'Merlin' to 'takeover' Belfast film weekend
Colin Morgan, the star of BBC One's 'Merlin' is to cast his special brand of magic over Belfast, when he opens the Belfast City Council backed Takeover Film Weekend at the Queen's Film Theatre.
The weekend long event, which runs from Friday 18 – Sunday 20 November, is designed, programmed and run by a team of young people from different cultural backgrounds, and is supported by the council and the Community Relations Council, in partnership with the Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People.
Marion Campbell, QFT Education Officer, said: “Takeover Film participants from local community groups have worked together under the guidance of creative industry professionals over the past three months to learn skills in cinema programming, graphic design, event management and film-making.
“We are really proud of the programme they have put together, which encompasses a wide range of film genres and includes a Northern Ireland premiere, live music and industry workshops.”
The Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, congratulated all involved with the Takeover Film Weekend, saying:
“Projects such as this make a positive difference to the lives of the young people involved and provide an insight into the exciting opportunities offered by our thriving creative industries.
“I am delighted that Belfast City Council is supporting this venture and wish it every success for the future”.
The Takeover Film Weekend opens on Friday 18 November with the Northern Ireland premiere of Parked, which stars the Armagh-born Morgan, who also will introduce and discuss the film, and Colm Meaney.
On Saturday 19 November there will be showings of Heathers, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, and the Swedish horror Let the Right One In, while Sunday 20 November will see screenings of Brick, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Albatross, starring Jessica Brown-Findlay of Downton Abbey, and Rickshaw Rick starring Belfast actor Marty McCann (Killing Bono), who also will lead an acting workshop at QFT on Saturday 19 November.
There also will be a screenwriting workshop on Sunday 20 November, when professional screenwriter Carol Murphy will give young writers aged 14-20 years the tools to get started by looking at premise, central character, conflict, motivation, structure of a story, plot and sub plot.
Tickets for all Takeover Film Weekend screenings are £6 full price, £5 concessions and £4 students and children. Workshop places are £5 for acting and £4 for screenwriting.
For further information and online booking, visit www.takeoverfilm.com.
