Belmont World Film’s 22nd Family Festival will present films for ages 3-12 in Newton, Arlington, and Cambridge over January 18-20 — kicking off at the West Newton Cinema (1296 Washington Street, West Newton) on January 18 for a day of films for kids:
- Shorts Program: “Pet Projects”: From playful pets to wild creatures, this wordless collection of funny and creative international short films—from charming stop-motion to stunning 2D and 3D animation—blends humor, emotion, and creativity. (10:30 AM)
- Elli and the Ghostly Ghost Train (Canada): In a futuristic world where ghosts and the abnormal are no longer allowed in society, homeless little ghost Elli goes in search of her missing uncle and ends up hiding in a Ghost Train filled with eccentric residents. (11:45 AM)
- Dounia: The Great White North (Canada) shown with Skipping Rope (Taiwan): Dounia and her grandparents experience life in Canada after fleeing the war in Syria, leaving her father in Aleppo. She and her new French-Canadian and indigenous friends delight in sharing their respective cultures. Missing her father deeply, Dounia follows her indigenous friend’s grandmother’s advice to call out to him with all her heart. In Skipping Rope, a young girl yearns for the life her older sister leads: being part of a rope skipping team, trendy shoes, a close circle of friends, and the affectionate gaze of their parents. (1:30 PM)
- Winners (Germany): Mona, an 11-year-old Kurdish girl who fled Syria with her family, now lives in a Berlin neighborhood where most kids are from other countries. She longs for her country and street soccer matches. When a teacher persuades her to join the school soccer team, she faces new challenges as she navigates clashes with her teammates, each grappling with their own struggles. To win the school’s first city-wide championship, the team must overcome obstacles on and off the field to discover the true meaning of teamwork. (3:00 PM)
