Pupils gain an insight into the world of movies

Some 550 students from Carrickfergus and Larne participated in Cinemagic’s World Cinema Day in March.

With pupils from Eden Primary, St Nicholas’s Primary, Acorn Integrated and Woodlawn Primary schools taking part, children had the chance to view the Japanese animation, Ponyo, from acclaimed production company Studio Ghibli.

The young people heard about world cinema and film reviewing with pupils giving their reviews and feedback to Cinemagic after the screening.

Representatives from JAM Media animation studio gave pupils an insight into animation filmmaking and talked to the young people in Larne Omniplex about the various roles in the film industry.

Sean Boyle from Cinemagic said: “With support from AES and Arts&Business Northern Ireland, we were able to work directly with nine primary schools in Carrickfergus and Larne to bring the Cinemagic Festival experience to their local areas, introducing over 500 young people to world cinema and film reviewing. For the majority of schools, this was the first time they watched a foreign language film and teachers were introduced to using film and film reviewing in the classroom as a way of promoting literacy.”

Davy Elliott from AES, the owners and operators of Kilroot and Ballylumford Power Stations, added: “Our partnership with Cinemagic has allowed us to engage with the local community and in particular develop new activity for primary schools in Carrickfergus and Larne to offer them an arts experience which is both fun and educational.”

Meanwhile, the investment programme allowed Cinemagic and AES to extend their reach to the local community and highlight the benefits of the arts world and the business world working in partnership, said Heather Carr from Arts & Business NI.