NOVEMBER 2026 | SPACEBOY
Content available from November 6th until November 12th | Available only via invitation
Awards
• 2021 Winner, Jury Award Best Film at Busan Intl Kids and Youth Film Festival
• 2021 Winner, Award of the Junior Jury at Intl Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL 2021
• 2021 Winner, Children’s Jury, Best Film at Riga Intl Film Festival (RIGA IFF)
Synopsis
EN
At only 11 years old, Jim is a gifted boy passionate about space and science. Arriving in a new town with his dad, Jim has to participate in a young scientist competition with his new classmate Emma, a sensitive and discreet girl. Despite her reluctance, Jim convinces her to imitate Kittinger’s ‘Excelsior’ project (the first man to reach the frontier of space in 1960) and to build a real air balloon secretly. This calling comes from his father, Graham, an astrophysicist who was meant to carry out a space mission very soon. Since Jim’s mother died, this project is very important to him. But when he discovers Graham has given up without telling him, his world falls apart. The competition turns into an obsession, and Jim wants to prove, unlike his father, that he won’t give up. Jim pushes Emma to her limits and drags her into an adventure that is going to bring them closer.
*Please note: the film includes references to grief (loss of a parent) and emotional distress, as well as scenes involving risk-taking and unsafe behavior (including a homemade balloon experiment and moments of peril, including risk of drowning). It also contains mild language and brief depictions of conflict (arguments, pushing between children), bullying/pranks, and property damage (vandalism/sabotage).
Presented with the support of Wallonie-Bruxelles International
Director
Olivier Pairoux
Director
Belgium
Age Recommendation
Age 12 & up
Themes
Science, Astrophysics Space, Sciences, Joseph Kittinger, Father-son relationship, Illness, Grief, Perseverance
Rating System
N/A Rating System
Language
French with English or French subtitles