CIRCUSBOY

A documentary by Anna Koch & Julia Lemke

A Flare Film production in coproduction with HR, MDR, SWR.

Funded through the initiative “Outstanding Films for Children” by Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Stiftung Kuratorium junger deutscher Film, Deutscher Filmförderfonds, Hessen Film & Medien, Hessischer Rundfunk, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, Südwestrundfunk.

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: tales of a friendship with an elephant, of farewells, 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. This documentary road movie for children and families portrays circus life in all its reality and magic.

TEAM

• Writer-Directors: Anna Koch & Julia Lemke (Badabum Duo)

• Cinematography: Julia Lemke

• Set Sound: Maik Glöckner

• Animation: Magda Kreps, Lea Majeran

• Production assistant: Ariane Doehring

• Production coordinator: Jules Richter, Moana Lellek

• Line producer: Martina Hedwig

• producer: Katharina Bergfeld

• Commissioning editors: Tanja Nahdig (HR), Nicole Schneider (MDR), Claudia Schwab (SWR)

FESTIVALS

• 75. Berlinale 2025 - Generation K+, Special Mention, Germany 2025 (Worldpremiere)

• Lichter Filmfest Frankfurt, Regionaler Wettbewerb, Germany 2025

• Hot Docs, World Showcase, Germany 2025

• German Film Festival 2025, Kino for Kids school programme, Australia 2025

• Filmkunstfest MV, Kinder- und Jugendfilm, Germany 2025

• Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival, Norway 2025

• Zlín Film Festival, Competition of Eurpean Feature Documentaries of Young Audience, Prague/Czech Republic 2025

• Little Big Films, Germany 2025

• Goldener Spatz, Germany 2025

• Europe on Screen, Indonesia 2025

• Kinofest Lünen, Kinder & Jugendfilmwettbewerb "Rakete", Germany 2025

• Sarajevo Youth Film Festival, Bosnia/ Herzegovina 2025

• Festival des deutschen Films Ludwigshafen, Germany 2025

• Lucas - Filmfestival, Germany 2025

• Filmfest Hamburg, Germany 2025

• Zürich Film Festival, Switzerland 2025

• Young Horizons International Film Festival, Documentary Competition, Poland 2025

• Schlingel FF, Germany 2025

• Filem'on IFF, ECFA DOC and KIDS Competition, Belgien 2025