Generation Alpha’s Influence: Children’s Content as a Keystone for the Future

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by industry analyst Johanna Koljonen, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.

This episode targets the crucial role of children's films in tackling industry challenges and captivating the Generation Alpha. With fresh insights from the NoJSe report unveiled at Berlinale 2024, join media analyst Johanna Koljonen, Buster Film Festival's Head of Program Mariella Harpelunde Jensen, and acclaimed producer and director Linda Hambäck as they dissect the evolving landscape of children's cinema.

Mariella Harpelunde Jensen is an autodidact director, scriptwriter, and author from Denmark. She has directed and scripted several TV-series, documentaries, and short films. Mariella is especially known for her work on Nordic TV series and programs for children, including series and films for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation’s channels Ramasjang and Ultra. She has created TV-shows as ‘Barda’, ‘Dansk hulebyg’, and ‘Isas stepz’. Mariella has also written the children’s book: ‘Hulebyggerne’. Today, she works as the head of program at the Danish children’s film festival ‘Buster’.

Director/producer Linda Hambäck, born 1974, has been active in the film industry since the late nineties. She is trained at the National Dramatic School of Arts as producer and graduated from EAVE in 2002. In 2011 Hambäck started her own business, LEE Film, who works mainly with animated films for children and her first highly recognized feature Gordon & Paddy had its worldpremiere in competition, Berlinale Generation 2018. Her second feature The Ape Star had its international premiere at Annecy international Animation Filmfestival in 2021 and got nominated for Best Animated Feature at European Film Awards in 2021. Previous films have been Bajsfilmen (2016), Tänk om... (2014) as she co-directed with Marika Heidebäck. But she has also directed a short documentary, Fighting Spirit (2013). Before her directing debut she had a long background with producing highly acclaimed shorts. During the Swedish National Guldbagge Awards ceremony in 2019, Linda received the prestigious GULLSPIRA Award for outstanding achievements in childrens’ film.

The host Johanna Koljonen is a media analyst, broadcaster, and experience designer based in Sweden. She is co-founder of boutique consulting firm Participation Design Agency, and the author of the Göteborg Film Festival’s annual Nostradamus Report. This podcast episode has been developed in collaboration with the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market is the first international film market of the year, where the film industry starts its business. Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast puts a spotlight on highly topical and trendsetting industry issues, thereby creating a compass for the forthcoming film year. The year-round podcast is produced in cooperation with Goethe-Institut and co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA. This episode is developed in collaboration with the Göteborg Film Festival's Nostradamus initiative.