For Small World, a international animation festival, is taking to the screen at Barnsley Civic from July 22 to September 2 - with a host of short, animated films from around the world on view. And the best news is... it's entirely FREE!

More than 30 films – the best of he world's current crop of animated shorts – will play across three screens created within the Civic's Gallery.

Among those represented will be animators and artists from the UK, USA, France, Japan, Canada, Hungry Switzerland and Norway – many of whom are Oscar winners and nominees.

The festival also includes the UK premiere of two films – Australian animation The Cats Piano, narrated by Nick Cave, which recently had its world premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival, and Norwegian film Deconstruction Workers, which is currently showing in the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

The films included cover a diverse selection of ideas and stories including 2009 Oscar winner, La Maison en Petits Cubes – a mesmerising reflection on the different stages of life; Pixar short Presto – an engaging tale of a magician's assistant who won't play ball; and Facteur Mineur, which considers the fate of miners at a closing pencil mine who won't leave quietly.

Also showing are seven films from AnimateTV, which were originally screened on Channel 4 last September and which use range of animation techniques.

The Civic's three screens comprise an Oscars screen, showing work nominated for awards in 2008 and 2009; an International Screen, showing
work from all across the globe; and an Anglo-French student screen, showing the best work by students from the Royal College of Art in London and Supinfocom in Valenciennes.

Director of The Civic, Fergus Justice-Mills said: "Small World is a great chance to bring international animation into the heart of Barnsley. The combination of art and entertainment will appeal to audiences of all ages".

The full running order of the fest is available on the web, at www.smallworldfest.co.uk, and you can find the venue at The Gallery@The Civic, Hanson Street, Barnsley, 01226 327000. The Civic's site is www.barnsleycivic.co.uk