Northern Ireland Search for Next Generation of Film Talent is Launched!

Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival is calling for 16-19 year old aspiring filmmakers from Northern Ireland to get involved in a new initiative, the Cinemagic Film Academy Series, a Network Programme, which is being delivered in partnership with the pioneering BFI Film Academy.

The initiative, which will take place in Belfast and run for 5 weeks (over a series of weekends), beginning in November 2013, will equip young filmmakers, passionate about film, with the knowledge, skills, insight, confidence and practical training to help lay strong foundations for their pursuit of a career in the film industry.

In addition to the 5 weeks training (40 hours), the participants will also be allocated time to shoot a short film (during the final stages of the course) which will be screened at the final session.

Cinemagic Chief Executive, Joan Burney Keatings MBE said “Cinemagic is honoured to have been selected to work in partnership with the BFI Film Academy on this fantastic initiative. The programme will enable Cinemagic to create, educate, motivate and inspire a new generation of film industry talent from Northern Ireland and we are looking forward to engaging with young people from all backgrounds to give them an invaluable opportunity to develop their skills.

BFI CEO Amanda Nevill comments:

“The BFI is committed to developing tomorrow’s film audiences and talent and the BFI Film Academy is at the heart of our comprehensive strategy to give young people across the UK opportunities to engage with film. We’re proud that through the BFI Film Academy young people of all backgrounds are given a springboard to a career in film. Following an enormously successful inaugural year in 2012, the Academy is now establishing itself as a gold standard training and development programme with a vision for future growth. This wouldn’t be possible without the backing of the Department for Education and we thank them and all our partners for their continuing support as we this year take the Film Academy to more people than ever across the UK.”  

The Academy aims to help train and inspire the next generation of British filmmakers and this year builds on 2012/13’s hugely successful inaugural year, with a total of 900 places available in 2013/14 for 16-19 year olds right across theUK. The academy offers bursaries to help those in need with costs, including travel and childcare, ensuring it is accessible to as diverse a range of young people as possible.  

Participants must be available to attend all 5 sessions which will take place on the following Saturdays in Belfast, 16th November, 23rd November, 30th November, 7th December, 18th January/

Places are limited and the cost to participate is £25.00 per person. For more information or to apply for the course please email [email protected] or telephone 028 90 311 900

The closing date for entries is 10th October with interviews taking place week commencing 14th October.

Ends://

Notes to Editors:

The BFI Film Academyaims to help train and inspire the next generation of British filmmakers, supporting talented and committed young people aged 16-19 to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge and skills to help make a career in film a reality.

The BFI FilmAcademyoffers training for every film industry role, from writing and directing through to production, sound design, editing and camera, and provides learning around film history and cinematic storytelling to inspire an appreciation of film culture in the round.

The BFI Film Academy forms a key part of the BFI’s ambitious plans to revolutionise film education for 5-19 year olds, a core aim of the BFI’s Film Forever five year plan to support the future success of UK film.FilmAcademy funding partners include the Department for Education inEngland, the National Lottery, Creative Scotland and Northern Ireland Screen. Strategic partners include BAFTA, Pinewood Studios and Creative Skillset, helping to ensure the Academy is a gold standard film industry-focused educational programme.

www.bfi.org.uk/filmacademy

For more information please click here: http://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/5-19-film-education-scheme-2013-2017

Running between October 2013 and February 2014, the UK-wide programme will offer:

•          A minimum of 40-hours of training

•          A chance to gain an Arts Award accreditation

•          Experience of working on state of the art industry equipment

•          Watch a wide range of film cultures

•          Valuable teamworking experience  with like-minded peers

•          The chance to create a film guided by highly skilled and experienced practitioners

•          A personal development plan so participants can plot their career moves after the course

•          The chance to screen their work at a final showcase

About the BFI

The BFI is theUK’s lead film organisation, with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:

• Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
• Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations
• Investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
• Promoting British film and talent to the world 
• Growing the next generation of filmmakers and audiences