Cinemagic presented a celebratory showcase of young filmmaking talent from the UK and Ireland at the 2016 Young Filmmaker Competition Awards at the weekend in Queen’s Film Theatre.
Every year the festival receives hundreds of entries from young people wishing to share their stories with a wider audience. As well as celebrating their work, the Young Filmmaker Showcase allows young directors to view films made by their peers and offers the opportunity for them to network and talk movies! At the showcase events the shortlisted films were presented before the 2016 winners were announced.
The winning film and filmmaker in the 18-25yr olds category was Perched by Liam Harris from Birmingham.
The winning film and filmmaker in the 15-17yr olds category was Lifeline by Sam Jones from Manchester.
The winning film and filmmaker in the under 15yrolds category was The Birth of a Pennyboard by Nia McVicker from North Belfast.
The full list of shortlisted films in each category is as follows:
CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER 2016
AGE SECTION: 18-25
FIRST RESPONSE
DIR: CARL MASON (MILTON KEYNES)
DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF A GRUESOME CASE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TWO STRANDED POLICE OFFICERS QUICKLY DISCOVER THE HORRIFIC REALITY OF THEIR DEADLY PREDICAMENT.
RECOVERY
DIR: DANIEL PURSE (LEICESTERSHIRE)
A FEW SEEMINGLY UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS GO ABOUT THEIR MORNING WHILST A TELE-COMMUNICATIVE SEARCH TAKES PLACE.
THE OUTCAST
DIR: CALLUM KILGARRIFF (N. IRELAND)
GREG COWAN, LEAD SINGER AND BASSIST FOR BELFAST PUNK BAND ‘THE OUTCASTS’, REFLECTS ON LIFE AS A PUNK DURING THE MOST VIOLENT ERA OF THE TROUBLES.
BRAINWASH
DIR: HANNAH GAUTREY (CAMBRIDGE)
A GROUP OF PEOPLE HEAD TO WORK, IT’S JUST THEIR AVERAGE 9-5 WORKING DAY!
SHED
DIR: JALAPATHY SRI (TYNE & WEAR)
SET IN AN ALLOTMENT THE STORY OF A MAN PLAGUED BY THE FUTURE UNFOLDS INTO A CHOICE OF BIBLICAL REPERCUSSION AFFECTING THE FABRIC OF HIS FAMILY.
HOPELESS WANDERERS
DIR: JOE ANDREWS (DINAS POWYS, WALES)
A POST-APOCALYPTIC FUTURE SEES MANKIND TURN TO SAVAGES AFTER MUCH OF THE POPULATION IS WIPED OUT.
HER
DIR: TOBY ELWES (LONDON)
EXPLORING THE FRICTION SEPARATING A MODERN COUPLE, ‘HER’ LAYS VISIBLE THE RESTRAINTS PREVENTING THEIR INTIMACY. THEIR INTERNAL AND EMOTIONAL STRUGGLE TRANSFORMS INTO A PHYSICAL BATTLE AS THESE HIDDEN FORCES APPEAR IN FRAME.
PERCHED
DIR: LIAM HARRIS (HAMPSHIRE)
HAMISH FINT, A CROCHETY OLD MAN USED TO A LIFE OF SECLUSION INSIDE HIS SUBMARINE STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN EQUILIBRIUM WHEN AN UNWELCOME VISITING SEAGULL ROCKS HIS WORLD.
STRINGS OF A SOLDIER
DIR: CHRIS BAILEY (SILCHESTER)
THE STORY OF A WAR OFFICER’S REMORSE, THROUGH THE POWER OF A MUSICAL TUNE.
TOO FAR GONE
DIR: HARRY FISHER (STOKE-ON-TRENT)
TRAPPED AND ALL ALONE, ALEXIS HAS TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THIS WORLD AND THE OTHER.
GHOST
DIR: MATTHEW O’ROURKE (NEWRY)
IN THE AFTERMATH OF A KILLING, A MAN COMES TO CONSIDER HIS LIFE, AND THE THINGS HE’S DONE.
