Give young audiences roles as viewers, jurors and filmmakers
Cinemagic's 37th festival for young people in Belfast combines family and teen screenings, age-banded CineSeeker juries, a Young Filmmaker Competition and workshops for 16–25-year-olds.
Published 9/28/2026
The idea
Giving young people active roles builds attachment to cinema beyond a single visit and can create future regular audiences.
Evidence
Over 125 events and 50 industry masterclasses; family and teen screenings; CineSeeker young-jury panels by age band (for example a 12–14 jury on 10–11 October at Queen's Film Theatre); a Young Filmmaker Competition for UK and Ireland entrants; and filmmaking workshops for 16–25-year-olds.
Operator takeaway
The transferable value is the operating mechanism, not an assumed outcome. Adapt it with a clear baseline and decision rule.
Try this
Recruit a small youth jury for one season strand, give them a public award to present, and track whether jurors and their families return.
Measure
Jurors recruited; Jury-strand attendance; Return visits by jurors' households; Workshop completions.
Watch out for
Attendance and participation numbers are unpublished. No outcome data on later cinema-going are available.
Operator, market and timing
Cinemagic, Belfast, 37th edition in association with Belfast City Airport, September–November 2026 (announced 23 September 2026).
What the initiative does
Over 125 events and 50 industry masterclasses; family and teen screenings; CineSeeker young-jury panels by age band (for example a 12–14 jury on 10–11 October at Queen's Film Theatre); a Young Filmmaker Competition for UK and Ireland entrants; and filmmaking workshops for 16–25-year-olds.
Why it may matter to an operator
Giving young people active roles builds attachment to cinema beyond a single visit and can create future regular audiences.
Terms, eligibility and restrictions
Jury places are age-banded; competition entry is limited to UK and Ireland.
What is known and what remains unknown
Attendance and participation numbers are unpublished. No outcome data on later cinema-going are available.
A practical adaptation or test (CIA suggestion)
Recruit a small youth jury for one season strand, give them a public award to present, and track whether jurors and their families return.
Resources and commercial or operational risks
Education staff, safeguarding and screening costs. Risk: participation concentrated among already engaged families.
What to measure
Jurors recruited; Jury-strand attendance; Return visits by jurors' households; Workshop completions.
Related examples on Cinemas in Action
Cinemagic's foodbank regional tour is a separate initiative and is not covered here.
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