Cinekid selects 6 projects for the 6th edition of the Directors LAB
6 projects from 7 countries of production will participate in Cinekid’s annual Directors LAB. The week-long programme takes place annually in April in Amsterdam with hands-on training for directors with a children’s project heading towards production.
Now a well-established training for directors in the children’s film sector, the Directors LAB provides participants with vital, specialised training in filmmaking for young audiences. With a special focus on casting and working with child actors under the personalised guidance of a directing coach, the LAB has proven an essential programme for directors of children’s content.
Interest in Cinekid Directors LAB increased considerably this year, with a 60% increase in applications compared to 2025. The LAB continues to support directors towards realisation and festival recognition; the latest success story is Everyone’s Sorry Nowadays, directed by Frederike Migom, which will premiere in Generation next month (Directors LAB 2024).
The Netherlands is well represented this year with two projects selected, including the new feature from Steven Wouterlood (director of My Extraordinary Summer with Tess, world premiere Generation Kplus 2019) The boy who loves the world, adapted from the contemporary classic by Tjibbe Veldkamp, and the debut film of Elisabeth Hesemans, Sammy, a musical experience for the younger viewers, which was developed in Cinekid Script LAB 2024-25.
Polish director Krysztof Komander will bring the sophomore instalment of his Pixie universe after the success of Pixie: The New Beginning (world premiere Locarno Kids 2025) to the LAB: Pixie. The Brotherhood of Moss, produced by Green Rat Production. Karin Heberlein is selected with the Swiss-German co-production Nella and the Wacky House on Magnus Street, her second feature.
Cinekid continues to support projects that have participated in other Cinekid for Professionals programmes: Ernestas Jankauskas will participate with the quirky adventure The Queen of England Stole My Parents (produced by Dansu Films), which will finish its trajectory in the Script LAB at the Berlinale next month. Lastly, Carlos E. Lesmes will participate with martial-arts infused drama Rise of the Water Fox (produced by Stellar Film), having pitched the project in development at the Junior Co-Production Market in 2024.
About Cinekid Directors LAB
During Cinekid Directors LAB, an international group of acclaimed and upcoming filmmakers will focus on the final steps needed prior to pre-production, coupled with the specific skills required for working with children. Above all, the programme offers hands-on tailor-made coaching. More information about Lab activities can be found on our website.
The workshop is co-funded by the Creative Europe MEDIA programme and is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund.
Full list of participating projects and directors:
The boy who loves the world (feature / live action / 9+)
Participating director: Steven Wouterlood
Written by: Mieke de Jong
Produced by: Joram Willink and Maaike Neve (BIND, The Netherlands)
Nella and the Wacky House on Magnus Street (feature / live action / 7+)
Participating director: Karin Heberlein
Written by: Julia Tal
Produced by: Katrin Renz and Flora Grolitsch (tellfilm, Switzerland)
Co-produced by: Leitwolf Filmproduktion (Germany)
Pixie. The Brotherhood of Moss. (feature / live action / 9+)
Participating director: Krysztof Komander
Written by: Krysztof Komander
Produced by: Dagmara Piasecka (Green Rat Production, Poland)
Co-produced by: Viktor Tauš (Heaven's Gate, Czech Republic) and Michal Sikora (Lonely Production, Czech Republic)
The Queen of England Stole My Parents (feature / live action / 9+)
Participating director: Ernestas Jankauskas
Written by: Gabija Siurbytė and Aleksandra Chmielewska
Produced by: Gabija Siurbytė and Viktorija Rimkutė (Dansu Films, Lithuania)
Rise of the Water Fox (feature / live action / 9+)
Participating director: Carlos E. Lesmes
Written by: Elisabeth Kužovnik, Carlos E. Lesmes
Produced by: Johanna Maria Tamm (Stellar Film, Estonia)
Sammy (feature / live action / 4+)
Participating director: Elisabeth Hesemans
Written by: Caya de Groot
Produced by: Derk-Jan Warrink and Koji Nelissen (Keplerfilm, The Netherlands)
The still shown above is from the film Splish Splash Forever!, which was part of Cinekid Directors LAB 2025 and was presented in the works-in-progress section of the 2025 Junior Co-Production Market © Catpics 2026