JAKE THE MAGNIFICENT
DIR: SIMON WADE (BEACONSFIELD)
JAKE, A YOUNG 9 YEAR OLD BOY, SETS HIS HEART ON MASTERING THE WORLD FAMOUS DISAPPEARING TRICK IN TIME FOR HIS 10TH BIRTHDAY PARTY. COME THE DAY OF HIS PARTY, THE TRICK DOESN’T QUITE GO TO PLAN.
CRAFTED: THE ART OF MAKING
DIR: JACOB HESMONDHALGH (SOUTH WIMBLEDON)
THE FIRST FILM IN A SERIES, CREATING PORTRAITS OF ARTISTS AND MAKERS, AND THEIR CHOSEN CRAFTS. AVOIDING INTERVIEWS, NARRATION OR MUSIC, THIS FILM FORMS A PORTRAIT OF OWEN JONES, AN OAK SWILL BASKET WEAVER BASED IN THE LAKE DISTRICT.
LOVE BITE
DIR: RONAN CORRIGAN (DERRY~LONDONDERRY)
A MAN TRIES TO CAPTURE THE PROMISCUOUS ACTIVITIES OF HIS BEST FRIEND’S GIRLFRIEND – BUT WHEN THE CAMERA STARTS TO ROLL, THE NIGHT TAKES A DARK TURN.
CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER 2016
AGE SECTION: 15-17
AT THE CHAPEL BAKERY
DIR: JASPER CABLE-ALEXANDER (SOMERSET)
A SHORT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A BAKER WORKING ALL NIGHT TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL BREAD.
VERSES
DIR: HOME BFI FILM ACADEMY GROUP (MANCHESTER)
THIS FILM FOLLOWS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO NEIGHBOURS WHO MANAGE TO OVERCOME THEIR DIFFERENCES AND EVENTUALLY LIVE IN HARMONY.
ARDCLINIS
DIR: MATTHEW MCGUIGAN (NORTHERN IRELAND)
TWO BROTHERS, CILLIAN AND GERARD, AWKWARDLY RECONNECT AFTER YEARS OF ABSENCE UPON THE RECENT ENGAGEMENT OF GERARD.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL
DIR: DANIEL BINGHAM (CRUMLIN)
AN EXPERIMENTAL FILM THAT CONTEMPLATES SOCIETIES BEHAVIOUR IN THE FINAL MINUTES BEFORE A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
DIR: FAYE CURRAN (CO. CLARE)
A SHORT DOCUMENTARY TO SHOW WHAT MAKES YOUNG CHILDREN HAPPY, HOW THEY FEEL THEY CAN HELP OTHERS AND WHAT DIGNITY MEANS TO THEM.
INTO THE STORM
DIR: MITCH KENDALL SMITH (GLOUCESTERSHIRE)
AFTER NOTICING AN APPROACHING STORM ON THE HORIZON, PETER AND BUDDY DECIDE TO INVESTIGATE.
UN SINT UNUM
DIR: JOSH LYNAS (BELFAST)
A SHORT DOCUMENTARY BASED ON LAGAN COLLEGE BELFAST WHERE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE INTERVIEWED ON THE TOPIC OF INTEGRATED EDUCATION.
DIRTY MONEY
DIR: MERCER MACWILLIAM HUGHES (DRUMBO)
GANGSTERS ROAM THE STREETS OF 1930S CHICAGO. NOT MUCH IS KNOWN OF THE SHIFTY DEALINGS THAT TAKE PLACE, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE: THAT DIRTY DEEDS YIELD DIRTY MONEY.
IRREGULARS
DIR: LOUIS KERR (DERRY~LONDONDERRY)
AODHAN, A YOUNG IRISH NATIONAL SOLDIER POSITIONED IN THE WOODS, COMES ACROSS A CIVILIAN WHILE OUT SEARCHING FOR HIS MISSING PARTNER.
SOUL PHANTOM
DIR: CAMERON BROWN (LIVERPOOL)
THERE IS A PHANTOM WHICH PREYS ON CHILDREN HOME ALONE; IT TAKES CONTROL THEM, IT TURNS THEM EVIL AND IT SETS THEM ON A PATH OF DESTRUCTION.
