From 11 to 26 October the annual Cinekid Festival will take place: a media and film festival made especially for children. At more than 40 locations across the Netherlands, young visitors can explore the latest films, media installations, workshops, and interactive artworks. Cinekid offers kids a playful yet thoughtful introduction to the world of media and technology. Waag Futurelab will be part of the MediaLab in Amsterdam with Blik op je toekomst (A look at your future): a hands-on activity that invites children to reflect on themselves, their digital lives, and the future.
Please note: while the festival runs from 11 to 26 October, the MediaLab is open from 18 to 24 October.
Create your own time capsule
At the Waag stand, you can create a time capsule, for yourself or for someone to find 10 years from now. Who are you today? What matters most to you? What do you enjoy? Which websites or apps do you use? What are your favourite games, memes, or emojis? What do you think life will be like in 10 years? And what message or information would you want to share with the future?
This time capsule acts as a kind of “data archive” for the future, filled with personal details like your thoughts, a passport photo, maybe even a bit of your DNA. Who would you trust with this information? Would you prefer to manage it yourself? Would you be willing to store it online?
Using a special template, you'll answer a few questions that help you think about privacy, security, and how we use technology now and in the future. Once you're done, you'll seal your answers inside a tin, label it with your name and the date, and decorate it using drawing and craft materials - ready to be stored and opened again in 10 years.
MediaLab
The MediaLab is an interactive part of the Cinekid Festival where children get to explore new technologies like AI, VR, and AR. They can take part in workshops, try out the latest games, and even create their own digital artworks. A special low-stimulus morning will be held on Wednesday 22 October for visitors who prefer a quieter environment, with fewer people around. For more details about the MediaLab programme, visit the MediaLab page on the Cinekid Festival website.
