Portrait
A sophisticated Festival
Movies are undeniably one of the most beloved everyday pastimes among children and adolescents. The International Children’s Film Festival LUCAS presents exciting new films for children – and has been doing so for more than 35 years! As the children’s film festival with the richest tradition in Germany, LUCAS presents sophisticated, promising productions aimed at children of four to twelve years of age.
The independently selected competition program consists of artistically and thematically valuable films that make foreign cultures understandable and develop children’s habits of perception whilst always meeting their audience at eye level.
Fostering Competence in Film and Media
In addition to the high-profile competition films and the carefully selected special series that emphasizes a current theme (this year, the series is entitled “PANORAMA – Films for (Young) Adults”), it is above all the festival’s diverse film-pedagogical and interactive offerings that sustain the transmission of film culture and media competence. In the media age of the 21st century, media use by adolescents – in contrast to prior generations – can hardly be effectively monitored. Instead, children must increasingly learn to approach media responsibly and critically – this is the central goal of a (film-)aesthetic education.
A Children’s Film Festival – Not Just For Kids
Professional visitors from Germany and abroad can attend LUCAS to inform themselves about the newest productions. The film market, which includes all competition entries as well as specially invited productions, provides accredited professionals with a unique overview of worldwide film production for children and adolescents. Teachers are also in good hands at LUCAS: The multipart educational series FILMSEHEN – FILMVERSTEHEN (Seeing Film – Understanding Film) informs educators about the film and festival program and supports them in integrating film and media pedagogy into the classroom.
The festival, which was established in 1974, is a flagship event of the state of Hesse as a center for film culture. Its international films and guests enrich the cultural landscape of Frankfurt.
