The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to showcase movies about children, highlighting the beauty and struggles of childhood.
This year’s lineup features five exceptional films from across the globe- Kosovo, South Korea, Egypt and India, each revealing a different truth of childhood - the search for belonging, the fight for dignity, the need for love, and the dream of freedom. Woven together, they form a poignant cinematic tapestry that embodies the shared spirit of UNICEF and IFFI, a belief in the power of storytelling to open hearts and shape a more just, compassionate world for every child.
1. Happy Birthday (Egypt)
Egyptian filmmaker Sarah Goher’s poignant debut 'Happy Birthday' tells the story of Toha, an eight-year-old maid determined to throw her best friend Nelly a perfect birthday party even if the world around her is anything but fair. Set in modern Cairo, the film exposes the sharp divides of privilege and innocence, revealing how children often see humanity more clearly than the adults around them.
2. The Beetle Project (Korea)
Filmmaker Jin Kwang-kyo’s heartwarming film opens with a plastic bag containing a beetle from North Korea finding its way into the hands of a South Korean girl. The beetle sparks curiosity and connection between children on either side of the Korean border. It becomes a symbol of shared wonder that transcends division. The film celebrates curiosity, empathy, and the innocent hope that bridges even the widest distances.
'Odyssey of Joy' captures the spirit of resilience that defines childhood amid conflict. (Photo courtesy: Plan Bee Films/Facebook)
3. The Odyssey of Joy (France, Kosovo)
Filmmaker Zgjim Terziqi’s deeply moving coming-of-age debut feature unfolds at the dawn of the new millennium, where 11-year-old Lis, whose father is missing in the war, finds himself adrift between grief and growing up. When he joins a French clown troupe traveling through postwar Kosovo to entertain local children, Lis begins a quiet journey toward healing, discovering that hope, once lost, can still be reclaimed.
4. Putul (India)
Radheshyam Pipalwa’s 'Putul' follows a seven-year-old girl caught in the emotional storm of her parents’ divorce. Hurt and confused, she seeks solace in her friends, a group called the “Damaged Gang,” and her beloved Nana. When she disappears, her parents are forced to confront not just their fears but the fractures within their own hearts.
5. Kadal Kanni (India)
Tamil filmmaker Dinesh Selvaraj’s lyrical feature paints a world where orphaned children dream of angels and mermaids, symbols of care, comfort, and belonging. Through a blend of realism and fantasy, the film celebrates the imagination that sustains children even in hardship, reminding us that dreams are often their first form of survival.
