Barbican cinema PRESCHOOL PICS
Wed 20 May – Wed 23 Sep 2026
Barbican Cinema
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/series/pre-school-pics This May, Barbican Cinema launches Preschool Pics, a brand-new, year-round film programme for toddlers aged 12 months to 4 years designed to discover the magic of the big screen in a fun and relaxed environment. Each screening will include films perfectly programmed for burgeoning film fans and their grown-ups, alongside live performances and creative activities. Taking place on selected midweek mornings at the Barbican’s Beech Street Cinema Café everything is catered for – highchairs, plenty of toilets and baby-change facilities, plus books, bricks and colouring out in the foyer and café before and after the screenings.
The beautiful and thoughtfully curated programme – which takes place in May, June and September before continuing in December, February and March next year (programme to be announced in the summer) – will include a mix of international gems, favourite classics, recent film releases and animations ranging in visual styles and themes. All films will be dialogue free or in the English language.
PROGRAMME Barbican Preschool Pics, May to September:
Amazing Animations (U*) + Wed 20 May, 10.30am, Café opens 10am Cinema 2
Approximate event run time: 55min A fun music session and a selection of short films, curated with youngest audience members in mind. Cellist Tara Franks – a regular at the Barbican’s weekly Family Film Club, and the founder of Tots Tunes – will perform music from all over the world to get toddlers and their adults dancing and shaking to the beat in the cinema, followed by a friendly mix of international short films, perfect for young audience members in the early stages of their big screen adventure. Full programme of film titles below:
Jasmine and Jambo – Music with Style Spain 2024, Dir Sílvia Cortés, 7min
Animanimals: Ladybird Germany 2022, Dir Julia Ocker, 3min
Two ladybirds live side by side, but one of them is grumpier than the other – can they ever be friends?
The Adventures of Baby Bee’s Boot UK 2023, Dir David van Marten, 7min
Set in a colourful garden, this sweet story follows what happens when a Baby Bee loses a boot and must get help from all sorts of creatures to find it again.
First Flight Germany 2025, Dir. Adrian Jaffé, 3min
This charming animation, full of beautiful textures, sees a baby bird learning to use its wings.
The Little Bird and the Bees Switzerland 2020, Dir Lena von Döhren, 4min
A little bird is pursued by a sneaky – and hungry – fox but finds help from some buzzy friends.
Animanimusical Germany 2024, Dir. Julia Ocker, 3min
The zany animals of the Animanimal world come together for a sing-song, but there’s always one voice that seems to stand out from the rest.
Jasmine and Jambo – Midsummer Magic (U*) (UK Premiere) + Storytelling with Emily Hanna-Grazebrook
Spain 2024, Dir Sílvia Cortés, 26min (in English language)
Wed 24 Jun, 10.30am, Café opens 10am Cinema 2
Approximate event runtime: 55min A magical morning of live interactive storytelling, followed by a fantastic, animated gem celebrating Midsummer’s Day. Ahead of the screening, storyteller Emily Hanna-Grazebrook of Dragonfly Tales will weave her magical worlds with words and perform some fantastical stories in the cinema before the film.
Jasmine and Jambo – Midsummer Magic is a delightful animation featuring characters, Jasmine and Jambo, two friends who live in a funny and surreal land where music and lifeg o hand in hand! While preparing for a Midsummer party the inseparable pair are a little careless when gathering food and the Spirits of the Forest start to play tricks to teach them a lesson. This charming animation from Spain has not been seen in the UK before and is full of quirky characters, colour and sweetness.
The Smeds and the Smoos (U) + Music with Tara Franks
UK 2024, Dirs Samantha Cutler and Daniel Snaddon, 26min
Wed 23 Sep, 10.30am, Café opens 10am Cinema 2
Approximate event runtime: 55min The wonderful cellist and musical extraordinaire, Tara Franks, of Tots Tunes, is back to start the morning with rhythm and get everyone boogieing to the beat before watching The Smeds and The Smoos, a delightful adaptation of the Julia Donaldsonclassic. Set on a distant planet, the story follows two neighbouring alien families that never want to talk to each other. When one of each of their number – Bill and Janet – strike up a secret friendship, the families must overcome their differences or lose the ones they love. This gorgeous animation from Magic Light Pictures is a warm-hearted treat about conquering prejudice and finding friendship.
Tickets: £2.50 Under 18s / £5.00 over 18s. Tickets are needed for children over 18 months and their adults.
Adults/Children: Designed for families/nursery groups to attend together. These events will be open to pre-school-aged children from 12 months up to 4 years and their carers. Adults can only attend with accompanying children, and children with a grown up. We suggest that there should be a minimum of 1 adult to every 4 children.
Seating: Booster seats for children of 18 months and above are available. Attendees of under 18 months may be seated on an adult’s lap for the duration of event. The auditorium has flip seats – please always supervise children in seats and never leave them unattended.
Screening environment: The lights in the screening will be lightly dimmed and the sound of the films will be reduced. Movement and noise from young film fans is expected in these screenings but accompanying grown-ups should not use mobile phones/devices in the auditorium and children should always be supervised – especially on the stairs.
Family Film Club: aimed at 5+ cinemagoers and their families, the weekly club takes place on Saturday mornings during term time to screen the best new releases, archive classics and international gems.
Parent and Baby Screenings: For parents/guardians with children under 12 months, wanting to watch new releases on a Saturday morning.https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/series/parent-and-baby-screenings
