Since a tragic incident in her family, thirteen-year-old Sasha has only been able to feel joy when watching comedy shows. Soon she decides that she not only wants to become a comedian herself but be a comedy queen and make others laugh with her. However, her path to achieve her goal proves to be full of trials and revelations.

Healing through laughter – that’s how director Sanna Lenken, whose latest film for children and teenagers won the Crystal Bear in the Generation Kplus competition at the Berlin Film Festival, sums up her work. The film is based on Jenny Jägerfeld’s novel Comedy Queen, which has also been translated into Latvian.

Jury statement: The strong female protagonist perfectly balances her sense of humour with responsibility. In this original story, the masterful directing treats all characters with love. This film offers a powerful message about resilience and finding yourself. The ECFA Award for Best Children’s Film goes to Comedy Queen by Sanna Lenken.