Cinemagic 2008
The Cinemagic Film Festival programme has been launched and includes more than 100 film screenings and over 40 different workshops, competitions, masterclasses and film-related events. The Coca-Cola Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival For Young People opens on 13th November and runs until the end of November in various Belfast venues including Movie House Cinemas, Odeon and Queen’s Film Theatre.
Speaking at the festival’s programme launch, Joan Burney-Keatings, Cinemagic Chief Executive, said “We’re offering the best Cinemagic Festival yet with increased numbers of international films and practical film and television related workshops for young people. Our Education Programme has developed to include more opportunities for schools to get involved in Moving Image Arts, and families can enjoy a wide range of films that will brighten up the dark November nights!”
Maire Campbell, Public Affairs and Communications Manager for Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ulster) Ltd discusses the partnership with Cinemagic:
“Cinemagic gives young people the opportunity to gain exciting and practical experience in many Arts based disciplines. We are delighted to support the valuable work of Cinemagic and wish them every success now and in the future.”
Festival Guests
Special guests attending the young people’s film festival in Belfast include multi-awarding winning writer-director Mike Leigh OBE (Secrets and Lies, Topsy Turvy, Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky), charismatic British actor Ray Winstone (The Departed, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), film critic, broadcaster and journalist Mark Kermode, highly acclaimed producer and BAFTA Chairman David Parfitt, BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Brian Hanrahan, Casting Director Ros Hubbard (The Lord of The Rings Triology, United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum), Director Annie Griffin (Book Group, Festival),and Cinemagic patron Dermot O’Leary (Big Brother’s Little Brother, X Factor, BBC Radio 2).
Festival Films: Special Previews and Documentaries
Movie enthusiasts will have the opportunity to view the best international films for young people ranging from special previews, to documentaries, modern classics and shorts, as well as family and kids’ favourites. The Opening Night animated preview, ‘Niko & The Way To The Stars’ (13 Nov), directed by Michael Hegner and Kari Juusonen (A co-production with Magma Films, Ireland) is sure to delight young audiences and it will set the standard for the eclectic line-up of films being screened over the 23 days of the largest film festival for young people in the UK and Ireland. The Cinemagic Festival will close in Belfast with a preview screening of ‘Madagascar Escape 2 Africa’ (30 Nov) (Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks animation).
The 20 fascinating ‘in competition’ feature films in the ‘Around The World’ programme include the Irish Preview of Japanese animation ‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’ (14 Nov), the UK Preview of Spanish fantasy animation ‘Nocturna’ (22 Nov), Norwegian family mystery ‘The 10 Lives of Titanic The Cat’ (15 Nov), the UK Preview of powerful Danish drama ‘Worlds Apart’ (21 Nov), the imaginative tale of a kind-hearted little kitten in the Irish Preview of ‘Komaneko’ (22 Nov), and the story of life as a 13 year old girl in Irish drama ‘32A’ (19 Nov) directed by Marian Quinn. Documentary fans can enjoy skillfully made films such as ‘Heavy Load’ (20 Nov) which follows a year in the life of a punk band, and ‘In The Shadow of The Moon’ (26 Nov) in which the surviving crew members from NASA’s Apollo missions tell their unique story.
Festival Films:
Modern classics include the gritty, urban tale of hope and despair in ‘Half Nelson’ (20 Nov), the story of an innocence lost set amidst violence and conflict in war-torn El Salvador in ‘Innocent Voices’ (15 Nov) and the powerful socio-political drama in ‘The Lives of Others’ (23 Nov). Fun for all the family is guaranteed with screenings of ‘Charlotte’s Web’ (22 Nov), ‘Happy Feet’ (23 Nov), ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (15 Nov), ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ (16 Nov) and ‘The Sound of Music’ (23 Nov). The Festival’s teenage classics include a strong line-up of much loved film titles from Alan Parker’s ‘Fame’ (16 Nov) and the Coen Brothers ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (22 Nov) to Ridley Scott’s ‘White Squall’ (16 Nov) and Charles Laughton’s ‘The Night of The Hunter’ (22 Nov).
Cinemagic ‘Talent Lab’ Masterclasses.
Young people aged 16-25 who are keen to get an inside track on the media industry can do just that as the hugely successful ‘Talent Lab’ event sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland returns to the festival. Promising to be a fantastic mix of creativity, fun and learning, the two day ‘Talent Lab’ masterclasses will run on 27th and 28th November in Belfast Metropolitan College at the Castlereagh Campus. Masterclasses include Cinematography, Scriptwriting, Acting, Publishing, Production Design and Art Direction.
Cinemagic Young Filmmaker
The judges of the 2008 Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Competition in association with BT Vision. are looking for imaginative and original short films made by young people, to be showcased as part of the festival. The Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Competition is free to enter and it is open to young people from across the UK and Ireland aged 4-25 years old. Shortlisted films will be screened at a Cinemagic awards ceremony at ODEON Cinemas on 28 November.
You can also book by telephone on 028 90 24 66 09 or in person at the Belfast Welcome Centre, 47 Donegall Place from 10am-5.30pm, Monday to Friday and 11am-3pm Saturday.
To Book Workshops Tel Cinemagic on 028 90 311 900
Links:
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