Cinemagic

The 35^th Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People offers a programme of unmissable opportunities for families, schools, and young filmmakers this Autumn (28th September to 3^rd November) with over 120 events in Ulster Museum, Queen’s Film Theatre, The Belfast Barge, Accidental Theatre, Black Box, and Odeon Cinemas Belfast.

Festival goers will have the chance to experience a thought-provoking world cinema programme that spotlights youth issues and social issues, education programmes, film industry masterclasses, classic and brand-new family and teen films, the Cinemagic Young Filmmaker weekend, and Film Jury panels for young film critics.

The 2024 Cinemagic Festival line-up features film previews from all over the world including the Northern Ireland Preview of a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, # 1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot.

Another cinematic highlight is Fox & Hare Save The Forest, a brilliant family movie with an environmental focus.

Pop up cinema on The Belfast Barge celebrates Robots and there are a host of Pirates and Bigfoot themed movies and workshops to delight young audiences.

A special 40^th Anniversary screening of the beloved 80s sci-fi comedy, Ghostbusters, comes to Odeon on 30^th October with a live introduction from Peter Bernstein, conductor and son of the Ghostbuster’s score composer!

Junior animators can learn about the many forms of animating and making animated movies and a special treat is in store with Robin Shaw, the director of hit family tv movie, The Tiger Who Came to Tea and there is a wonderful preview event ‘An Afternoon with the Velveteen Rabbit’ in partnership with Replay Theatre Company and the Lyric Theatre.

Special events with homegrown productions include partnerships with Score Draw Music (Yukee Live) and Paper Owl (Li Ban)

Emerging filmmakers can learn from workshops in directing, acting, writing, casting, special effects, producing and horror genre filmmaking.

The 20th Mark Kermode Film Night returns on 26^th October with a few retrospective surprises and a screening of Slade in Flame!

The Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks Festival focus is with South Belfast Foodbank for a series of film screenings in the Ulster Museum where audiences, rather than paying for an entrance ticket to gain admission to the film screening by donating essential items/food items needed by the Foodbank to support the local community. The film strand features many sing-a-long movie favourites!

The festival is also looking for CineSeekers Juries, to become young film critics to review animation, drama, and documentary films, and over 150 young filmmakers from the UK and Ireland will be celebrated during the Young Filmmaker Showcase for rising talent.

Cinemagic Film Festival is funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, Foyle Foundation, Film Hub NI through the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, awarding funds from National Lottery.