Leaders

Student Council elections temporarily dominate life at a primary school in Warsaw. Children there get to announce their candidacy and come up with campaigns to promote themselves. The film follows Marcel, Helena, Kais and Filip at school and at home during this exciting campaign. They all have their reasons for participating: one just wants to win, while the other feels it's important to be properly informed. We watch as they present their electoral viewpoints, with family members getting involved and giving them advice at home, and then as the candidates’ chances become obvious during recess. Marcel isn’t very popular at school, and unfortunately his candidacy doesn’t do much to change that. For others, the opposite is true – much to the frustration of the other candidates (giving candy to your friends must count as bribery, right?). At debates in the run-up to the election, classmates ask critical questions. How can you promise there will be ice cream in the cafeteria if the principal has already said it will never happen? Unlikely! So, what will turn out to be the quickest way to the top? To present a strong platform, to be skilled at debate, or simply to be popular? (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)