What Cinemagic Film Festival does

Cinemagic Film Festival is a non-profit youth film charity founded in 1989 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Joan Burney Keatings MBE. It delivers film festivals, hands-on filmmaking workshops, and educational programs for young people aged 4 to 25 across the UK, Ireland, the USA, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. The charity serves approximately 40,000 participants annually through a portfolio that includes the flagship Cinemagic Film Festival, the Young Filmmaker Competition, the Cinemagic LA Programme, the Barbados Film Academy, and newer initiatives such as Film Futures and REEL CHANGE. Venue partners include Ulster Museum, ODEON, and QFT, and the organization is supported by patrons Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, and Suranne Jones.

The operating model is a hybrid charity: core funding flows from UK and Irish government departments (Department for Communities, Department of Education Ireland), cultural agencies (Screen Ireland, National Lottery), and local authorities (Belfast City Council), supplemented by corporate partnerships (Bank of Ireland) and fee-based programs such as the LA Programme at £2,500 per participant. The organization runs on a lean team of 15 employees and relies on its alumni network — including working directors Michael Lennox, William McGregor, and Lee Cronin — as a credibility and pipeline asset. Historical reach spans 37 years, with royal visits and recurring award recognition as validation markers.

Name

Cinemagic Film Festival

Legal name

Cinemagic

Website

https://cinemagic.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cinemagic Film Festival is a Belfast-based non-profit youth film charity founded in 1989 that runs film festivals, filmmaking academies, and education programs for young people aged 4–25 across the UK, Ireland, the USA, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Film Festival & Film Education

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI), Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)

Keywords

• Youth film festival
• Film education programs
• Young filmmaker development
• Youth arts charity
• Short film production

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Funding and Grants: Primary revenue from government and lottery funding including Department for Communities, Department of Education and Youth Ireland, Belfast City Council, and National Lottery Awards for All Programme
2. Ticket Sales and Event Revenue: Revenue from film screenings, workshops, and festival events. Family screenings at reduced prices (£3 for some events)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cinemagic is an award-winning film charity that delivers international film festivals and educational film programmes for young people aged 4-25. The core offerings include the annual Belfast International Film Festival for Young People, the On The Pulse short film festival, the Dublin festival, and the Los Angeles programme, complemented by hands-on filmmaking academies, competitions, masterclasses, and community initiatives across the UK, Ireland, USA, and the Middle East.

