Belmont World Film's 23rd Family Festival

By
Belmont World Film

“Lights, Camera, Magic!” features films from around the world—many premiering in North America—and hands-on animation workshops led by veteran Hollywood artists. Day 3 takes place @ The Brattle.

Sign-up Information

Ages: 3 to 12.
Translation services available - Contact the organization for more details. and Wheelchair accessible.

Subtitles for films in other languages besides English will be read aloud by a professional voice-over artist through headphones, much like having a story read.

Registration required

Sign-up is ongoing

Schedule & ticketing info

Screening tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door with cash. Sign up for the workshops by January 20, 2026.

Cost

Short film programs: $8

Feature-length films: $12

Films Only Pass: $40 (includes admission for one person to all film programs)

VIP All Access Pass: $100 (includes admission to all film programs and the workshops, a T-shirt, and recognition in our programs for a year)

Workshops: $22 (includes all materials; sign up by January 20)

ቦታ

In-person only.

Brattle Theatre

40 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Neighborhood

Mid Cambridge and West Cambridge

West Newton Cinema

1296 Washington Street
West Newton, MA 02465
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Neighborhood

Mid Cambridge and Outside Cambridge

Regent Theatre

7 Medford Street
Arlington, MA 02474
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Neighborhood

Outside Cambridge

Belmont Media Center

9 Lexington Street
Belmont, MA 02478
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Neighborhood

Outside Cambridge

Dates and Times

Sat, January 17 2026 10:30AM – 5:15PM

This is a recurring event and is coming up on

Sun, January 18 2026 10:30AM – 5PM
Mon, January 19 2026 10:30AM – 5PM
Sat, January 24 2026 10:30AM – 5PM

There is one more upcoming occurrence Sun, January 25 2026 1PM – 5:30PM

Additional information

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 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 yours 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.

Short films for Age 8-12: A Different Lens

Tales from the Magic Garden

The Songbirds’ Secret

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!)