Kiddo

Eleven-year-old Lu is living in a foster home when her long-lost mother Karina shows up unexpectedly and takes her on a wild road trip in a beat-up sports car - all the way to her grandma in Poland. Lu soon finds out it's all or nothing with Karina when she gets pulled into a Bonnie and Clyde-like fantasy. But reality quickly catches up, forcing them to decide what they're willing to do to stay together forever.

Captivated by eccentric parents and the struggle of getting to know them, Zara Dwinger together with co-screenwriter Nena van Driel, created the story of Lu (Rosa van Leeuwen) and her mother Karina (Frieda Barnhard). The road movie about dealing with having an eccentric parent and learning how to stick up for yourself premiered at Berlinale Generation K-plus competition 2023 and has been travelling the world ever since picking up numerous awards. The film was nominated for six Dutch Academy Awards including Best Film and won Best Editing and Best Sound Design. At Cinekid it won Best Dutch Childrens Film.

Zara Dwinger is a writing director who makes colourful films about young people who are trying to find their place in the world. After graduating from the Netherlands Film Academy in 2017 with the award-winning film SIRENE, she made several short films that were featured at various international festivals such as the Berlinale and Clermont Ferrant. In 2020, the short film A HOLIDAY FROM MOURNING was released and travelled to festivals such as Asiana ISFF and Palm Springs Shortfest. In 2021 she made the mid-length film THE GIRL WHO WAS CURSED that screened at Slamdance Film Festival 2023 in the narrative competition.

KIDDO is produced by Studio Ruba in coproduction with NTR broadcasting, Polish outfit SHIPsBOY is the service producer. The film was made with the support of The Netherlands Film Fund, The Netherlands Film Production Incentive, CoBO, and the Polish Film Institute. SKOOP media is handeling world sales.

FILMED IN THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND WITH THE SUPPORT PROVIDED THROUGH THE ACT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTION BY THE POLISH FILM INSTITUTE AND FUNDED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND NATIONAL HERITAGE

Details

  • Length: 90’ min
  • World Premiere: Berlinale Generation K-Plus 2023
  • Release NL: July 5th 2023, Gusto Entertainment
  • Release BE: October 25th 2023, JEFF
  • Release FR: April 10th 2024, Les Films du Preau
  • Sales agent: SKOOP Media
  • Genre: roadmovie

Cast

Rosa van Leeuwen
Frieda Barnhard

Crew

  • Director: Zara Dwinger
  • Screenwriters: Nena van Driel l Zara Dwinger
  • DOP: Douwe Hennink
  • Production design: Bram Doyer
  • Costumedesign: Vita Mees
  • Casting: Saida van der Reijd l Elske Falkena
  • Production Manager: Mireille Rooijendijk
  • First A.D.: Tony van der Veer
  • Editor: Fatih Tura
  • Sound Design:  Zita Leemans
  • Re-recording Mixer: Michel Schopping
  • Composer: Jac van Exter
  • Music Supervisor: Laura Bell
  • Co-producer: NTR – Marina Blok
  • Service Producer: SHIPsBOY - Krystyna Kantor
  • Producers: Layla Meijman l Maarten van der Ven
Kiddo

Berlinale

Generation K-Plus
2023

Dutch Academy Award

Best Editing
2023

Dutch Academy Award

Best Sound Design
2023

BIKY

Best Film
2023

Golden Apricot

Special Mention
2023

Cinekid

Best Dutch Childrens Film
2023

Molodist KIFF

Best Teen Screen Film
2023

Giffoni IFF

13+ section
2023

Leeds IFF

2023

Cannes

Ecrans Junior
2023

Film Fest Gent

2023

Sarajevo IFF

Teen Arena
2023

Chigago ICFF

2023

Stills