On The Pulse Festival Illuminates Screens this March
Date Posted: February 29, 2024
The 6th Cinemagic ON THE PULSE FESTIVAL, celebrating the short film genre, funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, proudly presents a March programme of unmissable films, jury programmes and a masterclass series for aspiring film, television and media creators. (Download Programme)
The world cinema programme and young critic panels are presented in partnership with Film Hub NI through the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, awarding funds from National Lottery. The programme offers a cinematic window to the world presenting a diverse range of storytelling, celebrating universal stories of youth and youth perspectives. Emerging filmmakers’ talents will be celebrated on screen at the ON THE PULSE Young Filmmaker Competition showcases supported by the Department for the Economy.
Masterclass and workshop highlights for students and emerging filmmakers feature Directing with Paddy Breathnach (Rosie, The Dry), Documentary Filmmaking with Daniel Gordon (Hillsborough, George Best: All by Himself) and Animation Directing with Jeroen Jaspaert (Stick Man).
Hands-on insights and learnings from short form film, social media, animation, gaming, dance and broadcasting come from industry guests including Meesha Garbett, Dean McCullough, and Gemma Bradley, all set to inspire next-gen creatives.
Talented filmmakers from Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland will be celebrated with the On The Pulse ’24 Young Filmmaker Competition Showcases. The exhibition of the 2023/24 Cinemagic BFI Film Academy ‘Short Courses’ films and Cinemagic produced cross-border and cross community films made in partnership with young trainees will also be premiered.
Joan Burney Keatings MBE, Cinemagic CEO said: “Cinemagic ON THE PULSE is designed to motivate and inspire young people from all backgrounds as we celebrate and promote the shorts genre. The programme offers a contemporary season of the very best international films for young audiences as well as showcasing shorts made by local filmmakers. ON THE PULSE also illustrates the importance of short filmmaking in the development of practical skills and in the development of sustainable careers in the creative industries and I encourage young creators to get involved in the vast array of opportunities on offer this March”.
Family and young audiences can enjoy special festival screenings of two episodes (Jack and Nancy and Zagazoo) from the new animated series Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures, with a producer Q&A for curious minds!
The treats continue with the much-loved early years screenings of Little Princess, Sarah and Duck, Horrid Henry, Tee and Mo and a wonderful celebration of a silent comedy master, Buster Keaton, with Steamboat Bill, Jr and live Neil Brand piano accompaniment.
The ON THE PULSE FESTIVAL will present the very best world cinema for young people where short film compilations from around the world will be shown in Northern Ireland for the first time, with a chance for discussion and debate to decide the 2024 winning films.
Some of the enchanting and thought-provoking films not to be missed are A Bear Named Wojtek, Margot and the Space Robot, and Dounia: The Great White North.
There is a strand celebrating Irish made and Irish inspired films over St Patrick’s Day weekend including Wolfwalkers, Wilde Stories and The Short Films of Cartoon Saloon as well as a Celtic Myths & Legends ‘Tales at Twilight’ storytelling session.
The programme also features beautiful new films Edmond and Lucy’s Wonderful Winter, and Hungry Bear Tales in Cinemas, as well as silly adventures in The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, classic on-screen antics from Scooby- Doo, Yogi Bear, and Tom and Jerry as well as kids’ favourites Lost and Found, The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Peter Rabbit!
Booking at www.wegottickets.com/cinemagic & www.queensfilmtheatre.com
The Cinemagic On The Pulse Festival is supported by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen. The Young Filmmaker strand of the Festival is supported by the Department for the Economy.
Cinemagic On The Pulse is supported by Film Hub NI through the BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund, awarding funds from National Lottery.
