New generation of filmmakers celebrated at Mid and East Antrim short film premiere

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Joan Burney Keatings MBE with cast and crew from Cinemagic Placement Insights Programme.

Young filmmakers from across Mid and East Antrim have taken centre stage after seeing their work showcased on the big screen at a special short film screening held at the Ecos Hub.

A group of 23 talented young people, aged between 17 and 24, attended the screening of The Friendship Garden, an original short film developed through the 2025 Film Lab production initiative.

The event marked the culmination of months of creative collaboration, professional training and hands-on experience within the screen industries.

The project ran from March 2025 and was delivered by Cinemagic through Mid and East Antrim’s Labour Market Partnership as part of the Placement Insights Programme. Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships aim to create targeted employment action plans, bringing together local and regional partners to support people towards sustainable work opportunities.

Over recent months, participants worked closely with industry professionals to develop their ideas from concept to completion. They attended a series of pre-production masterclasses covering directing and camera operation, sound, lighting and set work, while also gaining valuable experience in story development and scriptwriting.

The editing and post-production phase resulted in The Friendship Garden, a short film that reflects the creativity, teamwork and dedication of the young filmmakers.

Shot on location across the Mid and East Antrim area, the production offered participants a real-world insight into the demands and rewards of working in film.

Beyond the finished film, the initiative was designed to create a pipeline into training and employment within the creative industries, while also supporting local economic growth. By bringing together the film industry and the Labour Market Partnership, the programme aimed to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and provide meaningful opportunities to explore careers in a competitive sector.

The special screening was attended by families, supporters, cast and crew, alongside council representatives and funding partners, who gathered to celebrate the achievements of the young creatives.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, praised the participants, saying:

“I am incredibly proud of what these young people have accomplished and saw for myself their passion and commitment during filming. This programme was designed to open doors, build confidence and give participants hands-on experience in the screen industries and I believe this has been achieved.”

Cinemagic CEO Joan Burney Keatings MBE highlighted the wider impact of the collaboration, commenting:

“We are delighted to have created a successful collaboration with our partners in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to assist young individuals to develop new skills, and to give them the confidence in the future to thrive in employment in the creative industries.

“Pre-production masterclasses with industry professionals culminated with participants having the opportunity to work on The Friendship Garden in locations in the Mid and East Antrim area and we were very impressed with the talent of all of the trainees and their dedication to the project.”

For the young filmmakers involved, the project offered not only the thrill of seeing their work on the big screen, but also a confidence boost and a clearer sense of the career pathways available within the creative industries.

More information on the Labour Market Partnership is available at www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/LMP or by emailing emaillmp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.