The annual Cinemagic Belfast Film and Television Festival programme opens with a colourful programme of events from 7th-30th October, jam-packed with over two hundred films and special film and television related opportunities to inspire young people. The Cinemagic Opening Night Preview in Odyssey Cinemas is the much anticipated animated adventure, Storks, from Warner Bros, Pictures, and closing the festival is the inspirational documentary, Life, Animated from director Roger Ross Williams, winner of the Best Director Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
This weekend the festival presents a powerful and thought-provoking series of world cinema at Queen’s Film Theatre including German drama, 4 Kings, the feature film debut from director Theresa von Eltz, the Ulster Museum plays host to storyboarding workshops with Flickerpix, model making workshops from Aardman Animation and 1961 cinema classic, Whistle Down The Wind, screens at the Strand Arts Centre.
Guests from the world of film and television visiting Belfast to deliver workshops and masterclasses include Directors, William McGregor (Poldark), Daniel Gordon (Hillsborough), Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa (Good Vibrations, Cherrybomb); Cinematographer Gerry Floyd (Notes on Blindness), film critic supremo, Mark Kermode, who returns for his 12th visit to Cinemagic with his festival pick Forbidden Planet; Blue Peter presenter, Lindsey Russell, Swallows and Amazons Art Director, David Bowes and TV/Online presenters, Maddie Moat (Earth Unplugged, Do You Know?), Ben Shires (Officially Amazing!) and Greg Foot (Blue Peter, Brit Lab).
The diverse New World Cinema programme will celebrate stories, peoples and cultures from around the globe. Movies this year come from Canada, USA, Mexico, Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Netherlands, Austria, Serbia, Latvia, UAE, South Korea Switzerland, Russia, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Norway, Belgium, Japan, China and Australia! Highlights include the adventure filled Little Mountain Boy, animated/live action hybrid, Monster Hunt, book to film adaptation Gamba, coming of age drama, Little Bird, and fantasy animation, Kai.
Cinemagic Chief Executive, Joan Burney Keatings said “We are thrilled to present the programme for the 2016 Cinemagic Belfast Festival, with over 200 films and a multitude of film opportunities set to light up cinema screens in the city. In Association with The Nido Collection and with our funders, sponsors and supporting venues we have been able to present the very best cinema from around the world and design innovative and practical opportunities for all young people to get involved in.”
Masterclasses /Q&As
Talent Labs offer 16-25 year olds an invaluable insight to working in film and television and highlights include Directing, with BAFTA winning and Oscar-nominated Northern Ireland filmmaker, Michael Lennox, Assistant Director, Darren Fee, William McGregor, director of BBC One’s current hit drama One of Us; Casting with Hubbard Casting, and Film Production with Jessica Malik, Gareth Ellis-Unwin, and Leon McGeown Fee.
Creativity Corner, for 12-21 year olds, features a Stunts workshop with Eimear O’Grady (Penny Dreadful, Ripper Street), Animation with Nuria Blanco (Cartoon Saloon) and Barry Purves (Mars Attacks, King Kong).Junior Talent Labs will shine a spotlight on the world of Model Making, Storyboarding, Programme Making and Scriptwriting to give budding creatives the chance to work with the people behind Shaun the Sheep, Corpse Bride, Zig and Zag, Horrid Henry, So Awkward and Bob The Builder.
Special events for junior movie fans will include a focus on master storyteller Hans Christian Andersen with film screenings of The Little Mermaid, and Thumbelina. No Alibis Bookstore will host Tales at Twilight, a week long evening showcase of book to film adaptations introduced by local authors Jan Carson, Sheena Wilkinson and Kelly McCaughrain. Film titles include Matilda, Hugo, Where The Wild Things Are, Charlotte’s Web and Coraline. The Festival is also celebrating 60 years of Albert Lamorisse’s cinema classic, The Red Balloon and Cinema Paradiso screens as part of Belfast City Council’s Positive Ageing Month activities.
Animated fun for tiny tots includes the book to film adaptation Molly Monster and activity screenings include an Academy Award winning interpretation of Prokofiev’s classic tale, Peter and The Wolf, with a music demonstration about how the characters are represented by different instruments.
There are two evenings of short film showcases with animations, dramas, comedies and thrillers making up the best international short films currently on the festival circuit and Generation Next in the Crescent Arts Centre unveils films directed and produced by up and coming young filmmakers from around the world. The ‘Young Filmmaker’ programme this year celebrates the work of past Cinemagic competition winners, who are returning to host four alumni events. The Documentary Forum presents Richard Linklater-Dream is Destiny and the School Ties section revisits the Bill Forsyth 1981 favourite Gregory’s Girl, the John Hughes inspired teen rom-com, Pretty in Pink, and Wes Anderson quirky comedy, Rushmore.
Education Programme
Teachers and educators can support learning through film with the education programme featuring interactive discussions on cinematography, directing, production, film classification, protecting copyright, women in film, documentary making, pitching and commissioning. Workshop hosts include representatives from BBFC, BAFTA Kids, Brown Bag Films, Doubleband Films and the Industry Trust who are presenting a special Q&A before the screening of coming-of-age drama, My Name is Emily starring Evanna Lynch.
Richard Williams, CEO, Northern Ireland Screen said “Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to see the eclectic programme of screenings and educational events at the Cinemagic Belfast Festival this year. We‘ve been providing core funding to Cinemagic since its inception because of the part the Cinemagic Belfast Festival plays in making the potential of screen available to as many people in Northern Ireland as possible.”
Stephanie Geelen, The Nido Collection commented “We are very excited to be supporting and partnering with Cinemagic. One of our main goals as a premium student accommodation provider is help fulfilling student’s ambitions. Having many film, theatre and art students reside with us, we understand how important it is to inspire and motivate young people in pursuing her dreams.”
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Brian Kingston, commented “The Council’s ongoing support for Cinemagic is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the arts and creative industries in our city. Over the past 25 years, Cinemagic has opened the door to the arts for so many of our young people, and consistently done so in creative and innovative ways, as well as by involving them at the very core of the Festival’s organisation. At a time when so many arts and cultural bodies are facing cuts to their funding, the Council is delighted to maintain our support, through our Multi-Annual Funding programme, which helps give organisations such as Cinemagic the financial security they need to continue their worthwhile work.”
Booking: For further information/booking visit www.cinemagic.org.uk or telephone 028 90 311 900
Online Box Office for public films and events www.wegottickets.com/cinemagic
Cinema tickets for corresponding main cinemas are also available from: www.odysseycinemas.co.uk www.strandartscentre.com Education Programme booking: email schools@cinemagic.org.uk
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To Download the Programme for under 12 yr olds, families and primary/nursery schools click HERE
To Download the Programme for 12-25yr olds, students and post-primary schools click HERE
The Cinemagic Festival is in Association with The Nido Collection and the Festival is funded by Northern Ireland Screen supported by the Department for Communities, Belfast City Council, Tourism NI and George Best Belfast City Airport.
Ends:// Press Information: Claire Shaw, Cinemagic Press & Marketing Officer,
028 90311 900 claire@cinemagic.org.uk
