We are delighted to have past participants of Cinemagic now working in the media, film and television industry. Examples include:
Michael Lennox from Northern Ireland was involved in many Cinemagic projects over the last 12 years including the Cinemagic Young Filmmaker Competition.
An NFTS graduate in MA Fiction Directing, Michael has directed numerous shorts that have screened all over the globe and won numerous awards. “The Back of Beyond” which won the Royal Television Society Student Television Award, Premio Pianific prize at Locarno Film Festival 2012 and was nominated for a European Film Award. His most recent short BOOGALOO & GRAHAM won the BAFTA and secured an Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short.
Michael's feature debut as director, PATCH OF FOG which starred Stephen Graham and Conlith Hill received its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Most recently, Michael directed an episode of ENDEAVOUR (Canticle) and the hit Northern Irish comedy series DERRY GIRLS for Channel 4, which has been C4's highest-rated comedy since 2004 and Northern Ireland's highest rated show since TV records began.
He is currently working on season 3 of Derry Girls and developing a TV series with Mammoth Screen.
Cinemagic patron Bronagh Waugh hails from Coleraine in Northern Ireland. Ten years ago Bronagh participated in a Cinemagic Talent Lab Masterclass with Dermot O' Leary.
Guildford School of Acting graduate, Bronagh Waugh is an outstanding, talented & versatile actress with strong credits across film and television. Perhaps best known for her “heart wrenching” (The Telegraph) performance of Sally-Ann Spector in BBC2’s BAFTA nominated series THE FALL. Bronagh was praised for the “dignity and power” of her performance (Benji Wilson, The Telegraph) alongside her on-screen serial killer husband; Paul Spector played by Jamie Dornan & Emmy & Golden Globe winner, Gillian Anderson.
Recently Bronagh took feature lead role opposite Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar in the BAFTA Award Winning ITV hit crime drama UNFORGOTTEN. Bronagh also co-starred with BAFTA winner Andrew Scott in feature length crime thriller STEEL COUNTRY. Written by Brendan Higgins and directed by Simon Fellows (Malice In Wonderland), the film is produced by The King’s Speech Gareth Ellis-Unwin and edited by Oscar-winner Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire).
Further credits include HEART OVERHEARD - an indie short film written and staring Bronagh, hit American series SUPERNATURAL, SyFy’s cult US hit series CHANNEL ZERO in which she played a young Fiona Shaw and the family blockbuster A CHRISTMAS STAR - in which she played one of the lead roles starring alongside Suranne Jones, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson and Robert James-Collier.
Bronagh splits her time and her work between The UK, Ireland, The US and Canada. She is an advocate and activist for several LGBTQ+ and equality organisations.
Mairead participated in Cinemagic’s TV Presenting Masterclass with Dermot O'Leary. Following this Mairead studied at UUJ and graduated with a degree in CAM (Communication, Advertising and Marketing).
In 2010 Mairead set up 'Dare Dreamers' which was designed specifically for young people and involved Mairead facilitating workshops in radio presenting and DJ'ing. After sending a demo to COOL FM Mairead was offered 'The Cool Nightshift'.
In 2012 she became the station's Olympic Games Reporter and she provided a weekly Movie Review on The Drivetime Show and was also involved with The Cool FM bus conducting Media Workshops for young people keen to pursue careers in the business as well as provided voiceovers for TV advertisements.
Mairead worked for Cool FM until 2014, followed by BBC Radio Ulster in Northern Ireland and BBC Radio 1Xtra.
Sammy Nutt is a London-based director, working in prime-time broadcast television, film, music promo and documentary. With talent such as Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Simon Cowell, Ariana Grande and Paula Malcomson. Clients include: BBC, ITV, MTV, Sony Music, Universal Music, Budweiser, Cadbury and Vans.
Back in 2005, Sammy participated in Cinemagic’s Music Directing Talent lab workshop with esteemed Music/TV director Hamish Hamilton - chosen as most promising director out of his class, he subsequently acquired a ‘Directorial Assistant’ work placement at the Brit Awards in 2006 and 2007. Alongside this he also participated in Cinemagic’s Young Filmmaker competition.
Sammy has worked with Cinemagic on various projects ever since, directing the short film ‘Sasha Of The Sea’ and award winning documentary ‘Trainee Filmmakers’.