Dublin's Irish Film Institute (IFI) will host a weekend of children's movies August 31 - September 2, featuring two major new Irish co-produced films - Captain Morten and the Spider Queen and The Ash Lad.

Captain Morten is Ireland's first stop motion animated film. It follows a young boy who, after a chance encounter with a magician, finds himself captain of his own toy ship. Featuring a voice cast of Brendan Gleeson, Pauline McLynn, Ciarán Hinds, and comedians Jason Byrne and Tommy Tiernan, the film's IFI screening will be accompanied by displays of the movie's models at the cinema.

Captain Morten And The Spider Queen - Official Trailer from Telegael on Vimeo.

The Ash Lad revolves around a poor farmer's son, embarking on a dangerous quest with his brothers to save their princess from a vile troll known as the Mountain King. This is to collect a reward and save his family's farm from ruin. That screening will also be accompanied by a special treat as members of The Ash Lad visual effects team will be in attendance.

Speaking about the festival, IFI Head of Education, Alicia McGivern said in a statement: "There is something for all ages in our programme, from the youngest cinema goers to the more sophisticated ten-year-olds who can follow subtitles. With autumn school routines coming around far too quickly, this is a last chance to have some fun, action packed international adventures with our specially curated films."

The festival will open with the Irish premiere of German animation Marnie's World. It revolves around a house cat who is not allowed to leave its house and only knows about real life from television.

Also, screening at the festival is Brazilian animation Tito and the Birds, about the search for a cure to a bizarre new illness, Iranian film The Skier, centring on a young boy trying to save his pet goat, and touching Kenyan drama Supa Modo, focusing on a terminally ill girl convinced by her sister and her local community that she possesses superpowers.

The latter film will be presented in association with Helium Arts and CanTeen Ireland. The organisations will bring teens to the festival to tell their stories of being diagnosed with childhood cancer.

Tickets for the 2018 IFI Family Festival are on sale. Individual entry for all screenings cost €5. Meanwhile, a family ticket per film (valid for both full length features and shorts programmes) costs €15.00 for 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children.

For the full line-up and recommended ages for the films, see below:

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY AUGUST 31st
17.30 OPENING NIGHT EVENT
18.30 MARNIE’S WORLD (MARNIES WELT) - RECOMMENDED AGE: 5+

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1st
11.00 SHORT TALES 1 – RECOMMENDED AGE: 4+
13.00 SHORT TALES 2 – RECOMMENDED AGE: 8+
15.30 SUPA MODO – RECOMMENDED AGE: 9+
18.30 THE SKIER – RECOMMENDED AGE: 10+

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd
11.00 CAPTAIN MORTEN AND THE SPIDER QUEEN – RECOMMENDED AGE: 5+
13.00 THE ASH LAD (I DOVREGUBBENS HALL) – RECOMMENDED AGE: 10+
15.00 YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD PANEL DISCUSSION
16.00 TITO AND THE BIRDS (TITO E OS PÁSSAROS) – RECOMMENDED AGE: 10+