The first edition of Kinotrip (held between 24-27 March) was organised by 22 young film buffs aged between 13 and 19, under the guidance of Kinodvor Cinema. The youngsters have been responsible for the festival’s film selection, side events, image and promotion. The festival included eight titles from different parts of the world with various topics and genres. What united them was that all their leading characters are young people as well. In order to better guide audiences in deciding which films to watch, the organisers had also come up with new film categories, such as Friendship, Dreamy, and Summerish.

In line with Kinotrip’s theme, the official guests of the event were young actors and actresses. The screening of the Festival’s opening film – Italian work "Short Skin", was attended by leading actress Francesca Agostini. On Friday Marlon Boess attended the screening of "Beautiful Girl", while the director, Dominik Hartl, talked to the audience via Skype. Then Ilayda Akdogan and Tugba Sunguroglu from the Oscar nominee Mustang, were in Ljubljana past Saturday. Among the films selected by the young festival organisers was also politically engaged documentary "The Amina Profile" by Sophie Deraspe, which tells the story of a young Syrian-American blogger who is kidnapped during the Arab uprising. Kinotrip’s closing film was "Prince", a coming-of-age tale from the Netherlands that was followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Sam de Jong (live via Skype).

Audiences could also participate in the activities that was held during the festival, designed especially for young people in order to make their film experience even more exciting. Among them were graffiti workshops, hair and make-up salons that transformed visitors into demonic creatures for the screening of the horror movie "Deathgasm", and a Japanese breakfast and manga library to accompany the Japanese animation "When Marnie Was There".  

“We have chosen films, that represent the way we are, without condescension or moralisation. We were attracted, above all, by films that demonstrate a unique visual style and heartfelt narration”, said the young organisers. Kinotrip is part of the Kinodvor Cinema initiative to encourage young people to preserve and develop urban cinema-going habits.

Source: Cineuropa