Moviemakers of the future are in Northern Ireland this week to take what could be their first steps on the road to international stardom.

Some 20 students - from Belfast, Donegal, Dublin, Los Angeles and New York - are taking part in the first ever Cinemagic International Film School, running at Belfast's newly refurbished Crescent Arts Centre until Friday.

Under the guidance of top movie industry professionals, the young people, all aged between 15 and 18, are coming together to write and create their own short film, which will then be shown on Ulster Television (UTV) later in the month as well as at Cinemagic festivals in Belfast, Dublin, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco.

The students were officially welcomed to Belfast by Councillor Conor Maskey, Chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, who hailed the addition of the film school to the already busy Cinemagic programme of events.

"Cinemagic truly is one of Belfast's success stories," he commented.

"By embracing the magic of film, television and digital technologies to educate, motivate and inspire young people, Cinemagic has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence.

"Over the course of the last 20 years, Cinemagic has grown and expanded beyond all expectations.

"From fairly humble beginnings back in 1989, they now have two annual festivals per year in Belfast and Dublin and last year held events in Glasgow, Nottingham, Castres, New York and Los Angeles," he continued, noting that, in the next three years, Cinemagic aims to be the largest children's film festival worldwide.

(BMcC/GK)