Belmont World Film's Family Festival Continues at the Regent Theatre Sunday, January 25

Belmont World Film's 23rd Family Festival, showcasing some of the world’s most imaginative live-action and animated films for children ages 3–12 and their families, concludes on Sunday, January 25 at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, featuring three international films for children ranging from age 3-12 and their families.

Guided by this year’s theme—Lights, Camera, Magic!—the festival features a sensitively curated selection of international films, many making their North American or U.S. premieres, offering young audiences an immersive, culturally rich cinematic experience. For emerging readers, subtitles will be read aloud via headphones by a professional voice actor, much like having a story read aloud.

A festival hallmark is its strong connection to children’s literature: nearly three-quarters of this year’s films are adapted from classic or contemporary books, nurturing a love of reading while supporting the Massachusetts Public School Curriculum Frameworks.

Film programs include:

1:00 PM - The Scarecrows’ Wedding shown with Tabby McTat: A double feature of Julia Donaldson–inspired (The Gruffalo) films! Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses, Hotel Rwanda) narrates and recent Golden Globe winner Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters, Hamnet) and Domhnall Gleeson star in The Scarecrows’ Wedding, the latest adaptation about a mischievous rival scarecrow who threatens to upend two devoted scarecrows’ big day. Tabby McTat tells the story friendship between a London busker and his musical cat, narrated by Jodi Whittaker (Broadchurch, Dr. Who).

2: 15 PM - School Chale Hum: In a tiny village in Kerala, India a lively group of children blur the line between the ordinary and the magical. When a boy’s wish that his teachers won’t show up to school the next morning unexpectedly comes true, the children are swept into an enchanting chain of events that transforms their understanding of wonder, responsibility, and the world around them.

4:30 PM - We Are Greenland: Soccer Is Freedom: In honor of the World Cup in Boston! An inspiring and dramatic documentary about five young soccer players who dream of representing Greenland in the World Cup. But before that can happen, they must take on a tough challenge of winning the Island Games and convincing the world’s soccer leaders to recognize Greenland as its own team. Co-presented by Soccer Without Borders.

Tickets are $12 for feature films, $8 for shorts programs. Tickets and more info are available at www.belmontworldfilm.org/family-festival or by calling 617-484-3980.

The festival is supported by a generous grant from Spark Newton. Festival sponsors include German Consulate General Boston, British International School of Boston, The New England Center for Children, Youbellor Academy of Belmont, Belmont Day School, Ecole Francaise de Boston, RSM-Belmont, and the Consulate General of Ireland, Boston. The support from grant makers and sponsors enables the realization of this culturally enriching festival.