Cinemagic unlocks opportunities for young talent

Ten winners of the Cinemagic Unlocking Talent Awards will fly to the Celtic Film and Television in Quimper in Brittany, from March 20-23, courtesy of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and Celtic Film and Television Festival.
During their stay, the winners will mix with the industry's top professionals as well as attend screenings, conference debates and business networking. The winners will also work together to design a new trailer for Cinemagic 2002 and participate in a debate on the future of creative industries.
The 10 winners were selected in December 2001 when Cinemagic hosted its inaugural Unlocking Talent Awards ceremony presented by TV personalities Dermot O’Leary and Amanda Byram. The awards were part of a UK initiative, which selected talented individuals who had the potential to make a contribution to the film, television and new media industries.
In addition to attending the Celtic Film Festival, Cinemagic has secured career-enhancing opportunities for each of the winners. The winners were:
- Christopher Logan (Best Young Musician), who will spend one week with Patrick Doyle, musical director of 'Bridget Jones Diary'. Christopher will also spend one-week studio time in Dublin composing his own CD for the feature film ‘Chasing the Dragon’ starring Cate Blanchett.
- Christopher Hill (Best Young Scriptwriter), who will be spend three weeks in RTE working on scripts for the popular drama 'Faircity'.
- Lisa Trinder (Best Young Cinematographer) and Morag Tinto (Best Young Runner Up Cinematographer), who will both spend 14 weeks at Pinewood Studios, London, working on the new ‘Johnny English’ feature film.
- Lara Gordon (Best Young Producer), who has secured two weeks with local production house Double Band and will work on a new documentary for Channel 4.
- Joanne Conere (Best Young Presenter), who has a placement with the 'Movie Chart Show' and an additional three weeks with BBC Northern Ireland's 'First Stop' programme.
- Naomi Zahl (Best Young Animator), who will spend three weeks working on a new feature film of the 'Magic Roundabout'.
- Emma Mac Neill (Best Young Actor), who will spend three weeks at the Gaiety School of Acting.
- Stephen Ferrin (Best Young Director), who has secured the opportunity to shadow direct Hot Shots Films on a new project.
- Si Kelly (Best Young Special Effects) and Stewart Wilkinson (Best Young 3D Modelling Artist) who both received £1500 worth of modelling software from Newtek.
Kerry McDonnell, Special Events Manager for Cinemagic, said: “Through the placements that Cinemagic have organised their potential will be nurtured. The young people will gain further skills and make industry contacts that will prove invaluable in the future."
Cinemagic, www.cinemagic.org.uk
(GMcG)