GALA AWARDS CEREMONY MARKS CINEMAGIC FESTIVAL SUCCESSES!
A host of industry professionals including Oscar-winning screen-writer Julian Fellowes; President and Chief Executive of Sesame Workshop, Gary Knell; actor Patrick Bergin and DreamWorks Animation’s Phil McNally joined four hundred invited guests at a Gala Awards Ceremony, hosted by UTV’s Marc Mallett, in Belfast City Hall, on Friday 26th November, to celebrate the successes of the 20th Anniversary Coca-Cola Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People.

After 17 days action packed with film screenings, workshops, masterclasses, and industry discussions, the festival culminated with a celebration for young people, showcasing and awarding their talent, and looking back at the successes of the last 20 years of Cinemagic.

A special award was presented to Gary Knell, President and Chief Executive of Sesame Workshop, for a Lifetime Contribution to Children’s Television and Julian Fellowes, creator of recent ITV hit period drama series, Downtown Abbey, received the award for Best Feature Film for a Children’s Audience as chosen by a young people’s jury for ‘From Time to Time’, which had its Northern Ireland premiere at the Festival.

Arts and Culture Minister Nelson McCausland who attended the awards ceremony said “Congratulations to the Cinemagic Festival which is celebrating its 20th year and is now the largest children and young people’s film event in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Through this festival, Cinemagic continues to inspire young people to find something exciting, create something new and do something different and I applaud the Festival for their work in inspiring the next generation of film makers.”

The winning festival films in the following categories were:

Best Short Film as voted for by a Children's Jury, ‘Le silence sous l’ecorce’, Dir: Joanna Lurie, France, 2010

Best Feature Film as voted for by a Children's Jury, ‘From Time To Time’, Dir: Julian Fellowes, UK, 2009

Best Short Film as voted for by a Teenage Jury, ‘Canary’ Dir: Oliver Hudson, UK, 2010

Best Feature Film as voted for by a Teenage Jury, Boy, Dir: Taika Waititi, New Zealand, 2010.

The Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Awards went to Victoria Park Primary School, Birmingham, for ‘Aztec Gold’, in the Under 15 year old category, to Daniel Allen for ‘Education for Leisure’ in the 15-17 year old category, to William McGregor for ‘Who’s Afraid of the Water Sprite’ in the 18-25 year old category, to Andrew Barry for ‘The Snatchers’ in the Best Script category, to Will Maloney for ‘Diamond White Love’ for the Best Community film and to William McGregor for ‘The Little’ in the Innovation category.

The After School Film Club of the Year which went to Harberton School, Belfast, and special commendations went to Nazareth House Primary School and De La Salle High School. Pictured above are Mr. Barry Sharvin (Principal of De La Salle High School) and Year Nine pupils, Paul Braiden and Dylan Smyth receiving their special commendation award.