Cinemagic Launches Under 12s Festival in partnership with Belfast City Airport!

The action packed Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for under 12 year olds launched with a preview of The Boxtrolls (Universal Pictures) at Odeon Cinemas. The Festival returns to the silver screen for its 25th Anniversary Edition, from 3rd-17th October, with new film previews from around the world, CineSeekers film review panels, film & television workshops and a film education programme in partnership with George Best Belfast City Airport, to motivate, educate and inspire young people.

The October programme features special gala screenings: the UK premieres of Maya The Bee Movie and The Legend of Longwood, and previews of Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and The Book of Life, all of which will delight young audiences!

The weekend cinema programme (3rd-5th and 11th-12th October) features 14 other must-see special previews from around the world including the Brazilian animation, The Boy and the World (Northern Ireland Premiere), the new German adaptation of The Little Match Girl (UK Premiere), the Spanish comic book adaptation, Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang, and the French/Chinese heart-warming adventure, The Nightingale.

The festival is searching for a panel of enthusiastic ‘CineSeekers’ young film reviewers, to view and judge the in-competition films. The CineSeekers will get the chance to spend a weekend enjoying world cinema and will hear from filmmakers including German director, Veit Helmer, who will present the UK Premiere of Fiddlesticks, the laugh out loud tale about a group of mischievous children and their grandparents! The jury will announce the winning films of the festival on the closing night.

Teachers can introduce learning through film into the classroom with the exciting film education programme featuring interactive discussions, demonstrations and workshops from BBFC, Aardman Animations, Oscar nominated Irish Animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, Flickerpix, Young Irish Filmmakers, voice actor, Marc Silk (Johnny Bravo, Star Wars-Episode 1) and Children’s Books Ireland with Fermanagh born author Nigel McDowell. Budding filmmakers can enter the AES Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Competition and new for this year is the ‘we are the energy’ category for films about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths)!

The world of animation will come alive with Junior Talent Lab masterclasses in stop motion animation with Flickerpix in association with Belfast Photo Festival Youth Edition and model making with animator Tim Allen (Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride).

Children will have the chance to find out about the workings of some of their favourite film and television programmes with a BAFTA Children’s: Behind The Scenes event featuring CBBC presenters Katie Thistleton and Ben Shires (Officially Amazing!) who will host a showcase of the films, television, games and websites nominated at last year’s BAFTA Children’s Awards.  A fun mix of live demonstrations, behind-the-scenes films will highlight the talent behind the nominations from actors to animators, designers to directors. 

There will be more cinematic fun for mini film fans on board The Belfast Barge with early years drama workshops with Debutots, pre-school entertainment and workshops along with screenings of The Jungle Book, Aladdin and Who Framed Roger Rabbit!

Joan Burney Keatings MBE, Cinemagic Chief Executive said:

 “With support from our funders and sponsors we are delighted to present our Festival for Under 12s this October in venues across Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. Our film programme has a vast range of films from around the world and our comprehensive education and workshop programme will give young people an insight into various film and television disciplines.”

Michelle Hatfield, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Belfast City Airport, said:

“One of the aims of the airport’s Community Fund is to help increase access to imaginative and memorable experiences for young people in the local community and to create a lasting legacy. It is for this reason we are so delighted to partner Cinemagic across the wonderful programme of events, which not only educate but entertain all who partake.

“We look forward to working with Cinemagic and welcoming the young people and their families as the airport hosts a number of workshops.”

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 Film Festival in Belfast this year for the young people of Northern Ireland. Through our continued core funding, supported by DCAL, Northern Ireland Screen acknowledges the Cinemagic Film Festival in Belfast as a key component in our efforts to achieve our goal of making a significant contribution to film culture, education and training. We send our sincerest good wishes to Joan and her team for another successful festival.”

The Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People is funded by Northern Ireland Screen supported by DCAL,  Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast City Council, Department for Social Development, and is presented in partnership with George Best Belfast City Airport.

For more information/booking details and to view the Festival Programme online visit www.cinemagic.org.uk

How to Book

For Education workshops email [email protected] or telephone

Cinemagic 028 90 311 900

For weekend public cinema screenings, public workshops and junior talent lab visit www.cinemagic.org.uk or www.wegottickets.com and navigate to name of event.

Tickets for the weekend film screenings can also be purchased via venue partners from 22 September.

Odeon www.odeon.co.uk Queen’s Film Theatre www.queensfilmtheatre.com

Odyssey Cinemas www.odysseycinemas.co.uk

ENDS: //

Press Information

Claire Shaw, Cinemagic Press & Marketing Officer

[email protected]  028 90 311 900