Many children dream of being a movie star who gets to walk down the glamorous red carpet in the heart of Hollywood. For a group of talented young people, that amazing dream came true last month.
On December 10, A Christmas Star, a heartwarming holiday film directed by and starring children, debuted at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
The movie premiere, presented by Cinemagic and Independent Television Network, boasted award-winning stars of the flick including Pierce Brosnan, Suranne Jones, Richard Clements and Liam Neeson. Despite all the celebrity power on the red carpet, the up-and-coming actors stole the spotlight the night of the premiere.
A Christmas Star is the inspiring creation of Cinemagic, an organization providing children with opportunities to take classes and workshops to learn more about the film industry. This is the UK-based charity’s first production.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to work on this truly unique Cinemagic project,” Liam Neeson said. “A Christmas Star is the first film of its kind, bringing together the talent and expertise of accomplished industry professionals together with the imagination and enthusiasm of our young generation in Belfast. The result is a heart-warming and magical story told through the eyes of an innocent child. The message, that love prevails, really captures the true spirit of Christmas.”
In addition to Brosnan and Neeson’s tremendous talent, Academy, BAFTA and Tony award-winning professionals were on-hand to mentor these young professionals through the filmmaking process.
Set in Pottersglen in Northern Ireland, the holiday film follows a young girl, portrayed by Erin Galway-Kendrick, who tries to save her town from a villainous developer. Born under a Christmas star, Erin’s character believes she can perform miracles, so she teams up with a group of misfit children to stop the town’s demolition.
“I hope that this Christmas story brings warmth, laughter and magic into living rooms across the world. That it might ignite the possibility that we all have magical talents and inspire us to search for our purpose in life- to rally against evil and stand up for what we believe in,” Maire Campbell, writer of the film, said.
About Cinemagic
The nonprofit organization launched in 1989 in Belfast. Cinemagic gives children the resources to learn about new cultures and develop skills to boost their confidence in life and filmmaking.
The organization’s festival is the largest film event for young people in Ireland and the UK. It brings together more than 35,000 people each year. Thanks to its success, it holds festivals in Belfast, Dublin, France, New York, Los Angeles and London every year.