TALES FROM THE MAGIC GARDEN
Directed by David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, and Jean-Claude Rozec
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, France | 71 min | 2025 | Czech
Three kids spend the night at their grandpa’s house. To fill the silence after losing their grandma, the family’s storyteller, they begin to create their own stories and discover the power of imagination. This uplifting stop-motion film celebrates creativity and its healing magic.
Credits
Directors: David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, and Jean-Claude Roze.
Produced by: Maurfilm, Artichoke, ZVVIKS, and Vivement Lundi !
Co-produced by: Czech Television, Slovak Television and Radio, RTV Slovenia, Pictanovo.
With the support of: Région Hauts-de-France, studio Personne n’est parfait!, Creative Europe MEDIA, Eurimages, Czech Film Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Slovenian Film Centre, Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, Film Studio Viba Film Ljubljana, Région Bretagne / Bretagne Cinéma, Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée, TVR Tempo – Rennes Métropole, Gebeka Films, Tébéo, TébéSud, France Télévisions – France 3 Bretagne and NuFrame.
2025 – EFA NOMINATION 2026 – Animated Feature Film Selection
Festivals:
2025 – World Premiere – Berlin International Film Festival, Generation Kplus
2025 – Annecy Competition
2025 – Hong Kong IFF – Asian premiere
2025 – Seattle International Film Festival | Films4Families
2025 – Zlín Film Festival
2025 – World Festival of Animated Film Animafest Zagreb
2025 – Shanghai International Film Festival
2025 – Karlovy Vary – Horizons section
2025 – Bucheon Int’l Fantastic Film Festival – Odd Family section
2025 – Giffoni Film Festival – Elements +6
2025 – Fantoche
2025 – Ottawa International Animation Festival
2025 – MFF Mlode Horyzonty
2025 – Seminci Valladolid, Minimci
2025 – Cork IFF
Awards:
2025 – Jury Special Mention – Film for Children 6–9 Years / MFF Juniorfest
2025 – Vesna Award for Best Animated Film and Best Screenplay / Festival of Slovenian Film
2025 – MAJA Award / MICHEL Hamburg IFF, Germany
2025 – Golden Kingfisher (Zlatý ledňáček) Award for Best Feature Film / Finále Plzeň Film Festival
2025 – ECFA Special Award – Best European Film for Children 2025 / Giffoni Film Festival
2025 – Audience Award for Non-Arab Film / Amman International Film Festival
press quotes
it’s a beautiful work through which kids can learn about loss, sadness, hope, love, compassion, empathy, friendship and creativity in the gentlest of ways.
The stunning worldbuilding makes these imaginary settings truly magical; art designers Patricia Ortiz Martinez and Jean-Claude Rozec use different styles of animation to make each story feel different, but all of them come alive with bright colours, impressive use of lighting, and immense attention to detail.
A delightful bouquet of children’s tales, told in stop-motion animation, gently broaches the theme of accepting death and loss in ‘Tales from the Magic Garden’, adapted from the stories of beloved Czech playwright Arnost Goldflam.
