Young Audience Award at Juniorfest
Young Audience Award at Juniorfest: Which Film Will Win Over Young Audiences?
Which European films can truly connect with the younger generation? And who better to decide than young audiences themselves? This year, Juniorfest will present two films featured in the Young Audience Award programme, a European Film Academy award that gives young audiences an important voice in the world of cinema.
The Young Audience Award (YAA) is a European film award that has been highlighting outstanding films for young audiences since 2012. Its aim is to introduce young people to European cinema and give them the opportunity to actively participate in evaluating film stories.
What makes this award special is that the winner is not chosen solely by film professionals. The final say belongs to young viewers aged 12 to 19, who become part of an international film jury through screenings and voting. Their votes ultimately determine which of the nominated films receives the Young Audience Award.
Two Films, Two Stories, New Cinematic Experiences
As part of this year's Juniorfest, audiences can look forward to two films from the Young Audience Award programme. Each offers an opportunity to discover a different story, see the world from a new perspective and explore European cinema that has something meaningful to say to young audiences.
Come and discover these films at Juniorfest and see for yourself which story will leave the strongest impression on you!
I MATTER
Director: Alina Serban
2026
Original Language: Romani and Romanian
Subtitles: Czech and English
Country of Production: Romania, Germany, Belgium
HOLD ONTO ME
Director: Myrsini Aristidou
2026
Original Language: Greek
Subtitles: Czech and English
Countries of Production: Cyprus, Greece, Denmark, USA
As her eighteenth birthday approaches, Rebeca, a young Roma woman growing up in an orphanage, dreams of starting a new life at university and finally finding a family with her father. But his release from prison shatters her expectations, forcing her to confront the gap between the home she longs to leave and the life she hopes to build. When a university assignment asks her to explore the meaning of home, Rebeca must decide whether to reveal the past she has tried so hard to hide.
