animations for children and families, with stories about friendship, courage, acceptance and the power to overcome life's challenges. From the mystery investigation in "Extraordinary," where a 10-year-old girl, her autistic brother and a club of young detectives try to solve their parents' disappearance, to the adventurous journey through the human body of a brave cell in "Unstoppable," each screening opens new perspectives on the world and on one's own identity. "The Elf: A New Beginning" blends adventure and fantasy in a moving story about friendship and coming to terms with loss, while "Conni: The Crane Mystery" invites the youngest viewers on an adventure about solidarity and caring for a migrating crane in trouble. Made in Croatia, Norway, Poland and Germany, the films have earned awards, nominations and selections at international festivals.
Aimed at children from kindergarten through middle school, depending on age recommendations, the films offer a chance for discovery, empathy and family dialogue.
When her parents mysteriously disappear, a determined 10-year-old girl joins forces with a club of young detectives and her autistic brother, whose unique perspective unexpectedly uncovers a criminal conspiracy.
Awards and nominations: Pula Film Festival 2026 — Big Golden Arena nomination for Best Film (Marina Andree Skop, Vanda Raymanová, Tibor Keser), Golden Arena for Best Costume Design (Zorana Meic), Golden Arena for Best Production Design (Stefano Katunar), Golden Arena for Best Visual Effects (Tomáš Danay, Peter Budinský, Vanda Raymanová, Ivana Sebestová, Michal Struss, Krsto Jaram and Marek Jezo).
Hania, an 11-year-old girl who believes in elves, becomes the target of ridicule. To save the fantastical world she built around her recently deceased mother, she must prove to everyone that fairy-tale creatures really do exist. Together with Michał, an outsider from school, she discovers Sindri, an elf from the nearby forest, who promises his help. So begins a winding adventure, as Hania discovers the power of friendship and the consequences of lies, ultimately coming to accept the loss of her mother.
Awards and nominations: Locarno International Film Festival 2025 (Locarno Kids section), Schlingel International Film Festival 2025 — winner, Best Child Actor/Actress, Athens International Children's Film Festival 2025, Zagreb Film Festival 2025, Kineko International Film Festival 2025, Bulbul International Children's Film Festival 2025, Just Film Youth Film Festival, Tallinn 2025, Schwäbisch Gmünd International Children's Film Festival (KiKiFe) 2026 — winner, Best Young Actress, Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival 2026, Kyoto International Children's Film Festival 2026 — Audience Award winner.
At the heart of the story is Kaja (Amalie Stuve), a small and courageous cell living in the kidneys of Erik, a 10-year-old boy. While all the other cells divide normally, Kaja does not — she is indivisible, frustrated, and, from her own point of view, completely useless. She sets off on an adventurous journey through the body she calls home, to find out how it actually works.
Awards and nominations: Amanda Awards, Norway — 2026 nomination, Best Screenplay (Martin Lund, Thorkild Schrumpf).
Conni's parents are away, and this time she has an exciting adventure at home, together with her cat Mau, her friends, grandpa Willi, a grumpy neighbor, and Klaus, a migrating crane who urgently needs help.
Awards and nominations: Australian International Kids Film Festival — Official Selection 2026, Children's Animation, "Der neue Heimatfilm" Festival in Freistadt, Austria — Programme Selection 2026.
Screenings take place at Cinema Unirea, Botoșani. Admission is free, subject to availability.
KINOdiseea — the international film festival for young audiences, 18th edition in Botoșani, is organized by Asociația Culturală Metropolis, co-funded by CNC — the National Film Centre, a member of the Europa Cinemas network, in partnership with the Mihai Eminescu Theatre Botoșani, Cinema Unirea Botoșani and Botoșani City Hall.
A cultural association, since 2011 — festivals, screenings and workshops for the general public and professionals in the cultural sector.
