Young Horizons Industry announced the projects selected to be pitched at the international co-production forum focused on films and series aimed at kids and youth (29 September – 1 October 2025, Warsaw, Poland). The event is an industry part of the Young Horizons International Film Festival.

Shortlisted from a record number of 111 submissions from 56 countries, 20 projects have been selected for the In-Development, and 4 for the Work-in-Progress pitching sections.

The official selection was recommended by the selection committee: Selma Munksgaard Hansen, director and producer, Angel Films, Denmark; Julietta Sichel, CEO, 8Heads Productions, Czech Republic; Maja Fišter, Head of Kids and Youth Department, HRT, Croatia; Jakub Karwowski, CEO, Letko, Poland; and Gennarino Romano, International Sales, Head of Acquisitions, Dandelooo, France.

All the projects will have a chance to win the awards presented by Wroclaw Feature Film Studio (€10.000 for the in-kind award), FIXAFILM (€7.000 for the in-kind award for post-production and VFX services at FIXAFILM), Animond (joining the Animond portfolio – opportunity to secure the gap financing through the Animond platform), No Problemo Music (a free music licence for songs from the Audio Network’s library for their production and its promotional materials without restrictions on time, territory, or fields of use), m:brane (direct access to the official selection at m:brane), and CEE Animation Forum (direct access to the Market at the CEE Animation Forum).

The final selection represents 16 countries (including co-production countries). This year, the projects come from CEE countries: Poland (5), Estonia (3), Czech Republic (2), Croatia (1), Hungary (1), Latvia (1); followed by Germany (4), Denmark (2), France (2), United Kingdom (2), with Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Spain, and Sweden presenting 1 project each.

13 selected films include 7 live-action and 6 animated projects.

11 selected series include 5 animated projects, 5 live-action projects, and 1 live-action with animated elements project.

Like in the previous edition, the majority of projects are aimed at children between 7 and 12 yo (46%), followed by young adults (37%), preschoolers (21%), and teens (12%) (some projects are aimed at two groups, e.g. teens and young adults).

The wide genre range of the selected projects includes comedy, fantasy, crime, drama, and adventure.

The themes are also versatile: from dialogue-free animated series (Cloudy & Stormy), stories about saving Christmas (Onno & Ontje – Friends Are the Best Gift) and a magic of dance for preschoolers (Megi Zigi Dance); through projects based on popular IPs (Socks), family films showing us that sometimes weaknesses are our biggest strength (Summer in the Gardens, Aliens FC), and stories that help us fight the fear of nightmares (Valentino the Dream Sheep) or teach us how to live in peace with technology (Drone City), as well as covering the difficult topic of child poverty, combining historical approach with adventure twist and crime (School of Thieves); to deep-seated stories about searching for inner balance and acceptance (Rise of the Water Fox) or struggling with mental health issues (Headrush).

Importantly, the topic of mental health challenges among kids and teens has a strong representation in the selection, with stories focused on hypersensitivity, social anxiety, mental balance (A Hundred Days at Home, Ela’s Top-Secret Diary 2), and sense of loneliness (Princess Eats Lion), combined with the themes of first love and puberty (In Between), inclusivity and tolerance (The Babirusa, Children of the Wind Mother, Drone City), and self-discovery (Higher Pitch, Ann Was Here, Dirt In Your Face), as well as the subject of homeownership (25%). It seems that the rise in the interest in mental health comes from the broader discussion about the wellbeing of young people nowadays.

But of course, the selection wouldn’t be complete without stories about the power of friendship (A Hundred Days at Home, In Between) and feel-good adventure movies suitable for family co-viewing on weekends at the cinema, on TV, or a streaming platform (Superception, Aliens FC, Socks, Like! (A.K.A. A Smartphone Story)).

The returning production companies that will present new projects in Warsaw include Animoon (Megi Zigi Dance), Blaue Pampelmuse (Onno & Ontje – Friends Are the Best Gift), Czech Television (Ela’s Top-Secret Diary 2), Bulletproof Cupid (School of Thieves), Sparre Production (In Between), and Laniakea Pictures with the project Cloudy & Stormy, presented last year within the Project Pool section.