Scandinavian children's films have always been well represented at Berlin International Film Festival's Kinderfilmfest, and next year's first edition under it's new headmaster, Thomas Hailer, will be no exception

The 2003 edition will see the international premieres of four new children's films -all of which are feature debuts. Henrik Ruben Genz' Danish Someone Like Hodder (En som Hodder), Pia Bovin's Danish Wallah Be (Kald mig bare Aksel), Klaus Härö's Swedish-Finnish Elina (aka As if I Wasn't There) and Arto Koskinen's Finnish-Swedish The Handcuff King (Kahlekuningas).

Someone Like Hodder (pictured) is based on a popular book by Bjarne Reuter, and deals with the third grader Hodder, who is asked by a fairy to save the world.

Wallah Be is the s story of a 10-year-old boy, who wants to become a Muslim in order to hang out with the cool boys in the neighbourhood. Both Danish films were written by Bo hr. Hansen. Wallah Be was released domestically in September and Someone Like Hodder will have it's local premiere on Jan 31, 2003.

Finnish-born Klaus Härö's Elina follows a nine-year-old girl belonging to the Finnish minority of Norbotten in Northern Sweden in the early 50s. At school the strict mistress demands all Finnish pupils speak only Swedish in order to learn the language properly, but Elina refuses. It will be released in Sweden on Jan 31, 2003.

The Handcuff King, which was written and directed by newcomer Arto Koskinen, is set in the 70s on the northern border of Finland and Sweden, where a 12-year-old Finnish boy finds a friend across the border, and attempts to redo Harry Houdini's most famous stunt.

Someone Like Hodder, Elina and The Handcuff King are all sold by Nordisk Film International Sales, and Wallah Be by Trust Film Sales.