A touch of movie magic

There's nothing superstitious about Cinemagic, the World Screen Festival for Young People.

The world-renowned celebration of the wonder and magic of cinema - in all its forms - has reached its 13th birthday and it's bigger and better than ever.

This year's event, organised by the Belfast-based CineMagic, takes place from November 28-December 8 in various venues around the city (as well as in a series of mini-fests in Antrim, Strabane, Omagh and Craigavon in the coming months) and, once again, a formidable list of cinema personalities will be visiting Northern Ireland for the customary popular workshops, master-classes, lectures and hands-on events.

Included in the star-studded line-up will be Oscar-winning screenwriter, Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park); Coleraine-born actor, James Nesbitt; Aardman Animation's Peter Lord; Hugo Speer from the charity, War Child; actor Ray Winstone; Dermot O'Leary; Charlie Brooks from Eastenders; Clare McGann; D.I. Burrows and Phil Mount.

Says Michael Fearon, Chief Executive of CineMagic: "We're naturally delighted with the line-up for this year's festival. We continue to go from strength-to-strength in promoting the delights and wonder of film to young audiences. This festival will be one of the biggest ever, and the calibre of our guests speaks volumes for our importance on the world scene."

Indeed it does, for this particular event has become one of the world's most outstanding festivals for young people.

Its growing reputation has, for example, long been recognised by Hollywood - specially by the influential Walt Disney Studio - through some astonishingly prestige connections.

There are several interesting strands running through this year's festival, including a series of special Irish premieres, a focus on German film, a look at Girls on Film (a workshop in conjunction with the Film Institute of Ireland), screenings and workshops relating to Children in Conflict, a comprehensive programme of family features, teenage flicks, a look at the never-ending flow of films based on Shakespeare, animated features and shorts.

CineMagic is also a competitive festival, with young juries (including international members from France, Germany, Italy and Sweden) selecting the winners.

Having grown steadily over the years, CineMagic can now boast several people now firmly established in the film industry.

Working in tandem with the film and television industry and having established links with festivals around the world, the people who as youngsters took part in CineMagic events include one of this year's guest speakers, Dermot O'Leary (Top of the Pops, Big Brother's Little Brother, SAS).