As Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for Young People returns to Dublin this May and June, we’ve been busy scanning the exciting programme the organisers have put together for 2019.
This year’s festival comes packed full of diverse and creative opportunities, all designed to inspire and motivate young people interested in the magic of film. Two welcome new additions include the first ever immersive Cinemagic Talent Lab Boot Camp for 16+yr olds, while the Talking Pictures series offers festival-goers a chance to view Irish movies in the company of filmmakers and film professionals such as Frank Berry, Carmel Winters, Lee Cronin, Aislinn Clarke, Paddy Breathnach and brothers Andrew and Ryan Tohill.
With a fabulous selection of movie screenings and premieres on offer, the festival opens on May 28th with the Irish Premiere of Racetime, a wild adventure through the trials and tribulations of childhood. With so much going on, here’s our pick of some of the things to be enjoyed at Cinemagic 2019.
1. BOOT CAMP
First up is the Cinemagic Talent Lab Boot Camp, a one-day event in Liffey Trust Studios aimed at film buffs aged 16+. Featuring masterclasses, seminars and Q&A’s with film professionals, the film-themed Boot Camp is a terrific opportunity for new entrants to learn more about the film and television industry, gain insight from industry professionals, network with other new entrants and develop knowledge and key skills.
2. TALKING PICTURES
Then there’s the Talking Pictures series which celebrates Irish film-making talent with a series of film screenings and talks, where film professionals will be on hand to offer advice and top tips for young people with an interest in a career in film. Screenings include Float Like A Butterfly, a gloriously unruly collision of vivid romanticism and tough, unsentimental truths about the lives and casual discrimination faced by Irish travellers, followed by a Q&A with director Carmel Winters. There’s also a chance to see the suspense filled supernatural thriller, The Hole In The Ground plus Q&A with Lee Cronin and The Devil’s Doorway featuring a Q&A with Aislinn Clarke. Meanwhile, gripping debut feature The Dig also gets an airing followed by a Q&A session with award-winning Irish directors (and brothers) Andrew and Ryan Tohill.
3. SHORTS FOR SHORTIES
A collection of colourful, exciting and easy to follow stories, either in English or with no dialogue, these short movies are packaged over 60 minutes take place in ODEON Point Square. Highlights include Miriam By The Lake, the story of a restless chicken who makes the acquaintance of spooky night creatures and Coucouleurs; Cycle, where a young girl discovers that true adventure begins where the road ends.
4. MOVIES FOR KIDS
Young film buffs will be spoilt for choice as the festival invites them to immerse themselves in a myriad of movies all screening at the ODEON Point Square over the first weekend of the festival, the 1st and 2nd of June.
Choose from Revolting Rhymes, your favourite Nursery Rhymes retold by the master of story-telling, made complete with an ever-so wicked Roald Dahl twist; family favourites The Gruffalo’s Child and The Highway Rat, a fabulous, rollicking adventure inspired by the famous Alfred Noyes poem, and ‘Princess Emmy, animated entertainment aimed at fans of princesses and magic.
5. NEW FAMILY FILMS
Over the June bank holiday festival-goers can also look forward to savouring a tasty selection of new films for the whole family to enjoy. These fast paced, adventure packed titles include Dino King: Journey To Fire Mountain, an action-packed family adventure that combines the realism of ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ with the heart of ‘Finding Nemo’; Alone In Space, a high concept, family sci-fi, bolstered by sharp production design and visual effects; the magical Ötzi And The Mystery Of Time; Belle And Sebastian, Friends For Life, the story of a loving grandfather and grandson set out on a quest to save their dog, set high in the French Alps and Captain Morten And The Spider Queen where viewers get to follow Morten on his shrunken adventure!
6. WORLD CINEMA
The Cinemagic Festival also features a feast of films from all over the world for 12+ year olds focusing on themes of love, justice, friendship and family. Highlights include A Colony, a film that sees young teenagers in search for a place where they can be themselves and Dilili In Paris, the latest offering from movie maestro, Michel Ocelot. Also showing is The Runaways, an atmospheric and uplifting celebration of childhood and family and My Extraordinary Summer With Tess, in which a young boy learns the importance of family and friends during his adventures with his new friend.
Other highlights include Fight Girl which explores real life issues around family and an acrimonious divorce; Funan, a thrilling story of love, loss and enduring hope, The War Game, a thought-provoking and tense youth drama, irresistible comedy Amateurs and Bruce Lee And The Outlaw, a modern-day Oliver Twist story set under the streets of Bucharest.
7. CREATIVITY CORNER
Finally, the festival also offers a great opportunity to learn how to tell a short story in a storyboard with David Bunting’s fun-filled workshop inspired by his 20 years’ experience working on projects such as Disney’s The Tigger Movie, Shaun The Sheep, Bob The Builder and Dennis & Gnasher.
Creative souls are also invited to try their hand at a Lego Animation workshop with Joel Simon and ‘Model Making’ with Aardman Animations, where participants will learn how to make their very own Feathers, Gromit or Shaun the Sheep character. Mårten Jönmark, Brown Bag Films (Doc McStuffins, Peter Rabbit) host a storyboarding workshop sharing skills on telling stories visually and Caoimhe Ní Bhrádaigh, Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner) presents a workshop exploring the science behind the magic of animation.
Cinemagic Dublin is funded by the Department of Education and Skills.
To see the full programme and to book tickets go to: cinemagic.ie
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