By Sophie McLaughlin

Copyright belfastlive

The Cinemagic International Film Festival for Young People is returning for its 36th annual event in Belfast. Cinemagic will offer unmissable opportunities for all movie enthusiasts, families, schools, students and emerging filmmakers from September 28 to November 2, 2025. With over 125 events across Belfast, festival goers will have the chance to experience a thought-provoking world cinema programme, contemporary shorts, classic and brand-new family and teen films. There will also be over 50 film industry masterclasses and workshops with both international and home-grown talent, the Young Filmmaker Competition welcoming young directors from across the UK and Ireland, and Jury panels for budding movie critics. Funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council , and Film Hub NI through the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery, Cinemagic CEO Joan Burney said the festival aims to motivate young people, nurture talent, and develop the skills of tomorrow’s creatives. Joan added: “We are proud and excited to present the 36th Edition of Cinemagic Film Festival in Belfast. “As an innovator in the area of film exhibition for young people, and providing engagement opportunities in the screen industries, we want to show how Cinemagic inspires its participants, offers a window to the world, and in doing so celebrates diversity.” Here is a round-up from Cinemagic of some of the unmissable events happening this year: The 2025 line-up features over 80 film screenings and a highlight of the Gala Screenings for families is the special preview of the much-anticipated cinematic adventure Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie from DreamWorks Animation, starring Laila Lockhart Kraner, four-time Grammy Award winner Gloria Estefan and Academy Award nominee Kristen Wiig. A special preview of Sketch , directed by Seth Worley, is not to be missed, a film gem that celebrates empowerment, whilst cleverly balancing horror and humour, and special previews of Night of the Zoopocalypse and The Super Elfkins will delight audiences in animated journeys of fantasy and adventure. With over 15 Northern Ireland Premieres, the film programme offers a feast for film fans including a stunning portrayal of the early life of artist Frida Kahlo, in Hola Frida , and the coming of age journey, Future Council , directed by Damon Gameau, that follows eight children on the ultimate school excursion, a road trip across Europe to meet with powerful leaders and find solutions to ecological challenges. 11 Talent Lab workshops are on offer, hosted by acclaimed screen industry guests, who will inspire emerging filmmakers aged 16-25. Guests include: The multi-award-winning Belfast-based music and sound studio, Score Draw Music, will host a Sound Design workshop. The film critic Anna Smith and producer and agent Hedda Lornie Archbold , co-founders of the world’s leading podcast about women in film, Girls on Film, will delve into the A-Z of film journalism and podcasting. A spotlight will shine on the craft of creating character teeth for the screen, with the head of Fangs FX , Chris Lyons, hosting a special talk and demonstration. The Let’s Talk Movies strand features a screenings of Nanny McPhee with a Q&A with Director Kirk Jones, the new live action adventure, Akiko, The Flying Monkey with Director Veit Helmer and acclaimed book to film adaptation, Kensuke’s Kingdom with a Q&A with Director Kirk Hendry. There will also be a cast and crew screening of Spilt Milk , an engaging 1980s Dublin-set story about a young boy who dreams of becoming a detective like his TV hero, Kojak. This year’s Mark Kermode Film Night will thrill cinema fans on Halloween night with the horror treat, Tod Browning’s 1931 Dracula . Audiences will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Young Sherlock Holmes as the Festival welcomes and reunites original cast members Nicholas Rowe ( Sherlock Holmes ), Alan Cox (John Watson ) and Sophie Ward ( Elizabeth Hardy ) for a Q&A screening. A special showing of Back to the Future takes place on the eve of its 40th Anniversary re-release, and as part of a books and toys theme, all generations can enjoy the 40th Anniversary of The Care Bears Movie and a 30th Anniversary of beloved classic animation Toy Story . Emerging filmmakers from the UK and Ireland will be celebrated at the Young Filmmaker Competition, with short film screenings in genres including experimental, animation, drama, fantastic, documentary, short shorts and music video, and the weekend will culminate with an awards ceremony for over 200 filmmakers. Pop-Up Cinema comes to The Belfast Barge, and the Cinemagic Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks initiative returns in partnership with South Belfast Foodbank and Causeway Foodbank. Creativity Corner and Film School offerings will introduce young people to TV Presenting, SFX, Retro Game Design, and Digital Filmmaking. For the full programme of events taking places across the festival see: https://tinyurl.com/4ddct3f9 Richard Williams, CEO at Northern Ireland Screen, said: “Northern Ireland Screen is delighted to support another varied and diverse programme of film screenings, masterclasses and education events at the Cinemagic Belfast Festival. “Through our continued core funding, supported by the Department for Communities, we acknowledge what a contribution the festival plays in film culture, education, and training for young people across Northern Ireland. We wish the festival well in the month-long event.” For tickets to events, visit www.cinemagic.org.uk For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter