About
Since 2018, the NPO “Athens International Children’s Film Festival” (ATHICFF), through its initiatives and actions, has maintained a continuous dialogue with children, teenagers, their families, and the educational community, establishing itself as a consistent reference point in matters of film education, culture, and inclusion.
In a time when society urgently seeks answers to issues such as youth delinquency, diversity, rights, inclusion, and democracy, children’s and youth cinema provide educators and parents with essential and appropriate tools for engaging in a meaningful, prejudice-free dialogue.
Through educational screenings across Greece, the “Inclusion in Action” program in special and general education schools, parent schools, teacher training seminars, and the “Fully Accessible Digital Screening Platform” – offering free, accessible films for children and teens – ATHICFF fosters audiovisual literacy, equipping young audiences with critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to interpret and understand audiovisual media, especially necessary in today’s age of constant digital exposure.
All of ATHICFF’s activities are designed and implemented in collaboration with educators from primary and secondary education, academics, and with the support of child psychologists, with particular attention to vulnerable population groups. For inclusion programs specifically, accessibility consultants include the non-profit organizations liminal and The Happy Act.
The main activities of the NPO include:
– Organizing the annual “Athens International Children’s Film Festival” each November in Athens, Piraeus, and other Greek cities.
– The “Fully Accessible Digital Screening Platform”, which offers free films accessible to people on the autism spectrum, those with hearing and visual impairments, utilizing tools like audio description, Greek Sign Language interpretation, and social stories.
– School Screenings and Educational Workshops, held both in-person and online in schools throughout Greece, with a curated program approved by educators and child psychologists.
– An Educational Program titled “Inclusion in Action,” a festival initiative encouraging more active participation in cultural events by people with disabilities, in collaboration with faculty from the Pedagogical Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
– Hosting primary and secondary school students from remote areas of Greece, accompanied by teachers and parents.
– Supporting and Developing audiovisual content production for children and teens through initiatives directed at industry professionals.
Each November, the annual Athens International Children’s Film Festival presents a rich film program from around the world, introducing young audiences to contemporary cinema. These films provide entertainment while also sparking discussions on topics relevant to children, teenagers, parents, and educators: digital life and its challenges, school bullying, racism, domestic violence, gender stereotypes, and more.
- 1st ATHICFF: December 7–9, 2018, at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall.
- 2nd ATHICFF: November 23–24, 2019, at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, with an “expansion” to Danaos Cinema.
- 3rd ATHICFF: November 14–22, 2020, held entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 4th ATHICFF: November 13–21, 2021, returning to venues with screenings at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, Kifisia Cinemax 1-2 and Danaos cinemas.
- 5th ATHICFF: November 14–20, 2022, #AsItWas but not the same, held at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, Kifisia Cinemax 1-2 and Danaos cinemas.
- 6th ATHICFF: November 13–19, 2023, “SuperPowers – SuperFeelings,” at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, Cycladic Art Museum, Kifisia Cinemax 1-2, Danaos and Cineak cinemas.
- 7th ATHICFF: November 18–24, 2024, Get Up!, at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, Kifisia Cinemax 1-2 and Danaos cinemas, French Institute of Greece, Cycladic Art Museum.