Avant-Garde Film Program for Children Challenges UK Artworld Norms

During the Open City Documentary Festival, the Barbican Cinema hosted a unique screening called 'Listen with your eyes,' aimed at introducing experimental films to younger viewers. Curated by Oliver Wright and Hyun Jin Cho, the lineup included works from notable filmmakers such as Harun Farocki, Thom Andersen, Norman McLaren, Stephanie Maxwell, Lin Chuang, Margaret Tait, and Ana Vaz. The event welcomed children from infancy to eight years old, along with their caregivers, creating an engaging environment. A workshop prior to the screening allowed kids to produce animations on 16mm film stock. The piece, authored by Sophia Satchell-Baeza, references Tom Gunning's 1985 essay 'The Cinema of Attraction[s]' and discusses the inadequate childcare options at significant cultural events, highlighting the Cannes Film Festival's 2019 daycare initiative.