Family Friendly Film Festival 2010

Category: Family, Festivals, Film & Cinema, Participatory & Workshops.

Over the last five summers, one event has established itself as a real life-saver for parents in the know in Manchester. Little monsters all over the area have been kept entertained during the long holidays thanks to the Family Friendly Film Festival.

Running from the 30th July to the 15th August, this year it promises to be the biggest and best yet. There are over 50 activities going on at venues all across Greater Manchester for kids of all ages, and with all activities under £5 or free, this is one festival that promises not to break the bank.

In the five years of its existence, the festival has grown from a small 3 day event into the 17 day extravaganza that it is today. Festival Director Leah Byrne says the aim of the festival has always been to "get as many families as possible engaging with arts and cultural venues, and each other, and importantly to keep the events as affordable for families as possible.".

It strives to provide a programme which appeals to all tastes and a variety of age groups, but has always encouraged the families who attend to try something a bit different. In previous years the festival has seen spooky night-time tours with Night At The Museum being shown at Manchester Museum, and balmy summer evenings in superhero costumes watching The Incredibles in Spinningfields. Events at various locations around Manchester have combined treasure hunts, film-making workshops and craft making with screenings of some children’s classics such as Ghostbusters, Basil The Great Mouse Detective and The Goonies (although more often than not it’s been the adults clamouring for these tickets – Byrne points out that last year’s Night at Victoria Baths featuring Ghostbusters saw a "suspiciously high number of adults wearing home-made Proton Packs").

You have to be quick though – the festival has become hugely popular and each year more people return. This year the Night At… events have almost completely sold out already along with the opening and closing Gala nights. Confirmed festival favourite the Harry Potter Days at John Rylands Library sold out within days of tickets going on sale.

It’s the full range of films, locations and events though that’s made the festival a success across the city. Byrne points out that "this might be the only film festival in the world with a series of short films especially chosen for under 5’s (First Flicks has been part of the festival since the beginning) alongside classics such as The Red Shoes (the stunning 1946 Powell and Pressburger ballet film restored by Martin Scorsese) and The General" (Buster Keaton’s 1926 film is a masterclass in visual comedy for all ages). These two are being shown together in the fantastic Art Deco surroundings of the Stockport Plaza, one of the oldest surviving cinemas in the country.

There is the opportunity to sit out in the sunshine to watch Madagascar, Spirited Away or Up at Screenfields or to get more actively involved in themed days like Dance Day at Waterside Arts Centre, where children can learn a dance routine and watch the scarily-popular High School Musical 2, or Fishy Friday at Bolton Museum, Archive and Aquarium where children can feed live fish and watch Disney classic, The Little Mermaid. With UK premieres of international kids’ and teens’ films in the Get Global series at The Manchester Museum and the chance to catch some better-known hit films with days based around Alice In Wonderland and Fantastic Mr Fox amongst others, we think this is one summer festival that everyone can enjoy.

Learn more...

For more information on the festival and a full listing of all events visit www.familyfriendlyfilmfestival.co.uk. Tickets can be bought online or by calling Quaytickets on 0843 208 0500.