The 21st Tel Aviv International Children’s Film Festival will open during Hanukkah, from December 16 to 20, 2025, with a clear goal: to make cinema a space where every child can see themselves, feel that they belong and experience stories from a perspective that genuinely speaks to them. Under the slogan “All of Us,” the cinematheque places inclusion and representation at the center of the program, presenting the broad range of experiences and voices that shape children’s worlds in Israel and around the globe.
The festival focuses on children’s own perspectives: what moves them, what frightens them, what sparks their curiosity and which stories shape the way they grow and engage with the world around them. Artistic director Gili Zolti said the 2025 selections offer a broad view of the lives of children from different parts of the world and raise questions of identity, difference and acceptance. She added that cinema for children can and should encourage thought and conversation, develop empathy and open the door to subjects worth addressing from an early age.
The cinematheque’s CEO said the combination of moving content, hands-on activities and encounters with industry professionals is intended to make the festival an open creative laboratory. Children will not only watch films, but also see themselves on screen, learn how films are made, meet the voices behind them and understand that they too can become the creators of the future.
What Is in the Festival Program?
A wide range of engaging and exciting activities.
International Competition Featuring Seven Countries
Films from India, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and additional countries explore childhood through an emotional and complex lens. Highlights include:
“I Accidentally Wrote a Book” – a Hungarian girl finds a creative way to cope when her father begins a relationship with a new partner. “Strange Bird” – a sensitive story about a girl with albinism in India. “Machar Ehye Amitz” (“I Will Be Brave”) – a German boy experiences first love.
Gala Preview Screenings, All Dubbed
First Israeli screenings of new children’s films, including “Fox and Hare Save the Forest,” “Breaking the Spell,” “Tafiti: Adventure in the Desert,” “Gracie and Pedro,” “Jungle Beat 2,” “How I Drove the Robbers Crazy” and “Trouble at Summer Camp.”
Young Jury Course – Children Help Choose the Winners
Children can again join the festival’s official jury. Participants receive professional training in film criticism, a judging kit and the opportunity to join the adult judges in selecting the winners.
Kan Educational Preview Screenings
Kan Educational will present gala previews of new series and selected episodes in special screenings for children and parents. It is an opportunity to be among the first to see programs arriving on screen in the coming months and to encounter Israeli productions created for young audiences.
“Family in a Film” Competition
Families from across Israel receive only 48 hours to create a short film, which will then be shown on the big screen during the festival. It is one of the festival’s most popular events and regularly produces unexpected moments.
Special Teen Program
A new program will present short films made by students in film programs and schools across Israel, offering a look at the next generation of filmmakers.
Tribute to Albert Cohen
A special event about the world of dubbing will feature Cohen’s son, Sharon Cohen, a dubbing director, and his granddaughter, Lenny Cohen. They will reveal the work that takes place behind the scenes and accompany a screening of “Inside Out,” in which Cohen voiced the character Anger.
Studio Meetings with Actors
Personal conversations with film and television actors including Neta Roth, Lir Issa and others, covering career paths, auditions, character development and work on professional sets.
“Hatul BaSak”
Creators and artists select the children’s film that influenced them during childhood. The audience discovers its identity only after the theater lights go down.
Accessible Screenings and Workshops
Daily screenings for children with additional needs will feature adjusted sound levels, noise-reducing headphones, freedom to enter and leave the auditorium, and a quiet room for rest. A list of potential triggers for each film will be published on the website.
Activities for All Ages
- Story hours and activities for young children
- Filmmaking and art workshops covering green screen, sound, animation, stop-motion, smartphone photography, miniatures and more
- Productions by leading children’s theaters, including the Train Theater, Mediatheque, Elmina, Orna Porat and others
- Hanukkah candle lighting in the cinematheque lobby each evening
- An opening performance and ceremony led by Liraz and Idan Shalva, including a meeting with the Hebrew voice actors from “SpongeBob SquarePants” and a screening of the new film
Details:
Film: NIS 43 Workshops: NIS 45
Plays/performances: NIS 62 Special benefits are available through the Cinematheque Kids WhatsApp group.
For the full program and tickets, visit the Tel Aviv Cinematheque website.
