Participate
Watching movies in the cinema is really fun. We sit comfortably in the cinema seat and immerse ourselves completely in the action on the screen. But how do the films get to the cinema? How does filmmaking actually work? Who are the people behind the stories, and what does it take to turn a story into a good film? But what exactly constitutes a “good” film? At Kikife, children and young people have the opportunity to find answers to these questions by participating in film productions themselves, evaluating films as a member of the children’s jury, or reporting on the festival as a reporter. They are supported by experienced filmmakers and educators.
Short film workshop
Being part of a film is a dream for many children and teenagers. This dream can come true at the annual International Children’s Film Festival in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Under the professional guidance of actress Heike Trinker, a short film will be made. Young acting talents and a crew for directing, camera work, lighting, and sound are being sought. The production will be presented at the festival’s grand gala on the closing Saturday at the Traumpalast cinema in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Screenwriting workshop
This year, we are again looking for children and young people aged approximately 13-15 who would like to write the script for the next KiKiFe short film.
Three things are needed for a good film:
- A good screenplay.
- A good screenplay.
- A good screenplay.
Billy Wilder, a famous screenwriter, said that many years ago.
But what exactly makes a good screenplay? How do you write one? And how does an idea become a story?
In the Kikife screenwriting workshop, we’ll develop an idea for a short film as a team, create characters, and write initial scenes. Based on this, we’ll then collaboratively write a screenplay in several online conferences, which will be filmed next year.
Under the professional guidance of Alexandre Powelz, this will be a hands-on workshop for anyone who enjoys writing, inventing stories, and bringing their ideas to life visually. You’ll be excused from school during the screenwriting workshop, allowing you to fully concentrate on the project.
Sounds exciting? Then join us and become part of our screenwriting team!
Workshop: Thur. 19.03.2026 until Sa. 21.03.2026 in the Eule Gmünder Wissenswerkstatt and subsequently in several Zoom meetings.
Alexandre Powelz
Alexandre Powelz works as a screenwriter for various series, including ZDF (“Die Bergretter”), RTL+ (“Mord im Revier”, 2025), and Amazon Prime (NN, 2025). His short films as screenwriter and director have been invited to international festivals. For his feature film debut, “Ohne Dich,” he received the EBU’s “European Script Award for the most innovative script” in 2018.
He is a member of QMS – Queer Media Society, which advocates for greater visibility of diversity in German films and series. He is also a jury member for the FFA film funding program and serves as a dramaturgy consultant for screenplays that receive funding. Since 2014, he has been leading the kikife screenwriting workshop.
Acting workshop
This year, we are again looking for children and teenagers aged approximately 13-15 who would like to act in the Kikife short film. The screenplay was written as part of the Kikife screenwriting workshop and is set in a school.
Your body and voice will be your guides and instruments on this journey!
Your senses will help you immerse yourself in new worlds and make them your own.
Are you ready to play, be silly, and embark on this adventure? What you need to bring: eyes, mouth, and ears, arms and legs, and the desire to use them all actively – and your dreams. Together, we’ll tell a story with lots of fun, where you can be anything you want – a math genius, a free spirit, or a teddy bear – anything is possible.
Under the professional guidance of Heike Trinker, there will be an acting workshop that will prepare you for your role as an actor in the new Kikife short film. Together with a fantastic team of professionals and young people, you’ll have the opportunity to express yourself in an exciting short film on the big screen. You’ll be excused from school during filming, allowing you to fully concentrate on the project.
The result is a high-quality film by, with, and for children and teenagers, which can then be admired in style on the big screen. During filming, you will be excused from school so you can fully concentrate on the project.
Sounds exciting? Then join us and become part of our acting team!
Heike Trinker
Heike Trinker, born in Nortorf, Schleswig-Holstein, initially studied theology for 11 semesters. She then trained as an actress at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, graduating with a diploma. She has worked at, among others, the state theaters in Hanover, Mainz, Saarbrücken, Bielefeld, Bremen, Konstanz, Essen, Bochum, and Düsseldorf. Heike Trinker has worked regularly in television since 2002, starting with various series in which she played leading roles. Since 2011, she has been a regular member of the cast of the series “Stubbe.” Her television career includes numerous appearances in almost all popular TV series, from “Tatort” (Kiel, Cologne, Münster, Stuttgart, Hanover) to “Pilcher.” With the feature film “Invasion,” she won the Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2012.
Tech Workshop
This year, we are again looking for children and teenagers aged approximately 13-15 who would like to create the Kikife short film. The screenplay for the film was developed during the Kikife screenwriting workshop and is set in a school.
Do you have an eye for detail and a desire to look behind the scenes of a film? In the Film Design team, you’ll be the creative force shaping the look and feel of our short film!
Here you design the image and the image composition, ensuring that every scene looks unique and is captured perfectly. Whether behind the camera, with lighting, set design, sound, or editing – you help decide how our film ultimately turns out.
Dominik Minet studied Communication Design (Bachelor of Arts) and Strategic Design (Master of Arts) at HTWG Konstanz and the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Design. Since 2019, he has worked at eule gmünder wissenswerkstatt as a project manager, lecturer, and designer. He has also worked as a designer, photographer, and videographer for many years.
Constantin Casper studied Interaction Design (Bachelor of Arts) at the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Design. In 2019, he founded the design and film agency “anaconda film”. Since 2023, he has been employed as a project manager and designer at the Technical Academy e. V.
The eule gmünder wissenswerkstatt is pleased to be conducting the short film workshop together with the kikife team and to inspire young people for the medium of film and the technology behind it.
Kids Jury
Going to the movies is fun, but it can also be a challenge: especially when it’s not just about personal taste, but about objectively evaluating a film’s quality in various categories such as concept, plot, cinematography, music, and acting. At the Kikife competition, children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 15 take on this challenge. Together with members of the professional and film critics’ jury, they watch all the competition films. After each screening, there’s an opportunity for discussion, but each jury makes its own decision on which film ultimately receives the “Ostalb District Savings Bank Prize.” The children’s jury is supported by a media educator and a film director.
Application
Film-loving children between the ages of 12 and 15 can apply to be part of the children’s jury. They’ll need stamina and the ability to sit still to evaluate the films throughout the festival. In your application, please briefly explain why you’d like to be on the jury and tell us a little about your favorite film. Include your name, address, email address (or your parents’ email address), phone number, and a photo.
The deadline for submissions is March 12, 2026.
You send the whole thing to the
Kulturbüro Schwäbisch Gmünd
Kikife-Juryteam
kulturbuero@schwaebisch-gmuend.de
Cartoon Workshop
At the children’s film festival, elementary school students from grade 3 and up have the opportunity to tell their own stories and animate self-invented characters in a workshop. The characters’ movements are performed by hand and repeatedly paused to take a picture. Together, the children will discover how to create animated films using different characters and materials. They will also learn how to best use iPads, cameras, and computers for this purpose.
Application
Registration for the animation workshop led by Alex Weller is done via the course offerings of the Hector Children’s Academy Schwäbisch Gmünd.
ASR Children’s Reporter
As part of a great cinema project at the Adalbert-Stifter-Realschule (ASR) Schwäbisch Gmünd, students of grade 7 accompany the children’s cinema festival every year. As befits real reporters, they are right there with the action throughout the entire festival. With the support of their teacher Agnes Rimkus – who also initiated the children’s reporters – the students watch and evaluate films, conduct interviews with filmmakers and jury members, and report on everything else that happens during the festival. The results will be published in a beautifully designed magazine after the festival.
