Belmont World Film's 23rd Family Festival: Day 4

This day of the festival is dedicated to workshops--no film screenings take place today (see below for descriptions). 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. &nbsp; 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: &nbsp; You and your children can also engage in hands-on workshops on Saturday, January 24--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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; Age 3-8: These programs are limited to about an hour or so and are either wordless or in English. <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/billy-the-cowboy-hamster-shown-with-dog-pony-travel-the-world-691e2a70647cae279a503659">Billy the Cowboy Hamster</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/the-scarecrows-wedding-shown-with-tabby-mc-tat-691e2a70647cae279a503657">The Scarecrows’ Wedding/Tabby McTat</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/woozle-pip-adventure-in-the-magic-garden-shown-with-said-anna-disappearing-act-691e2a70647cae279a50365d">Woozle &amp; Pip: Adventure in the Magic Garden</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/short-films-age-3-8-pet-projects-691e2a70647cae279a503661">Short films for Age 3-8: Pet Projects</a> Age 5-12+: Unleash your child's creativity in this exciting workshop with this year's Artists-in-Residence David Feiss and Paul McEvoy! <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/learn-to-draw-minions-hotel-transylvania-characters-session-i-691e2a70647cae279a503662">Learn to Draw the Minions &amp; Hotel Transylvania Characters</a>: 10:30 AM <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/learn-to-draw-minions-hotel-transylvania-characters-session-i-691e2a70647cae279a503662">Learn to Draw the Minions &amp; Hotel Transylvania Characters</a>: 3:30 PM &nbsp; 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.&nbsp; <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/a-girl-named-willow-692f6dc74d9e7fa257312962">A Girl Named Willow</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/blue-fiddle-691e2a70647cae279a503655">Blue Fiddle</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/greetings-from-mars-691e2a70647cae279a503653">Greetings from Mars</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/lampie-691e2a70647cae279a503656">Lampie</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/school-chale-hum-691e2a70647cae279a503658">School Chale Hum</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/short-films-age-8-12-a-different-lens-691e2a70647cae279a50365b">Short films for Age 8-12: A Different Lens</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/tales-from-the-magic-garden-691e2a70647cae279a503654">Tales from the Magic Garden</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/the-songbirds-secret-691e2a70647cae279a50365c">The Songbirds’ Secret</a> Age 9+: In this hands-on workshop, our Artists-in-Residence will guide children through the what, why, how, and who of storyboarding. <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/introduction-to-storyboarding-for-animated-films-692f5167b1ef23c7923f3fa5">Introduction to Storyboarding for Animated Films</a> 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. <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/the-secret-floor-692f6e152273c713ebc7776d">The Secret Floor</a> <a href="https://bwffamilyfestival2026.eventive.org/schedule/we-are-greenland-soccer-is-freedom-691e2a70647cae279a50365f">We Are Greenland: Soccer Is Freedom</a> (World Cup fever!)

Belmont Media Center

Belmont World Film

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

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Belmont World Film's 23rd Family Festival: Day 4

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