Parents with children ages 3–12 won’t want to miss Belmont World Film’s 23rd Family Festival. Guided by this year’s theme, “Lights, Camera, Magic,” the festival showcases a diverse selection of films from around the world—many making their North American or U.S. premieres—offering young audiences an immersive and culturally rich cinematic experience. It’s a wonderful way to “travel the world” during MLK Weekend and beyond without the cost or hassle of a trip.

The festival takes place at the West Newton Cinema on January 17–18, the Brattle Theatre on Monday, January 19, the Belmont Media Center on Saturday, January 24, and the Regent Theatre on Sunday, January 25.

This year’s lineup includes mostly North American premieres, with more than half of the films adapted from or inspired by classic and contemporary children’s books—a longstanding festival hallmark. For young readers and those who struggle with reading, a professional voice-over artist will read subtitles aloud for films in languages other than English, creating an experience much like story time. Highlights include:

You and your children can also engage in hands-on workshops--including Learn to the Draw the Minions and Hotel Transylvania Characters and Introduction to Storyboarding--with this year’s Artists-in-Residence, story artist and director Dave Feiss and story artist and writer Paul McEvoy, both of whom have most recently worked on The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, as well as the Minions and Hotel Transylvania franchises.

To help maximize your children’s enjoyment of the festival, we’ve created some age guidelines that you’ll also find marked on each film program or workshop. Children mature at different ages, however, and you know your children best.

Age 3-8: These programs are limited to about an hour or so and are either wordless or in English.

Billy the Cowboy Hamster

The Scarecrows’ Wedding/Tabby McTat

Woozle & Pip: Adventure in the Magic Garden

Short films for Age 3-8: Pet Projects

Age 8+: These films require the ability to read subtitles, although subtitles will be read aloud through headphones by a professional voice over, much like having a story read aloud. Some films contain more mature themes, such as a loss of a family member and neurodiversity, but in general they are upbeat. 

A Girl Named Willow Lampie 

Tales from the Magic Garden

The Songbirds’ Secret

Greetings from Mars

School Chale Hum

Blue Fiddle

Short films for Age 8-12: A Different Lens

Age 10+: These films contain more mature themes, such as potential danger, bullying, fighting, and cursing. Some children as young as 9 may be interested in these films.

The Secret Floor

We Are Greenland: Soccer Is Freedom (World Cup fever!)