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This being a children-centred event, It’s a real case of expect the unexpected. For example, Manchester Museum hosts First Flicks, a selection of short films for the very young and an exhibition of the characters, including Pingu and Bob The Builder, while the Zion Arts Centre has two films from Israel that are amongst the first the country has produced.

"We started the film festival partly to try and get people to try out new venues – we do screenings in places like the Manchester Museum, the Opera House and the Imperial War Museum North – and partly to try and show people what different types of film there is out there for children.

"Disney is great, but there’s also so many different types of films. Last year we showed Spirited Away, which everyone loved, and this year, we’ve got a lot of UK premieres for foreign films, which have won lots of awards and been very popular in their home countries, so it’s nice to get the chance to show them here."

Alongside the screenings, the festival team have also been running a course for children to get involved with making their own movies; something which Leah says has been a runaway success.

"We really wanted to give kids more of a go at film-making. We put on a three week film school, where 35 kids from around Manchester making four short films, which will be premiering at the end of the Festival.

"There’s been two younger groups and two older. One of the younger groups has made a stop-motion animation with Plasticine models about a family that goes on an adventure. That’s really funny, it’ll really make you laugh. The others are a group of Kurdish children and they’ve done a really beautiful animation of a Kurdish folk tale.

"The two older groups have both gone down the sci-fi route, a bit influenced by Doctor Who, and they’re really a bit creepy, but very good."

Kofi is one of the children involved in the school and he agrees that, while it’s been hard work, it’s been a lot of fun, adding that he’s proud of his finished film.

"I’ve found it hard to get up in the mornings, because it’s the holidays, but it’s been worth it to come and enjoy myself, and I’ve made new friends as well. Usually, I’d just be at home doing nothing, so it gets me active while I’m enjoying myself.

And that’s exactly the reaction that the festival is looking for from all its patrons. Leah believes that film is an important part of a child’s life and that the genre in general doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

"There’s such a lot of great children’s film that’s out there that doesn’t get seen.Ìý I remember all the films I loved as a kid – The Goonies is one of them, which we are showing – and they really have an impact on your life, so it’s such a valuable thing to allow kids to see them."

The Family Friendly Film Festival runs from Friday 10 to Sunday 19 August. For the full festival programme, visit the festival website.