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Animal Friends Shorts Programme (U*) + Small World Cinema: Matchbox Habitats

Family Film Club

,Cinema 2
A squirrel pokes his head out of the tree

From 10am before the film, get creative with Small World Cinema and craft mini animal habitats before diving into three brand new animations with stories of animals and their unlikely friendships. 

Join Saskia van Roomen, founder of Small World Cinema for a creative workshop making your own version of mini animal habitats inspired by the films. 

This trio of new short films is the perfect chance to introduce international cinema to a young audience. With differing moods, artistic styles and tones these are tales full of the magic and power of friendship. 

Schedule:
10am Matchbox Habitats with Small World Cinema, Cinema Café
11am Animal Friends Shorts Programme Screening

Tagged with: Cinema family film club

Age recommendation: 5+ 
This film has been locally classified as a U – but assessing suitability of any film is the responsibility of parent/guardian. Please see www.bbfc.co.uk for more information on film ratings and content guidelines. 

Please note: Two of the films in this programme are in French with subtitles. English subtitles will be read aloud by a voice over artist via headsets for children. Headsets can be collected on entry to the cinema if required. 

Please note: This screening is for families to attend as a group. Adults (over 18s) can only enter auditorium if they are bringing a child. Children (under 18s) can only attend if accompanied by an adult. Babes in arms of 18months and under can be brought in on adults’ laps, but children over 18months need a seat purchased for them.

Craft Workshop: 10am, Cinema Café 

Film screening: 11am, Cinema 2

Programme

Capybaras

A family of Capybaras hiding from local hunters, find unexpected refuge in a nearby chicken coop. Based on his award-winning picture book, director Alfredo Sodeguit, has created a striking story of how accepting others enriches us all. 

Dir Alfredo Sodeguit, France/Chile 10min No dialogue

 

Head in the Clouds 

Painterly visuals tell the story of Alphonse, a plucky squirrel, who loves to photograph clouds but sometimes the animals around him don’t understand his hobby. Hand drawn animation at its very finest. 

Dir. Rémi Durin France 2024 11min French with English subtitles.
 Subtitles read aloud by voice over artist via headsets for children if required.

The Drifting Guitar 

A travelling weasel who sells neckties is constantly wandering from place to place, but when she ventures into the forest and meets a friendly hedgehog, they discover a lost guitar and their destinies changes forever. This intricately realized stop-motion animation is a stunning fable of friendship that won a Cristal award at Annecy Film Festival.

Dir Sophie Roze France, Switzerland 2025 30min French with English subtitles. 
Subtitles read aloud by voice over artist via headsets for children if required.

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.

Useful Information

Start times: Our Family Film Club screenings are shown without ads, so the film will start just after 11am. Please make sure to turn up on time so you don’t miss the start! 

Loyalty Card: Don't forget, you can pick up your FFC Loyalty Card at the screening. Come along five times and get your sixth visit free! 

Parent & Baby Screenings: If you’ve got an under 12 month year old, we also host our very popular Parent and Baby screenings on a Saturday morning too.

Prams and buggies: we have limited space and are unable to accommodate prams and buggies in the auditorium at Family Film Club screenings. Prams and buggies must be left outside the auditorium (at owners’ own risk). 

Please note: FFC screenings are designed for families to attend together so adults can only come if they’re bringing a child, and children can only come along if accompanied by an adult. We are able to accommodate ‘babes in arms’ at FFC screenings for children of 18 months and under. Any child over 18 months must have a seat purchased for them.

The film screening will allow movement/noise from young film fans, but please be mindful of other audience’s experience (and please switch off phones!)

If your little one needs a break from the screening, please note we do have a selection of books, games and toys in the cinema foyer for you to use. 

The Family Film Club programme aims to screen films from a range of countries, styles and times, introducing a young audience to historical/archive content as well as the latest new releases.

Book early to avoid disappointment.