Chicken for Linda! wins Cinekid Lion for Best Children's Film of 2023

Amsterdam, October 25, 2023 - Today Cinekid Festival presented the Cinekid Lions: 13 awards for the best films, series, game and app of 2023 for children. This year's award for Best Children's Film was presented to Linda wants chicken! by directors Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach. The feature film Kiddo won the Cinekid Lion for Best Dutch Children's Film and the opening film Jippie No More! was awarded the special Youth Jury Award. The winning films will be shown on Friday, October 27 at the main location in Amsterdam and at various Cinekid locations throughout the Netherlands.

The Cinekid Lion for Best Children's Film of 2023 went to the animated film Linda wants chicken! A quirky animated film about Linda and her mother, who find each other in a mad dash to buy chicken. The jury, which this year consisted of Arnaud Demuynck, Daniela Persico, Emma Tirand, found Linda wants chicken!: “A completely crazy, funny and exciting film. Its graphic daring, acting and anarchic tone make it a highly original film that will appeal to children and adults alike. It is modern and universal, full of love and good humor.”

This year, the youth jury, consisting of Atay, Hidaya, Kasper, Lennart & Liz, awarded Jippie No More! by director Margien Rogaar with the special Youth Jury Award. The film tells the story of 16-year-old Jaap Peter “Jippie” (Wesley van Klink) and his family, who are all challenged in love in their own way during the preparations for the eldest sister's wedding. Youth jury: “From the beginning we were impressed by the fantastic atmosphere of the film, which connects a serious story with a lot of humor.” Starting December 13, the film will be available in Dutch cinemas and movie theaters everywhere.

Kiddo won the award for Best Dutch Children's Film. Ursa Minor won the Amarte Best Dutch Short Animation Award and Magma won the Amarte Best Dutch Short Live-Action Award. In the international short film competitions, the film White Lie was chosen as Best International Short Live-Action and the Best International Short Animation Award was won by The Turnip.

This year's series awards went to Lampje by director Margien Rogaar and to the series Hoofdzaken (season 5), whose reunion episode, made especially for Cinekid, can be seen Friday at the festival in Amsterdam. Monobanda's game Voiceracers, a game controlled by a voice, won the Netwerk Mediawijsheid Game & App Award.

Best Children's Film Award
Film: Linda wil kip!
Directed by: Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach
Scenario: Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach
Production: Dolce Vita, Miyu Productions
Country: France, ITaly

Best Dutch Children's Film Award
Film: Kiddo
Directed by: Zara Dwinger
Scenario: Nena van Driel, Zara Dwinger
Production: Studio Ruba 
Country: Netherlands

Youth Jury Award
Film: Jippie No More!
Directed by: Margien Roogaar
Scenario: Fiona van Heemstra
Production: Juliet at Pupkin
Counry: Netherlands

Amarte Best Dutch Short Animation Award
Film: Ursa Minor 
Directed by: Sanne Brouwer 
Scenario: Sanne Brouwer 
Production: Sanne Brouwer 
Country: Netherlands

Amarte Best Dutch Short Live-Action Award
Film: Magma 
Directed by: Luca Meisters 
Scenario: Nena van Driel 
Production: IJswater Films 
Country: Netherlands

Best International Short Animation Award
Film: The Turnip 
Directed by: Piret Sigus en Silja Saarepuu 
Scenario: Piret Sigus en Silja Saarepuu 
Production: Animailm 
Country: Estonia

Best International Short Live Action Award 
Film: White Lie 
Directed by: Eyal Elisha 
Scenario: Eyal Elisha 
Production: Aviv Ben Shlush 
Country: Israël  

Best Dutch Fiction Serie Award 
Serie: Lampje 
Directed by: Margien Rogaar 
Scenario: Mieke de Jong
Production: Juliet at Pupkin 
Broadcaster: VPRO 
Country: Netherlands

Best Dutch Non-Fiction Serie Award 
Serie: Hoofdzaken Seizoen 5 
Directed by: Menno Otten 
Eindredactie: Juliëtte van Paridon  
Production: Kepler Film 
Broadcaster: VPRO 
Country: Netherlands

Network Mediawijsheid Game & App Award
Game: Voiceracers
Maker: Niki Smit
Production: Monobanda
Country: Netherlands

Eurimages Co-Production Development Award 
Film:  Nico Finds a Treasure
Directed by:  Konstantinos Frangopoulos
Scenario: Alexandra Dyranis Maounis
Production: Anemon
Country: Greece

Filmmore Post-Production Award 
Film:  Hanneke & Fiet
Directed by:  Mischa Kamp
Scenario:  Tamara Bos
Production:  NL Film & TV
Country:  Netherlands

PUBLIKUM Audience Awareness Award
Film/serie:  Big Bang Parade
Directed by:  Britt Raes, Hermien Verstraeten, Nienke Deutz, Imge Özbilge, Sine Özbilge, Karolien Raeymaekers, Martyna Koleniec
Scenario: Ilka De Bisschop
Production:  Lunanime BV
Country:  Belgium