Listen with your eyes is an ongoing series of screenings that aims to create a space for children of all ages to engage with and enjoy experimental forms of cinema. By turns playful, beautiful, and idiosyncratic, the films in this programme range from hand-coloured collages and optical printing experiments to studies of movement and dance. Rather than being prescriptive, they invite viewers to discover their own ways of engaging with these celebrations of colour, motion, and imagination. Although not exclusively intended for young minds, they express a beauty and wonder that both children and adults can share.

Please note that this is a relaxed screening, open to children of all ages. While talking is permitted, singing and dancing are actively encouraged!

Optional Animation Workshop: Ticket-holders are welcome to join us at 2pm for a free animation workshop before the screening. In the workshop we will paint directly onto 16mm film, using pattern and repetition to create moving images. The results of this activity will then be gathered and shown on a 16mm projector at the end of the screening.

A House for Artists is committed to delivering free creative and community events for residents of Barking & Dagenham. While we welcome those from outside Barking & Dagenham, we kindly ask for donations to keep our events free and open to all – all donations go towards the delivery of our programme. Suggested donation: £5.

Listen with your Eyes is organised by Open City Documentary Festival and co-programmed by Huyn Jin Cho & Oliver Wright – presented in this special event by Barking Community Cinema at A House for Artists.

Barking Community Cinema is co-programmed by Abel Holsborough and Maria Anastassiou and hosts free monthly screenings of independent, artist film and experimental work. They are launching a series of free filmmaking workshops and a network of community programmers in 2025, for people who live in or have a connection to Barking and Dagenham. If you’d like to get in touch please email: ahouseforartists@createlondon.org

Still from GA (Stephanie Mexwell, 1982). Courtesy of Light Cone.