I DIDN’T KNOW
DIR: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL YOUTH GROUP (ESSEX)
A DOCUMENTARY DEALING WITH THE DANGERS OF CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND HOW YOUNG PEOPLE CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ABUSE.
HAZE
DIR: LUIS HINDMAN (BERKSHIRE)
A MAN STRUGGLES IN AN ATTEMPT TO PSYCHOLOGICALLY RECLAIM THE RELATIONSHIP HE ONCE HAD.
LIFELINE
DIR: SAM JONES (MANCHESTER)
A WOMAN IN A DESPERATE SITUATION IS GIVEN A LIFELINE.
ABC – # VOICE YOUR CHOICE
DIR: SOS NI (BELFAST)
A FILM HIGHLIGHTING HOW LIFESTYLE CHOICES ARE OFTEN INFLUENCED BY OTHERS.
FIRST DATE
DIR: RORY EDWARDS (LONDON)
WHEN A TERRIBLY MISMATCHED ONLINE DATE GOES HORRIBLY RIGHT!
CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER 2016
AGE SECTION: UNDER 15
WE ARE DE LA SALLE!
DIR: STUDENTS AT DE LA SALLE ACADEMY (LIVERPOOL)
YOUNG PUPILS FROM DE LA SALLE ACADEMY, CROXTETH, LIVERPOOL SHOW US HOW THEY ENJOY AND EMBRACE THEIR CHANGING COMMUNITY.
THE BIRTH OF A PENNYBOARD
DIR: NIA MCVICKER (BELFAST)
SEE HOW AN OLD SKATEBOARD DECK CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO A WOODEN PENNYBOARD IN THIS PRACTICAL DOCUMENTARY.
THE OLD LIE
DIR: F-GAZE PROJECT (GLASGOW)
AN EXPERIMENTAL DANCE FILM WHICH EXPLORES THEMES OF STUGGLE AND INNOCENCE, TAKING INSPIRATION FROM WILFRED OWEN’S CLASSIC POEM, DULCE ET DECORUM EST, AND SHOT IN SOME OF GLASGOW’S WILDEST PLACES.
JESSICA’S WISH
DIR: JUDE ROGERS (LONDON)
JESSICA GOES ONLINE TO CHECK HOW MANY LIKES SHE HAS. SEEING SHE ONLY HAS TWO, SHE MAKES A WISH. “WHY CAN’T EVERYONE BE JUST LIKE ME?” SHE ASKS. HER WISH IS GRANTED WITH UNEXPECTED RESULTS. JESSICA LEARNS AN IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT WHAT MAKES PEOPLE INDIVIDUALS.
THE BOX OF DREAMS
DIR: SIGNAL STARTERS 2016 (CUMBRIA)
A SHORT DRAMA ABOUT A GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO LEARN A VALUABLE LESSON ABOUT NOT BEING SELFISH AND TO THINK ABOUT THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS.
ONLY ONE
DIR: THEO D’SOUZA (HERTFORDSHIRE)
A BOY MEETS HIS CLONE WHO’S TRYING TO REPLACE HIM, ONLY ONE WILL SURVIVE!
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR ENVIRONMENT?
DIR: 4TH CLASS BRIERHILL NATIONAL SCHOOL (GALWAY)
A SHORT DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
DON’T LOOK BACK AT THE GHOST
DIR: ANA MCCREA (MOIRA)
A FILM TRAILER ABOUT A GHOST WHO APPEARS ONCE A YEAR TO TAKE A NEW VICTIM.
HOW DO YOU LIVE LIFE?
DIR: LAUREN FRY (PEMBROKESHIRE)
A FILM ABOUT A GIRL DEBATING THE QUESTION – HOW DO YOU LIVE LIFE?
LOOK INSIDE
DIR: KATIE MCKENNA (CO. KILKENNY)
A GIRL GOES FOR A WALK IN THE WOODS AND COMES ACROSS A STRANGE BOX!
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.
