Photo: ‘The Scarecrows’ Wedding‘ will be shown on Sunday, Jan. 25, at Regent Theatre in Arlington.

It’s “Lights, Camera, Magic,” as the Belmont World Film’s 23rd Family Festival runs from Saturday, Jan. 17 thru Saturday, Jan. 24.

The festival will showcase a diverse selection of films from around the world – many making their North American or U.S. premieres – offering young audiences an immersive and culturally rich cinematic experience. It’s a wonderful way to travel the world during Martin Luther King Weekend and beyond.

This year’s lineup includes mostly North American premieres, with more than half of the films adapted from or inspired by classic and contemporary children’s books, a longstanding festival hallmark.

For young readers and those who struggle with reading, a professional voice-over will read subtitles aloud for films in languages other than English, creating an experience much like story time.

FILM SCREENINGS

• Saturday, Jan. 17, 10:30 a.m.- 5:15 p.m. at West Newton Cinema
• Sunday, Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. at West Newton Cinema
• Monday, Jan. 19: 10:30 a.m.- 4:50 p.m. at Brattle Theatre, Cambridge
• Sunday, Jan. 25, 1 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. at Regent Theatre, Arlington

View all the movies being shown here.

WORKSHOP: Learn to Draw Minions & Hotel Transylvania Characters.

Saturday, Jan. 24, 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. at Belmont Media Center, 9 Lexington St.

Here are two highlights:

‘The Scarecrows’ Wedding,’ Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay are devoted scarecrows planning a wedding to remember. A joyful tale about loyalty, love, and learning that the most important thing isn’t a grand gesture – it’s simply being together. Academy Award nominee Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses, Hotel Rwanda) narrates and Jessie Buckley, who won a Golden Globe for Hamnet, and Domhnall Gleeson star.

WE ARE GREENLAND: SOCCER IS FREEDOM: Five young soccer players from Greenland dream of playing for their own country in the World Cup. But before they can step onto the global stage, they must take on a tough challenge of winning the Island Games and convincing the world’s soccer leaders to recognize Greenland as its own team. This inspiring documentary follows a little team that could as they chase a big dream with determination, teamwork, and pride in their sport and home. Sun, Jan 25th, 4:30 PM @ Regent Theatre