Press room

The Barbican’s ever popular Family Film Week returns this October half term with the best children’s films from around the world, including new releases, special previews, alongside activities, introductions and special events. 

• Fox and Hare Save the Forest (U) + free pre-film workshop – Sat 26 Oct 
• Momo in Dubai (U) – Sun 27 Oct 
• Rhyme Time + The Gruffalo (U) – Mon 28 Oct 
• Ultraman: Rising (PG) + Ramzee Draw Along. Relaxed Families – Wed 30 Oct
• Kensuke's Kingdom (PG) + intro with composer Stuart Hancock – Wed 30 Oct 
• Despicable Me 4 (U) + Villainous Film Quiz – Thu 31 Oct 
• The Pinchers' High Voltage Heist (PG) + Louie Stowell Draw Along – Thu 31 Oct 
• Boy and the World (PG) – Sat 2 Nov
• The Imaginary (PG) – Sat 2 Nov 
• Special Preview: That Christmas (cert tbc) – Sun 3 Nov

The fun kicks off on Sat 26 Oct with the film Fox and Hare Save the Forest (Netherlands 2024), a gentle animation following a group of animal friends who embark on an adventure when a lake threatens to submerge their forest home. Full of fun songs and sweet characters, this is a charming introduction to the big screen experience for little cinema goers. 

This follows with the UK Premiere of Momo in Dubai (India 2023) on Sun 27 Oct, a captivating, zany comedy which tells the story of 7-year-old Momo and his family, who excitedly travel from Kerala to Dubai to spend the summer with their father, who’s based there for work. The reality of the holiday, however, is a little less glamorous than Momo had imagined - but he is determined to enjoy himself one adventure at a time! Anchored by an excellent lead performance, this enjoyable family film from India is part of the Rewriting the Rules: Pioneering Indian Cinema after 1970 programme in the Barbican cinemas and The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975–1998 free weekend in the Curve Gallery. 

Family Film Week continues Mon 28 Oct with Rhyme Time and The Gruffalo, a fun, relaxed morning session for toddlers and young ones – with singing, clapping and chatting along to the best nursery rhymes and story books lead by the Barbican’s Children’s Librarian. This follows with a special anniversary screening of The Gruffalo (UK 2009), this beautiful animation, based on the classic children's book written by Julia Donaldson dazzles on the big screen and is a treat for all the family. 

Parents and children are invited to get creative in our Relaxed screening, Ultraman: Rising + Ramzee Draw Along (Tue 29 Oct) with the renowned comic writer and illustrator Ramzee, who, before the film, will demonstrate how to draw Kaiju characters. Based on the popular Manga character, Ultraman: Rising (US 2024) is a fresh new take on the super-hero vs monster dynamic with fizzing action sequences and fantastic animation. 

Other creative talent taking part in Family Film Week include the composer Stuart Hancock introducing two screenings of the hit film Kensuke’s Kingdom (UK/ Luxemborg 2023) on Wed 30 Oct. Adapted for the screen from the novel by Michael Morpurgo, this beautifully drawn story – about a young boy who finds himself washed ashore on a Pacific island – celebrates harmony with nature and the fierce power of friendship. 

Further programme highlights include Despicable Me 4 (US 2024) + Villainous Film Quiz (Thu 31 Oct), with Gru, Lucy and the whole team back for another adventure, preceded by a family film quiz about all the best children’s movie villains; The Pinchers High Voltage Heist (Sweden 2024) + Louie Stowell Draw Along (Thu 31 Oct), an afternoon of creative fun with the writer-illustrator Louie Stowell, author of the hugely popular Loki books; the tenth anniversary of the Oscar nominated Boy and the World (Brazil 2024) (Sat 2 Nov); and the new animation The Imaginary (Japan 2023) (Sat 2 Nov), full of magic and danger, from the makers of Mary and the Witch’s Flower. 

Family Film Week closes on Sun 3 Nov with a very special preview of That Christmas (UK 2024), based on the charming trilogy of children’s book by the award-winning writer-director Richard Curtis, starring Brian Cox as Santa and Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker and Bill Nighy as the residents of a sleepy Norfolk seaside town where things don’t go to plan one Christmas. Not released on Netflix until 4 Dec, this early preview also features a new song written Ed Sheeran for the film and is the perfect way for families to get into a festive mood early. 
 

Screenings and Events: 

Free Workshop
Sat 26 Oct, 10am
Cinema 2 foyer 
Come along and get creative in our free, artist led, craft activity themed around the morning’s film.

Fox and Hare Save the Forest (U*)
Netherlands 2024, Dir Mascha Halberstad, 71min
Sat 26 Oct, 11am
Cinema 2 
Fox and Hare are best friends and live together in their cosy house surrounded by trees but one day a rambunctious Beaver moves to the river nearby. Suddenly, the forest is filling with water and the animals must escape the rising puddles – but what could be causing this strange flood, and how will they figure out how to stop it?
Age recommendation: 4+

UK Premiere: Momo in Dubai (U*)
India 2023, Dir Ameen Aslan, 104min. Maylayalam with English subtitles. 
English subtitles read aloud via headsets (optional).
Sun 27 Oct, 11:45am
Cinema 2  
When Momo’s father can’t get time off from work to visit his family in Kerala, he instead invites them all to visit him in UAE for a month. 7-year-old Momo is delighted as he misses his dad and is desperate to visit the Burj Khalifa – the tallest skyscraper in the world. The reality of the holiday, however, is a little different to the glamourous plans he’d imagined – but Momo is determined to enjoy himself one adventure at a time! 
Age recommendation: 6+

