To the Moon and Back / Wolkenzusje (NL)
a film by Sara Kolster
Synopsis
A tender portrait of Kess, who’s about to start high school but isn’t sure how much to tell her new classmates about her sister Bo, who died when Kess was almost five.
It’s summertime, and Kess is enjoying her vacation with friends at the outdoor swimming pool. She has just said farewell to elementary school and is getting ready to start high school. Her older sister Bo died when Kess was nearly five years old, and she’s been living in a houseful of memories ever since. She keeps Bo’s things close to her, and hopes that the
two of them will stay connected somehow. But she’s scared that her memories of Bo will fade with time.
To the Moon and Back is a touching short film about grief and identity. While Kess shares her thoughts and talks about Bo, animated sequences reflect her imagination. As Kess doesn’t want her new classmates to pity her, she wonders how much she wants to share with them, hoping to be seen as independent from her sister, and being able to create her own story.
It’s summertime, and Kess is enjoying her vacation with friends at the outdoor swimming pool. She has just said farewell to elementary school and is getting ready to start high school. Her older sister Bo died when Kess was nearly five years old, and she’s been living in a houseful of memories ever since. She keeps Bo’s things close to her, and hopes that the
two of them will stay connected somehow. But she’s scared that her memories of Bo will fade with time.
To the Moon and Back is a touching short film about grief and identity. While Kess shares her thoughts and talks about Bo, animated sequences reflect her imagination. As Kess doesn’t want her new classmates to pity her, she wonders how much she wants to share with them, hoping to be seen as independent from her sister, and being able to create her own story.
Screenings and media
Premiered with Kids & Docs at Cinekid Festival on October 19th 2019.
Selected for IDFA Competition for Kids & Docs 2019.
Selected for NFF 2020, in competition Best Short Documentary.
Selected for Kids Kino International Film Festival 2020, Poland.
Selected for Duisburger Filmwoche (Doxs!) 2020, Germany. Nominated for GROSSE KLAPPE Award.
Selected for Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People 2020, Greece.
Selected for J.E.F. Festival 2020, Belgium.
Selected for IDFA Competition for Kids & Docs 2019.
Selected for NFF 2020, in competition Best Short Documentary.
Selected for Kids Kino International Film Festival 2020, Poland.
Selected for Duisburger Filmwoche (Doxs!) 2020, Germany. Nominated for GROSSE KLAPPE Award.
Selected for Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People 2020, Greece.
Selected for J.E.F. Festival 2020, Belgium.
presskit
Presskit 
in the media
Interview with director Sara Kolster for HUMAN
Kess and director Sara Kolster at Jeugdjournaal
Review Wolkenzusje at 2Doc Weekly
Kess and director Sara Kolster at Jeugdjournaal
Review Wolkenzusje at 2Doc Weekly
Additional information
In coproduction with Human.
With financial support of NPO Fund and Stichting Stimuleringsfonds Rouw.
To the Moon and Back was developed within the framework of Kids & Docs.
With financial support of NPO Fund and Stichting Stimuleringsfonds Rouw.
To the Moon and Back was developed within the framework of Kids & Docs.
Credits
SCRIPT & DIRECTING Sara Kolster
EDITING Riekje Ziengs
ANIMATION Tonke Koppelaar, Sara Kolster
CAMERA Rogier Timmermans
HIGH SPEED CAMERA Benjamin Sparschuh
SOUND Anneloes Pabbruwee, Erik Leek
MUSIC Roald van Oosten
SOUND DESIGN Mark Glynne
COLOURGRADING Michiel Rummens
MASTERING Jan Jaap Kuiper
PRODUCTION Anouk Houtman
PRODUCER HUMAN Willemien van Aalst, Bert Janssens
PRODUCER BASALT FILM Simone van den Broek, Eline van Wees
EDITING Riekje Ziengs
ANIMATION Tonke Koppelaar, Sara Kolster
CAMERA Rogier Timmermans
HIGH SPEED CAMERA Benjamin Sparschuh
SOUND Anneloes Pabbruwee, Erik Leek
MUSIC Roald van Oosten
SOUND DESIGN Mark Glynne
COLOURGRADING Michiel Rummens
MASTERING Jan Jaap Kuiper
PRODUCTION Anouk Houtman
PRODUCER HUMAN Willemien van Aalst, Bert Janssens
PRODUCER BASALT FILM Simone van den Broek, Eline van Wees
