Seven Northern Ireland foodbanks will benefit from essential food donations from audiences attending Cinemagic Film Festival movie screenings this September. The Cinemagic initiative to date has provided over 6000 meals for people in need, and the overwhelming support from audiences has made a significant impact focusing on community, outreach, the cost-of-living crisis, civic pride, and educating young people.
The regional Cinemagic Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks initiative is supported by Film Hub NI through the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, awarding funds from National Lottery. Rather than paying for a cinema ticket, audiences are asked to donate essential foodbank items on the day to support local community run foodbanks, and those in partnership with The Trussell Trust working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK
On Saturday 9th September, Cinemagic will host film screenings in Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady, Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, The Court House, Bangor, and Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena. On Saturday 16th, Cinemagic will visit Market Place Theatre, Armagh, and Saturday 23rd September sees the culmination of the movie programme in Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart.
Please view this link to watch highlights and impacts of this programme to date:
Cinemagic CEO, Joan Burney Keatings MBE said “This month we launch our 2023 Cinemagic Film Festival, and as part of our launch programme we will visit seven towns across Northern Ireland with our Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks Initiative. By using the power of film in the community we want to positively harness the collective recreational ‘coming together’ nature of film viewing, with a common and strong social responsibility that exists to bring different sections of society together, helping to promote social inclusion and helping those in need. We have a brilliant film programme on offer and exceptional support from our funders, venue partners and generous film-going audiences, and the donations will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Jonny Currie, The Trussell Trust, NI Network Lead said “Everyone in Northern Ireland should be able to afford the essentials – to buy their own food and heat their homes. This has got harder in the last year, as has been shown by the 26,000 people needing an emergency food parcel for the first time and a huge increase in children needing our support. This initiative by Cinemagic is helping to make a real difference by supporting local food banks and raising awareness of hunger in Northern Ireland.”
Film tickets are free of charge but must be reserved in advance. To reserve tickets CLICK HERE
9th September
Lisburn, Island Arts Centre, 10am, The Red Turtle
Bangor, The Court House, 10.30am, A Cat in Paris
Ballymena, The Braid, 11am, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Limavady, Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, 11am, The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales
Bellaghy, Seamus Heaney HomePlace, 11am, Wolfwalkers
16th September
Armagh, Market Place Theatre, 11am, Minuscule: Valley of The Lost Ants
23rd September
Portstewart, Flowerfield Arts Centre, 11am, Ernest & Celestine
The 34th Cinemagic Film Festival for Young People launches on 10th September and runs Oct-Nov 2023.
Press Information: Claire Shaw, Cinemagic Press Officer,
claire@cinemagic.org.uk 028 90 311900
