The recent Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for Young People culminated in a dazzling Los Angeles Showcase, drawing a constellation of industry luminaries to the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica on June 28th. Sponsored by George Best Belfast City Airport, NI Connections, and the NI Bureau, the event was a highlight on the LA social calendar, attracting 500 distinguished guests, including actors Junes B. Zahdi and Kevin Ryan, alongside Maire Campbell, Gia Salazar, Laurie Burke, and the legendary Amy Yasbeck and Maxwell Caulfield.
Hosted by Cinemagic CEO Joan Burney Keatings MBE, and impeccably organized by the award-winning Jane Owen Public Relations firm, the showcase left a lasting impression on all attendees. It featured the premiere of short films produced in both Los Angeles and Northern Ireland, underscoring Cinemagic’s dedication to fostering young talent and promoting cross-continental connections.
Now in its 15th year, Cinemagic Los Angeles stands as a beacon in the creative industries, empowering young people with the skills and opportunities to realize their potential. The showcase was the crown jewel of a week-long program that included exclusive talks at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills and behind-the-scenes tours of major film and TV studios. Participants from 12 schools and colleges in Northern Ireland and Los Angeles visited Warner Bros. Discovery and Imagine Entertainment, gaining insights from industry veterans like Emmy-winning TV Producer Jillian King and James Longman, Executive Producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden.
A key component of the program was the IGNITE youth leadership initiative, supported by George Best Belfast City Airport. Sixteen teenagers from Belfast collaborated with their Los Angeles peers on short film projects, including ‘Dream Notes’ and ‘Heaven on Earth,’ offering them invaluable hands-on experience in filmmaking and a platform to showcase their creativity.
Joan Burney Keatings MBE expressed her delight with the event, stating, “We are immensely proud to collaborate with so many incredible organizations from Northern Ireland and Los Angeles. The shared ethos among everyone involved was a catalyst for Cinemagic to offer the highest quality opportunities for young people in the creative industries.”
Michelle Hatfield, Chief People and Marketing Officer at George Best Belfast City Airport, highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent, remarking, “At Belfast City Airport, we are passionate about building the workforce of tomorrow and championing young people to become future leaders. Through our IGNITE program, the young people have already achieved great things and shown incredible potential.”
Moira Loughran, Head of NI Connections, echoed these sentiments, “We are delighted to partner with Cinemagic as a sponsor of the Los Angeles Showcase. It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the immense talent of our young people from Northern Ireland and to forge valuable industry connections in the USA.”
Andrew Elliott, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, reflected on the event’s success, “It was a pleasure to partner with Cinemagic Los Angeles, which helps shape our future leaders and provides them with the inspiration to be part of Northern Ireland’s flourishing Creative Industries.”
The Cinemagic Los Angeles Showcase was more than an event; it was a grand celebration of youth, creativity, and the transformative power of international collaboration. By providing young filmmakers with a platform to display their work and connect with industry professionals, Cinemagic continues to illuminate the path for the next generation of creative leaders.
