Yesterday, our 2026 Cross Border Short Film Academy cohort met at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour, Banbridge for an exciting day of Writer/Director masterclasses, SFX Make-Up workshops, and an insightful Financial Wellbeing discussion with Bank of Ireland.
Thank you to our fantastic hosts at GOT Studio Tour, to Luke Alexander (Writer/Director) and Connie McGrath (SFX Make-Up), and to Cathy Strain (Bank of Ireland) – our cohort left feeling so inspired.
The Academy is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in every stage of the filmmaking process while working alongside leading industry professionals. The programme is delivered annually by Cinemagic, bringing together young people from both sides of the border to learn, collaborate and tell stories that matter.
It provides a unique platform for participants to explore careers in the screen industries while building friendships, confidence and practical filmmaking skills in a collaborative cross-border environment.
The programme combines industry masterclasses, script development workshops and pre-production sessions before culminating in the production of a professionally mentored short film. Participants will gain practical experience across a range of departments including directing, scriptwriting, cinematography, production design, sound, and more.
The Cinemagic Cross Border Short Film Academy 2026 is supported by the Department of Education and Youth and Game of Thrones Studio Tour with special thanks to Bank of Ireland UK.
