Madani Kids

Children are born in a state of fitrah or pure. Education then gives color to their lives, and it’s where the Madani International Film Festival comes—giving color to their lives. Film does not only belong to adults who always feel like they need everything, viewing children only as a complement to their discussions. Being a child means not only going through a period of human development, but also determining the direction of civilization.

Madani Kids is here to involve children in cinema discussions, how technology is present to record every event that gets archived the next moment. Children can see the worlds shown in every movie they watch. They have perspectives that an adult may never understand even though he or she has gone through that time in his lifetime.

The nine films that we chose at least present a picture of the children’s world. We hope they can accept these films, at least benefit from them in their spare time. Just as adults spend their weekends watching movies, so should children be with adults.

Children can see how a collaboration creates something to enjoy together through Aparat (2021), along with entertainment from eight other films. We wish them to be part of the cinema development, to be the center of conversations. We believe that Islamic education begins by setting the best example for them.

Akbar Rafsanjani

Film Program

BORROWED PARENTS

Its about children and their beautiful relationship with a tree.

NUSSA

With the intention to impress his father who is coming home after being abroad for a year, Nussa the smart 9-year-old kid is participating in his school’s science competition. But when he receives the news that his father cancels his trip home and is unable to attend the competition, while at the same time a new, smart student called Jonni quickly becomes his rival in the said competition, Nussa learns the true meaning of gratitude.

Film Program - Short Film Compilation

APARAT

Six teenage boys in a remote village decide to work at the village stable to rent an 8 mm projector from a tour guide.

SCARECROW

When a tornado occurs, the old scarecrow's quiet life changes.

THE LAST MANGROVE SEED

The futuristic animation Anak Bakau Terakhir tells the story of three indigenous Seletar children, Bagong, Tiara, and Deli, who sneak onto a pirate ship to recover the last mangrove seed and save the wisdom of seafarers’ lives.

I WASN’T AFRAID

The story is narrated by Ali, a disabled child from Gaza, who exemplifies the strength of spirit which is required to keep going about your daily life in a city under siege. As Ali utters “I'm not afraid”, we are shown war planes flying over his vibrant homeland, leaving ruin in their wake.

BOWL, PAPER, FISH

A fantasy short animation about two children near the seaside. A boy who sells live fish and a girl who sells free pictures of fish in the sea.

FRUIT

A conflict in the forest between a boy and a squirrel to win the only golden apple on that unique big tree.

DAD, SHALL WE SING SOMETHING?

Bambo, despite her young age, understands everything that is going on around her. After being beaten by her father, her mother went to town for a check-up. At night, the drunken father came home and kept his daughters awake. In the morning, Bambo had noticed that the sisters were at school and her father was drinking with his friend, so she immediately went to play with other kids. At lunchtime, all the children went back home. At home, Bambo felt strongly about her mother's absence. There wasn't anything thing to eat at home and the starving girl directed to her grandmother's house. But the door was locked. It seems her father locked the door and fell asleep. When he woke up, he stoked the cooker and cooked bauyrsaks from the leftover flour. This action stirred up love in the little Bambo's heart for her father.