Product overview

Cinemagic Film Festival is an award-winning youth film charity operating a portfolio of interconnected film festivals and educational programmes. The core offering consists of the Belfast International Film Festival for Young People (the largest in the UK and Ireland), the On The Pulse Short Film Festival, and Cinemagic Dublin. Supporting these are production academies including the Cross Border Short Film Academy (15-18 year olds), Film Futures Short Film Academy (16-19 year olds), Digital Film Academy (18+), and BFI Film Academy Short Course (16-19 year olds). The Cinemagic Los Angeles Programme provides international exposure, while the Young Filmmaker Competition and Young Consultants Programme engage youth in festival programming. Community initiatives include Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks and Middle East projects through the Filmi Programme. Cinemagic TV serves as the digital content platform. The organisation has produced two feature films and over 150 short films.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cinemagic Belfast Festival The leading international film and television festival for young people in the UK and Ireland, featuring film screenings, premieres, industry Q&As, masterclasses, and workshops. Runs annually in October with competitive categories for feature and short films.
• On The Pulse Short film festival for young filmmakers aged 30 and under from Ireland and Northern Ireland, featuring screenings, education events, talks, and workshops focused on the short film genre.
• Cross Border Short Film Academy Annual programme for aspiring filmmakers aged 15-18 from Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, offering masterclasses, script development workshops, and production experience culminating in a professionally mentored short film.
• Film Futures Short Film Academy Mentor-led introduction to filmmaking for students aged 16-19 from Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, supported by Screen Ireland. Blends creative inspiration with hands-on industry experience over four months, culminating in a professionally mentored short film.
• Digital Film Academy Industry training programme for participants aged 18+ from Northern Ireland, delivered in partnership with regional colleges. Provides hands-on training, professional mentoring, and recognized qualifications in filmmaking.
• BFI Film Academy Short Course Accredited OCN Level 2 qualification in Creative Arts & Digital Technologies for 16-19 year olds, delivered by Cinemagic in Belfast. Part of the UK-wide BFI Film Academy network.
• Cinemagic Los Angeles Programme International film and television experience for aspiring filmmakers aged 16-24, featuring studio visits, workshops, industry Q&As, and a showcase event at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.
• Young Filmmaker Competition Annual competition for young filmmakers aged 25 and under from UK and Ireland, featuring multiple award categories including experimental, animation, drama, documentary, and music video. Running for 37 years.
• Cinemagic Young Consultants Programme Youth engagement programme where young film enthusiasts aged 8-17 participate in workshops and screenings to help programme the annual festival, selecting films for the autumn programme.
• Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks Community initiative pairing family film screenings with food bank donations, educating young people about food poverty. Expanded regionally across Northern Ireland from its origin in South Belfast.
• Cinemagic TV Online video platform housing behind-the-scenes footage, tutorials, how-to videos, Q&As, festival highlights, and short films produced by young people.
• Projects in the Middle East (Filmi Programme) International filmmaking initiatives delivered in Jordan in partnership with Generations for Peace and the Irish Embassy, producing short films addressing social issues with Syrian refugees and local youth.
• Cinemagic Dublin Festival Film festival programming for young audiences delivered in Dublin, Ireland, with workshops and screenings supported by the Department of Education and Youth.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million young people engaged since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• Department for Communities through Northern Ireland ScreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funder of Belfast festival operations. Provides core funding for festival programming and film exhibition.
• Department of Education and Youth (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of Dublin festival and Cross Border Short Film Academy programmes.
• Belfast City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government funder supporting Belfast festival operations.
• Screen IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Film Futures Short Film Academy and LA Showcase programmes. Key national film body partner.
• The National Lottery Awards for All ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks Regional Tour across Northern Ireland.
• Trussell Trust FoodbanksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with South Belfast Foodbank and regional foodbanks for food donation initiatives at film screenings.
• Seamus Heaney HomePlaceregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural venue partner hosting foodbank tour launch and animation workshops in Bellaghy.
• Northern Ireland BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for LA showcase, supporting young creatives to develop international industry connections.
• Northern Irish ConnectionsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of LA Showcase, connecting young people with creative industry opportunities.
• Warner Bros. DiscoverymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing studio access and career insight days for young participants.
• Loyola Marymount UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for LA programme, hosting participants at campus and providing educational sessions.
• Fairmont Miramar Hotel & BungalowsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for annual LA Showcase celebration event.
• Artists EquityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing bespoke insight sessions for programme participants.
• Imagine EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing studio access and insight sessions.
• Film Hub NI (BFI FAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm audience network partner supporting exhibition and distribution activities.
• Generations for PeacemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordanian NGO partner for Filmi programme producing short films with Syrian refugees and local youth.
• Ireland Embassy in JordancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbassy partner supporting Jordan film productions and cultural exchange.
• CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts Center LA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish arts organization in Los Angeles supporting cultural programming.
• North West Regional CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege partner delivering Digital Film Academy accreditation in Derry/Londonderry.
• South Eastern Regional CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege partner delivering Digital Film Academy programmes.
• Bank of Ireland UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Screen Industries Bank financial wellbeing workshops for teenagers, engaging over 120 students annually.
• Prairie Vista Middle School (Hawthorne School District)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA school partner for filmmaking training initiatives producing short films.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Into Film: UK-wide youth film education charity delivering cinema screenings, filmmaking programmes, and film literacy to young people aged 5-19. Direct comparable as both a UK charity focused on youth film engagement with government funding.
• BUFF International Children and Young People's Film Festival: Swedish international film festival dedicated to children and young audiences, featuring competitive categories and educational programming. Comparable as a long-running European children's film festival with curated young-audience programming.
• BFI Film Academy: British Film Institute's UK-wide network of film training programmes for 16-19 year olds, including short courses accredited at OCN Level 2. Cinemagic operates as a delivery partner within this network, making it a directly comparable programme model.
• TIFF Kids: Toronto International Film Festival's dedicated children's and youth programme offering film screenings, industry workshops, and youth jury components. Directly comparable as an internationally-recognised children's film festival with industry access programmes.
• Schlingel International Film Festival: German international film festival dedicated to children and youth audiences, featuring competitive categories and educational programming. Comparable as a long-running European children's film festival with international programming focus.
• London Children's Film Festival: Annual children's film festival in London featuring screenings, workshops, and competitive categories for young audiences. Closely comparable as another UK children's film festival with educational programming.

Regional players

• Dublin International Film Festival: Ireland's largest film festival featuring public screenings, industry events, and audience development programmes. Comparable as an Irish film festival with overlapping regional market and audience base.
• Galway Film Fleadh: Major Irish film festival based in Galway with industry programming, workshops, and youth-focused elements. Comparable as an Irish film festival serving similar regional audiences and drawing on Screen Ireland funding.

Broad incumbents

• Raindance Film Festival: UK-based independent film festival and film school offering youth training programmes, short film competitions, and industry events. Comparable as a UK independent film organisation with youth education and competition offerings.

Emerging players

• Tribeca Film Institute: Nonprofit affiliate of Tribeca Festival running youth education programmes and filmmaker development initiatives. Comparable in operating youth-focused film education and industry pathway programmes with major studio partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CinemagicFilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/CinemagicFestival
• Instagraminstagram.com/cinemagic_filmfestival
• TikToktiktok.com/@cinemagic_film
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinemagicfilmfestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cinemagic Film Festival