Book a visit to Family Film Festival
Bringing books to the big screen may not be a new concept, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good one.
This weekend, the nonprofit Belmont World Film will hold its 14th annual Family Film Festival with the theme “Where Books Come Alive.”
The festival, which opens tomorrow night and runs through Monday at locations in Belmont, Arlington and Cambridge, celebrates beloved children’s books.
Anyone who has been to the Public Garden in Boston likely knows the story of “Make Way for Ducklings,” which just turned 75 in 2016. An animated version of the mallard family’s journey to Boston will be screened along with more Caldecott Medal winning stories, such as “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.”
Other children’s booksturned-films go well beyond the New England area. “Mr. Frog,” the story of a popular teacher who turns into a frog at the mere mention of the word, is from the Netherlands and is in Dutch with subtitles. “Little Mountain Boy,” based on the children’s book “Schellen-Ursli” by Selina Chonz with illustrations by Alois Carigiet, is making its East Coast premiere.
The festival opens tomorrow night with a screening of the Oscar-winning film “Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit.” Merlin Crossingham, creative director for the Wallace & Gromit film series, who is visiting from Aardman Studios in England, will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the claymation movies are made and sign autographs as well.
Tickets for individual screenings or festival passes can be purchased online or at the box offices. Go to www.belmontworld film.org for a full schedule and more information.