Annual showcase of the best new children’s films returns to the Barbican Centre with Eric Summer and Éric Warin’s ‘Ballerina,’ Ash Brannon’s ‘Rock Dog,’ Switzerland/Germany/Sweden co-production ‘Molly Monster,’ and more!
Framed Film Festival -- the annual showcase of the best new children’s films -- returns to the Barbican this month with stories of adventure, animals and magic! The program includes a special preview of the new Ellie Fanning-voiced feature Ballerina, the London premiere of a tale of sibling rivalry, Molly Monster, plus a specially curated festival shorts program featuring the best new animated shorts from around the world. Together with free activities and workshops accompanying the screenings, this weekend is a must for all young film fans.
SCREENINGS
Opening Gala Preview: Ballerina – Ages 5+
Saturday 19 November, 11am, Cinema 2
France/Canada 2016 Dir Eric Summer, Éric Warin Approx. 90 mins
A young orphan girl Félicie (Elle Fanning) travels to Paris in the hopes of fulfilling her dreams of becoming a ballerina. Having passed as someone else to acquire a position at the prestigious Grand Opera House she meets Victor (Dane DeHaan), a boy who dreams of becoming an inventor. The two embark on crazy mishaps and grow closer as Victor encourages Félicie to defy her odds by living her dreams and never giving up.
Spectacular Shorts – Ages 3+
Saturday 19 November, 1pm, Cinema 2
Various 2014 – 2016 Approx. 60 mins
This specially curated program of the best new shorts from around the world will delight young and old alike. From the tale of a mushroom who has lost his hat, to a little mouse that just might be the most wonderful house guest around, you’ll love dipping into these fantastic stories in bite-size form.
Rock Dog – Ages 6+
Saturday 19 November, 2.30pm, Cinema 2
China/US Dir Ash Brannon 80 min
Bodi lives with his father in the mountains and helps to protect their flock of sheep by day, but by night he dreams of being a musician. When a radio mysteriously falls from the sky, Bodi decides to leave home for the big city and musical stardom. However, the city isn’t quite how he imagined and he soon finds himself caught up in an adventure that may just lead all the way back home. Featuring the incredible voice talents of Edie Izzard, Luke Wilson and J. K. Simmons, this tale of a dog with a dream is not to be missed.
Molly Monster – Ages 3+
Sunday 20 November, 11am, Cinema 2
Switzerland/Germany/Sweden 2016 Dir Ted Sieger, Michael Ekbladh, Matthias Bruhn 70 min
With a new brother on the way, Molly Monster is suddenly not her parents’ only child, and together with her best friend Edison she sets out on her own to find her new place in the family. The journey takes her all the way to Egg Island, where her parents have ventured to hatch the egg, and there she is reunited with both her parents and her new sibling. Molly Monster, receiving its London premiere at Framed Film Festival, is a tale for young children about being a new sibling and discovering yourself.
Raven the Little Rascal – Ages 4+
Sunday 20 November, 1pm, Cinema 2
Germany 2015 Dirs Ute von Münchow-Pohl, Sandor Jesse 78 min
Raven is a little bird with a big passion for racing. Loving nothing more than racing around in his homemade pedal car, Raven repeatedly gets himself into trouble by ignoring his chores in favour of a quick race around the forest. This soon leads to chaos when Raven crashes into a shed filled with food for the winter, destroying the supplies. After discovering there’s a big race with an even bigger prize waiting at the finish line, can Raven win the race and replenish the harvest before it’s too late?
Louis & Luca: The Big Cheese Race – Ages 5+
Sunday 20 November, 3pm, Cinema 2
Norway 2015 Dir Rasmus A. Sivertsen 78 min
The Big Cheese, a traditional race in Louis the Magpie’s town Flåklypa, and this year he is determined to enter. With his best friends Luca the Hedgehog and Alife the inventor, Louis is so confident that they will secure the win that he secretly bets on their victory with the opposing town Slidre, placing both his house and Alife’s workshop against his opponent Clapton’s cheese factory. However, when Clapton brings his own team, who don’t seem to play by the rulebook, Louis suddenly realises that winning is not going to be as straightforward as he first thought. A hilarious journey of rivalry, friendship and the danger of overconfidence!
In Norwegian with English subtitles (subtitles read aloud in English via headphones).
WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
November 19 & 20
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cinema 2 & 3 foyers
There will be free film activities and workshops in the foyer all day. These events are drop-in or sign up on the day.
Create Your Own GIF
Free. Sign up on the day. All ages welcome
Create your own animated portrait to share with your friends, family and colleagues on social media as an animated GIF. Professional animators and workshop leaders Quirky Pictures will be on hand to help you create a beautiful moving portrait. Whether you just want to be yourself or surprise your friends, an animated portrait is a wonderful fun way of capturing yourself.
Magic Lantern Show & Workshop
Free. Sign up on the day. Limited availability. All ages welcome
Experience the wonder of the Magic Lantern. Artists Nicole Mollett and Frog Morris of Art of the Magic Lantern use old-fashioned pre-cinema projectors to conjure up fantastic visions and tell tall tales. Watch a short show using Victorian photographic slides and earlier hand painted slides then create your own story to tell and make your own slides in the workshop afterwards.
Drop in Making & Games Corner
Free. Drop in. All ages welcome
Join in with drop-in games and making activities with Tea Dance for Little People that invite young children and their families to engage with each other and the space around them in exciting and fun ways -- bringing the films in the festival alive.
Framed Film Festival 2016
November, 19-20, 2016
Box Office: 0845 120 7527
Ticket prices: barbican.org.uk/film
Source: Barbican Centre
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
