Culture Council still gives Cinekid green light

Cinekid called the Culture Council's negative advice earlier this year "an encouragement". Still, it was undoubtedly a setback that this leading youth film festival was now in danger of dropping out of the basic cultural infrastructure (BIS). But now there is a green light, and it is up to the minister this new, now favourable opinion take over.

Earlier this year the Culture Council had given Cinekid's submitted application for the next four years a 'no unless'. No OCW subsidy , unless Cinekid came up with a more detailed plan. A plan with measurable objectives and increasing audiences and national activities. Plus a clear explanation of how to strengthen its financial position. That new plan is now in place, and is in good spirits.

We speak to a relieved Cinekid director Heleen Rouw. Because despite good omens, it is of course still exciting how such an adjustment of the earlier advice will turn out. Now it only remains to be seen whether the minister will go along. This decision is expected before the end of the year.

World Citizens

In June, Rouw told Culture Press that a new focus and vision is being worked on. The Council now believes that the new application is more concrete and that it is a plan with "energy and ambition". Among other things, what has been put forward to convince the Culture Council?

"Besides clarifying the financial situation, these are also the further elaborated plans, both nationwide and year-round. In the process, we have rewritten and sharpened the entire policy plan. Cinekid wants to play an important role in the world of film and is based on the vision that film can help make children global citizens. Beyond the normal consumer offerings, which are consumed by children more than ever in these corona times, Cinekid can show that there is more."

"The important thing is to help make access to this as accessible as possible, both digitally and on location. One of the things that can be worked with is the Cinekid-VPRO top 100, and children are also involved in compiling that list. Another example are the recently circulated tips for best children's films in December."

Cinekid Play

One such new project is the online platform Cinekid Play. The council was critical of its feasibility, but as the new application was submitted at the start of the last festival, those experiences could not yet be taken into account.

"Cinekid Play was launched during the last festival. The experience gained can now be used to make Play as accessible as possible. For example, by moving from a subscription model to one with free entry and payment for selected items. We also learned a lot in terms of the technical expertise that needs to be in house for something like this."

"The target audience is very digital, and that plays a role especially throughout the year, letting children discover new things. The festival itself, corona permitting, should remain primarily a physical experience. I believe in the importance of the physical meeting, celebrating the festival of film together."

Measurability

The Culture Council is strongly committed to measurable objectives. What is the state of play on that?

"In all plans for activities, we now build in measurability, not only in terms of visitor numbers, but also appreciation, for example. Research is going to be very important. This year we did a baseline measurement, although it was a very crazy year to do something like that. But when you start something new, like Cinekid Play, it remains difficult to formulate concrete goals right away."

"We definitely want to increase the number of visitors to the festival in Amsterdam. That is now around 30,000, it should definitely be able to be a few thousand more."

"Furthermore, we are working on wider outreach, for example through school programmes. We also want to cooperate with so-called film education hubs, where offerings and activities in this field are coordinated regionally. We are in talks with those. In addition, we are also talking to distributors and makers."

Something the Council is also concerned about is the possibility of sponsorship.

"We are looking for a different kind of partners, more in the digital world and private funds. But it's still a challenge. We don't spend money we don't have. We keep a safe budget."

Visibility

Is there anything to say about the experience of the last festival, which had to be very different because of corona?

"In any case, outreach and visibility increased. There was good PR. This year, for instance, Cinekid received a lot of coverage in the Youth News. The opening, just for schoolchildren, was a nice item."

In any case, that seems a great start to the function Cinekid envisions for itself: a guide for children in discovering the world of film and how enriching it can be.