The BFI have announced Making Magic: 100 Years of Disney, a major new season of screenings, talks, special events and singalongs at BFI Southbank to mark the centenary of The Walt Disney Company. The season will open with the UK premiere of the new restoration of Cinderella (1950) on 6 July, as well as a special panel discussion on the same night to introduce the key themes of the season, and will run at BFI Southbank until the end of August, with selected screenings at BFI IMAX as well. For many cinema goers around the world, their first big screen experience was watching a Disney film – Making Magic will celebrate 100 years of great storytelling and artistic flair that started with brothers Walt and Roy Disney, but continues to delight today because of the many thousands of people who have delivered their vision.
The season, full details of which will be announced soon, is programmed by the BFI’s Justin Johnson and will include big screen outings for masterpieces from Disney’s early years like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Fantasia (1940), Pinocchio (1940) and Bambi (1942) and favourites that have stood the test of time such as 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Jungle Book (1967) and The Rescuers (1977). There will also be screenings of beloved works from Disney’s ’90s resurgence like Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Lion King (1994) and Pocahontas (1995) and more contemporary titles made in the last fifteen years including Frozen (2013), The Princess and The Frog (2009) and Zootropolis (2016). All the features screening in the season will be paired with harder to see short films from throughout Disney’s history.
As well as celebrating much-loved animations, the season will acknowledge the breadth of live action (and hybrid) feature films made during Disney’s history – from Mary Poppins (1964) to Tron (1982).
The season would be incomplete without screenings of Pixar favourites like Finding Nemo (2003), Ratatouille (2007), Up (2009), Toy Story (1995) and WALL-E (2008), as well as the chance to see recent Pixar titles Soul (2020), Luca (2021) and Turning Red (2022).
Altering the face of animation, technology and family entertainment, Disney are synonymous with success and quality and this season will celebrate an extraordinary body of work that has delighted people of all ages and generations.
BFI Southbank Lead Programmer and Disney season curator, Justin Johnson said: “It would be impossible to imagine a world without Disney. For so many of us, the first time we experienced the magic of the cinema was seeing the latest Disney animation on the big screen, and as new titles come out and we introduce archive titles to each new generation, it’s become an essential part of our cultural landscape with a global reach. With great story telling at its heart and always with an eye to pushing what is possible from a technological perspective, Disney is a Studio that constantly evolves. Here we look back and forward, celebrating some of the great moments of 100 years packed full of magical moments for children and adults alike.”
“We’d like to thank the BFI for showcasing this special season of iconic Disney films, giving fans and families of all ages the opportunity to relive their favourite Disney memories as part of our 100th anniversary celebrations,” said Walt Disney Studios’ Lee Jury. “The season not only allows us to celebrate the timeless stories and unforgettable characters that have entertained and inspired people for 100 years, but the special events and talks mean we can celebrate the storytellers behind the magic too.”
