Every day is magical if your playground is the circus.“ ”
BUSINESS DOC EUROPE
"A delightful feel-good movie"
"Strikes a delicate balance between reality and enchantment."
"Colourful, simple and touching animations."
"Mature and balanced film for the whole family."
CINEUROPA
“It’s heart-warming narrative and exceptional use of animation.”
THE SPOT
“With its honest perspective, CIRCUSBOY touches hearts while weaving together elements of road movie, fairy tale, and intimate family portrait.”
“Simply magical.”
TAGESSCHAU
“Warm-hearted film that resonates meaningfully with viewers of all ages, not just children.”
CINERAMAFILM
“This delicate, colourful, and heartfelt exploration of circus life is a masterclass in children’s documentary-making.”
Synopsis
Eleven-year-old Santino is a child of the circus. He loves to spend time with his eighty-year-old great-grandfather, one of Europe‘s last great circus directors, who has become his best friend. Together, they share heartwarming stories: Stories of friendship with an elephant, of farewells, of new beginnings and life on the road. CIRCUSBOY chronicles the lives of these modern nomads, capturing a young boy‘s experience growing up among an extended family and animals - a life without a safety net, as free as a bird.
Film gallery
Details
Director: Julia Lemke, Anna Koch
Genre: Children, Family, Documentary/Animation
Original title: Zirkuskind
English title: Circusboy
Country of production: Germany
Year of production: 2025
Length: 86 min. / 4x23 min.
Color: Color
Shooting format: 2K
Screening format: DCP 2K, 1:1,85
Original language: German
Subtitles: English
Cast: Santino Frank, Ehe Frank, Giordano Frank, Markus Frank, Angie Frank, Gitano Frank
Director of photography: Julia Lemke
Editor: Jamin Benazzouz, BFS
Sound design: Jan Pasemann
Sound: Mike Glöckner, Simon Peter, Joscha Eickel, Moritz Springer, Leo Aderhold
Sound mixing: Oliver Achatz
Music: Nils Kacirek & Jörg Hochapfel
Producers: Katharina Bergfeld, Martin Heisler
Production company: Flare Film
Co-production company: HR, SWR, MDR
Supported by: BKM, Hessen Film und Medien, Deutscher Filmförderfonds
Film poster
Festivals / Awards
Berlinale - Generation Kplus, Germany - WORLD PREMIERE - Special Mention of Children´s Jury
Lichter FF, Germany
Hot Docs, Canada
German FF, Australia
Filmkunstfest MV, Germany
Kristiansand International Children's FF, Norway
Zlín FF, Czech Republic - ECFA Doc Award for Best European Feature Documentary for Young Audience
Little Big Films, Germany
Goldener Spatz, Germany
Europe On Screen, Indonesia
Kinofest Lünen, Germany
Sarajevo Youth FF, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Busan international kids & youth FF, South Korea
Hsinchu Children Film Festival, Taiwan
Four Elements Film Festival, Slovakia
Heimat Europa FilmFestspiele, Germany
Festival des deutschen Films Ludwigshafen, Germany
TIFF Junior, Norway
Fünf seen filmfestival, Germany
Young4Film - Cinehill Film Festival, Croatia
Zürich Film Festival, Switzerland
Lucas - Filmfestival, Germany
Filmfest Hamburg, Germany
Young Horizons International Film Festival, Poland
Schlingel FF, Germany
Kinderfilmtage im Ruhrgebiet - Essen, Germany
Cinepänz Köln, Germany
Kinder & Jugendkino Bremen, Germany
Cinéma Allemand Paris Film Festival, Germany
Riga International Film Festival, Latvia
Astra Film Festival, Romania
Kinolino Dresden, Germany
Filem'on IFF, Belgium
Verzió International Human Rights Documentary FF, Hungary
Augenblick Film Festival, France
Piccolo Grande Cinema FF, Italy
Gijon IFF, Spain
Dokfest Kassel, Germany
GaztefilmFest, Spain
Related
Special Mention for CIRCUSBOY at GENERATION Kplus
CIRCUSBOY receives a Special Mention from the Generation Kplus Children’s Jury at Berlinale 2025!
25.02.2025
CIRCUSBOY Premieres at Berlinale
We are proud to announce CIRCUSBOY, the latest documentary by Anna Koch and Julia Lemke, premiering in the Generation Kplus section at Berlinale 2025. This heartwarming film follows the story of…
31.01.2025
Pluto Film @ EFM 2025
Pluto Film team is attending Berlinale & EFM! You can find us at Booth Number 113 in Martin-Gropius-Bau from 13 February to 19 February. We would love to set up a meeting during the EFM:…
16.01.2025