Rhyme Time + The Gruffalo (U)
UK 2009, Dirs Max Lang + Jakob Schuh, event time approx 55 min 
Mon 28 Oct, 10 am 
Cinema 2 
We’re delighted to be collaborating with the Barbican Library for our first ever in-cinema Rhyme Time. Come along at 10am for a fun, relaxed session of singing, clapping and chatting along to the best nursery rhymes and story books – all led by Adenike Johnson, the Barbican’s fantabulous children’s librarian! Following this audiences are invited to a special anniversary screening of the animated version of The Gruffalo. 
Age recommendation 3+

Ultraman: Rising + Ramzee Draw Along (PG) – Relaxed Families*
US & Japan 2024, Dir Shannon Tindle & John Aoshima,  event runtime approx 115 min. 
Film with HoH Captions. 
Wed 30 Oct 11am
Cinema 3
Family Film Week is excited to welcome the brilliant storyteller-illustrator Ramzee to the cinema this morning. Before the film he will take us through the paces of how to draw some cool Kaiju and get the audience feeling creative! And after that, sit back with your pen and paper and draw along as you watch the movie in a relaxed* screening environment.

Based on the popular Manga character, Ultraman: Rising is a fresh new take on the super-hero vs monster dynamic with fizzing action sequences and fantastic animation.  
Age recommendation: 7+

*Relaxed Families screenings are open to all, but tailored especially for a neurodiverse audience, as well as those who find a more informal setting beneficial. 

Kensuke’s Kingdom (PG) + intro from composer Stuart Hancock 
UK, Luxemborg & France 2023, Dirs Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry 84 min
Film with HoH Captions. 
Wed, 30 Oct, 2.15pm and 3pm (both screenings include intros from Stuart Hancock) 
Cinema 2 & 3
A young boy finds himself washed ashore on an island in the Pacific in this animated adaptation of former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo’s stunning novel. 

Kensuke’s Kingdom tells the story of a family looking for a fresh start sailing across the Pacific Ocean, when their young son Michael is swept away in a storm. Finding himself on a seemingly deserted island, Michael soon discovers that he and his dog are not the only ones out there. 
Age recommendation: 7+

Despicable Me 4  (U) + Villainous Film Quiz 
US 2024, Dirs Chris Renaud + Patrick Delage, 94min 
Film with HoH Captions + Live intro/quiz with BSL
Thu 31 Oct, 11.30am
Cinema 2
Gru and Lucy - along with Margo, Edith, Agnes and new addition Gru Jr. are swept off into a witness protection programme because the cockroach obsessed super villain Maxime Le Mal is on the loose. Blending into a new town is tough, but things get even harder when their young villainy-obsessed next-door neighbour gets wind of Gru’s true identity.

Featuring the voice talents of Steve Carrell, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Sofia Vergara and Will Ferrell. And don’t forget to come along with your thinking caps on because before the film starts, we’ll be hosting an in-cinema film quiz all about the best baddies you love to love!

The Pinchers High Voltage Heist + Louie Stowell Draw Along (PG*)
Sweden 2024, Dir Leif Lindblom, total event run time approx. 110min 
Swedish with English subtitles. Subtitles read aloud in English via headsets (optional). (live intro/Draw along with BSL) 
Thu 31 Oct, 2.15pm
Cinema 2
Get ready for a morning of creative mischief with writer-illustrator, Louie Stowell – author of the deliciously naughty Loki books. Before the film, Louie will lead a drawing demo inspired by favourite baddies, rogues, scoundrels and scallywags – the villains you love to love! 

Ture has his heart set on becoming a police officer one day; he takes his morals very seriously and never lies or steals. Unfortunately, his family – The Pinchers – are a notorious gang of thieves constantly on the look out for their next heist! But, when Ture discovers his beloved dog is stolen property – he must make a choice: give up his best friend to its rightful (and decidedly shady) owner or figure out a way of bending the law to keep his pet.
Recommended age 8+

Boy and the World (PG*)
Brazil 2014, Dir Alê Abreu, 80min 
Sat 2 Nov, 11am
Cinema 2
A rare delight on the big screen – we’re hosting a special 10th Anniversary screening of the Oscar nominated animation from director Alê Abreu. 

Without dialogue, we follow a young boy’s journey from his home in the countryside to strange lands. Visually ravishing animation sweeps the audience along as the boy searches for his father, but also finds his way to cotton fields, to robotic factories, to a city favela, to futuristic worlds in the sky. Touching on themes of environmentalism, industrialisation, political upheavals and family bonds – this is an utterly unique adventure. 
Age recommendation 7+

The Imaginary (PG)
Japan 2023 Yoshiyuki Momose 105min. In English. With HoH captions. 
Sat 2 Nov, 14:00
Cinema 2
Rudger, Amanda’s imaginary friend, finds himself in peril when he learns that he can disappear if his creator ever forgets him. Chased by the villainous Mr Bunting (a creature who hunts and eats Imaginaries) and his spine-chilling sidekick, Rudger escapes to ‘the town of Imaginaries’ where he finds friends that might be able to help him return to Amanda before it’s too late. Based on The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold, this intricate animation from Studio Ponoc is a delightfully scary treat  
Age recommendation 8+

Special Preview: That Christmas (cert tbc) 
UK 2024, Dir Simon Otto, 91min (10.45am show with HoH captions)
Sun 3 Nov, 10.45am + 1pm 
Cinema 2
Based on the charming trilogy of children’s books by the award-winning writer-director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually), That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake. 
Age recommendation: tbc