![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/nikos.jpg\" "\\"nikos\\"")
<\/a>The festival will open with the Belgian film Nicostratos, le Pelican<\/em> (2011), directed by Olivier Horlait and starring Serbian filmmaker, actor and musician Emir Kusturica. Shot on an isolated Greek island in a small village, the story discusses 14-year old Yannis\u2019s relationship with his father (Kusturica) shortly after the death of his mother. One day, Yannis rescues a young pelican and decides to raise the bird in secret. Soon, however, Nicostratos the Pelican becomes a local celebrity and two develop a heartwarming bond.<\/p>\n Each year the festival focuses on a specific international children\u2019s film industry. This year\u2019s focus will be on Holland, one of the word\u2019s leading producers of children\u2019s films. Within this framework, the festival will screen four Dutch films: Alfi the Werewolf<\/em> (2011), The Boy and the Chick<\/em> (2012), Tony and the Queen<\/em> (2012), and Winky\u2019s Horse<\/em> (2005).<\/p>\n Also, for the first time in Tel Aviv the festival will be hosting Berlin\u2019s prestigious KUKI project, a collection of short films from India, Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda that displays the daily life of children in those areas.<\/p>\n One of the most important aspects of the Children\u2019s Film Festival is the children\u2019s own, personal contribution to the art of filmmaking. The Festival will be screening various documentaries and films created by children throughout the country. As the writers and protagonists of their work, the films deal with the everyday joys and adversities of life from a younger perspective. Agenda \u2013 Israel\u2019s Center of Strategic Communications \u2013 has also helped create a project that exposes young Jewish and Arab teenagers to each other\u2019s worlds, opinions and daily life as documented using the new media method of constant, on-demand video access.<\/p>\n Eight films will be participating in the international competition:<\/p>\n Nicostratos, le Pelican<\/em> (2011), Belgium. Israeli films screened at the Festival will include Under the Domim Tree<\/em> – Gila Almagor, Noodle<\/em> – Ayelet Menahemi, Genesis Land<\/em> \u2013 Moshe Alpert, Eli and Ben<\/em> \u2013 Uri Rabid, They Catch Children Too<\/em> \u2013 Hedva Galili-Smolinsky, and Little Heroes<\/em> \u2013 Itai Lev.<\/p>\n
\nKauwboy<\/em> (2012), Holland.
\nArcadia<\/em> (2012), USA.
\nAmong Wolves<\/em> (2010), Spain.
\nThe Button War<\/em> (2011), France.
\nRicky Rapper & Cool Wendy<\/em> (2011), Finland
\nIce Dragon<\/em> (2011), Sweden
\nGattu<\/em> (2011), India.<\/p>\n