116 Films to See Before You’re 16

Non-Fiction

The book to help you find the right film at the right time. The definitive guide to indispensable films for youngsters and their families!

What does growing up mean? Is it crossing the threshold that separates us from childhood and allows us to say we are no longer children? There is no specific moment, but a collection of experiences and opportunities that accompany us through this delicate and exciting transition. Growing up means going to school, and perhaps meeting a great life teacher, following your dreams but also facing countless problems: illness, war, death. It means exploring love and discovering that our imagination never leaves us, we just have to keep nurturing it.
For each of these moments, there is at least one film ready to lend a hand and tell its story, help us reflect and somehow build our own story.
From Harry Potter to Moonrise Kingdom, via Elephant or Pan’s Labyrinth. 116 films skilfully told, accompanied by iconic illustrations, enriched with countless fun facts and contributions by actors and directors.

  • There are no other cinema guides/manuals of this kind, specifically for kids and educators.
  • It strikes a perfect balance between blockbusters, mainstream films, Indi gems, high- and pop-culture films.
  • Beautiful original illustrations by Alessandro Ventrella.
  • Opinions and anecdotes from film-makers interviewed for the occasion.
  • Divided by themes, age groups, hashtags, to help find the right film
Publisher: Mondadori
Target: 10+
Year: 2021
Author
Manlio Castagna

Screenwriter, director, author, and film critic, he spent over 20 years as part of the artistic direction of the Giffoni Film Festival.
He made his debut in children's fiction in 2018 with the bestselling Petrademone trilogy (Mondadori), translated into several languages. Since then, he has explored a wide range of genres: from the historical fantasy of La notte delle malombre and Di fuoco e seta (both longlisted for the Strega Ragazzi Award and finalists in various literary prizes), to the horror of Goodwill and Nessuno verrà a prenderti, to nonfiction with the cinema guide 116 Movies to See Before You’re 16, and the genre-bending novel Dedalo & Dharma, all the way to social noir with Barriera (all published by the Mondadori Group).
The Reincarnation of the Klun Sisters and Try Not to Sleep are his adult fiction titles.
In 2022, he made his directorial and screenwriting debut in cinema with Il viaggio degli eroi, produced by Rai Cinema and awarded with record-breaking viewership on Rai1.

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Author
Alessandro Ventrella

Alessandro Ventrella (born in Castellaneta in 1996) is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Milan. He has created covers and illustrated books for numerous Italian publishers. His art is primarily inspired by music and cinema.    

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