News

CINEMAGIC LA RETURNS WITH HOST OF FILM AND TELEVISION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

Pierce Brosnan will lend his support to the 3^rd Cinemagic Los Angeles Film and Television Festival for Young People which takes place February 20th-25th 2012. The Irish born actor and patron of Cinemagic will share his career experiences with young film and media students, at a special Q&A session at Pepperdine University's Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture (on Wed 22^nd), and the audience will include seven teenagers from Northern Ireland and two teenagers from the Republic of Ireland.

Claire Hamill (17) from Loughbrickland, Melissa McCartan (17 from Belfast, Emma White (17) from Newry, Megan Kealey (17) from Belfast, Curtis Murray (19) from Ballyclare, Luke Alexander (18) from Groomsport,Rosie Gaunt (18) from Ballymena, Dale Twomey (18) from Dublin and Kayleigh Nic Reamoinn from Dublin participated in Cinemagic’s International Film Camp in Belfast last August, along with budding filmmakers from the Republic of Ireland, USA and Dubai. The film camp aimed to bring young people from different cultural backgrounds together to work on a common goal and the young people produced a short film in five days.

As a result of the film camp, seven teenagers from Northern Ireland and two teenagers from the Republic of Ireland were selected to represent Cinemagic during its week of events in Los Angeles and to showcase their short film to the young audiences there. Two of the Los Angeles film camp participants will also be present at the events and will talk about their experience making the short film in Belfast last summer.

Cinemagic  will be working in partnership with a number of film and television organizations in Los Angeles that include The Jim Henson Company, Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, HBO, 20^th Century Fox, Remote Control Studios, Pepperdine University, New York Film Academy,Variety and Inner-City Arts to entertain and educate  young people through film and offer them the opportunity to attend educational Q&A’s, film screening, workshops and special events with leading industry professionals such as Pierce Brosnan and Oscar winning composer Hans Zimmer.

The opening of the festival will be marked with a showcase evening in association with Ray Garcia’s Fig Restaurant and the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica at which the action packed 6-day program of events will be officially launched and at which the young people from Northern Ireland will introduce their short film entitled 'The Box'.

Joan Burney Keatings, Chief Executive of Cinemagic International Film & Television Festival for Young People, said “With the support of our funders and sponsors I am proud to present our third Cinemagic Los Angeles Film Festival. We are delighted that our patron Pierce Brosnan will be present at the festival to inspire young filmmakers from Los Angeles, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Our industry partners have come on board to share their knowledge and skills with young people, through workshops, film screenings and question and answer sessions. This interaction provides vital encouragement for young people, inspiring them to pursue their ambitions.

The Cinemagic Festival gives young people the opportunity to work with others from different cultural backgrounds and to create new channels of communication through the medium of film. The workshops help develop not only the young people’s film making skills but also their inter-personal skills, and the overall process of film viewing contributes to a deeper understanding of cultural difference.”

Pierce Brosnan, Cinemagic patron said “I am delighted to be joining Cinemagic once again to share my experience in film and television with students from Ireland andLos Angeles. Cinemagic offers a unique educational experience to students who might otherwise not receive the chance to learn about the entertainment industry."

Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland, commented, “In the last couple of years, Cinemagic has reached out to key film institutions and artists in Los Angeles and has created exciting new personal connections between Irish and American teenagers based on their love of film.  The Cinemagic festival in LA is going from strength to strength, and we are delighted to have supported its development from the start.”

Caral Ni Chuilin, Arts Minister, Northern Ireland commented “I am delighted that my Department has been able to support Cinemagic's activities in the USA again this year. Cinemagic LA  provides young people with a fantastic experience and demonstrates the innovation and determination that the Cinemagic team has, to put the North of Ireland at the forefront of creativity on an international stage.”

Ellis O’Connor, MSD Hospitality owners of Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows added “The week long series of screenings, workshops and masterclasses with top industry professionals and studios will offer young people from Belfast, Dublin and Los Angeles unique opportunities to learn about the Film and Television industry and gain first hand knowledge from the best in the business.”

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Press Information: Claire Shaw, Cinemagic Press Officer,

028 90 311 900, claire@cinemagic.org.uk