The International Film Festival Rotterdam (26 Jan- 6 Feb 2011) has come up with a youthful initiative to mark its fortieth birthday: ‘Not Kidding’, an XL festival location for children, young people, parents and everyone who appreciates a playful approach to film and visual culture.

Children, parents and all other interested parties can step into an   environment that is all about film: from casting sessions and animation workshops to ‘cosplay’ parties and slapstick comedy pie-throwing situations. The programme reconnects us with cinema’s origins and childhood years; after all, cinema has its roots in magic, vaudeville and the circus.

Both the daytime and evening programmes of Not Kidding are open to all festival visitors, with new activities on the agenda every day. Not Kidding will transform YourSpace into an extravagantly spacious living room, a classroom with animated projections on digital smart boards, a theatre, a dance hall, or a film set from the silent era. Not Kidding is curated by festival programmer Edwin Carels.

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