On Friday, June 20th, Cinemagic, the award-winning film and television charity that educates and inspires the next generation of young filmmakers, hosted its 2025 Los Angeles Showcase at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica. The event brought together young creatives, entertainment professionals, and notable guests from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States to celebrate youth involvement in film and television through a week of industry immersion and international collaboration. The Cinemagic LA Showcase included a red carpet and drinks reception, followed by a screening of the latest Cinemagic short films and live performances highlighting the achievements of young people from 18 different schools. The evening presented a celebratory ending to an educational and inspirational week of activities for the youth participants.
The event was hosted by Cinemagic CEO Joan Burney Keatings MBE and attended by a diverse group of Hollywood creatives, young filmmakers, actors, producers, and studio executives. Guests included an exciting array of talent from across the entertainment industry, such as Jaime King (actress, Hart of Dixie, Black Summer), Tara Reid (actress, American Pie) who recently won the best actress award at Chandler International film festival for her performance in Dr. Quarantine, and Amanza Smith (TV personality, Selling Sunset). The Showcase served as the grand finale of a week-long program designed to give young people an inside look at the entertainment industry. The initiative began with a musical theater workshop at Loyola Marymount University, led by director Maire Campbell and supported by the LMU Irish Studies Program and CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts Center LA).
Throughout the week, participants took part in exclusive Q&A sessions and masterclasses hosted by major film and TV studios and entertainment professionals, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Studios, Universal Studios, Imagine Entertainment, and Artists Equity. These sessions featured special guest speakers such as Kirsten Sheridan, Ryan Rowe, Alison Winters, Jonathan Sanger, James Longman, and Ross King, who shared their experiences and insights into their respective careers in the industry. This initiative is part of Cinemagic’s mission to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of storytellers by offering hands-on experience, career insights, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with entertainment and creative professionals.
Providing support for the program’s success in Los Angeles were Northern Ireland Connections, Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Bureau, ELMA (European Languages and Movies in America), CIACLA, Loyola Marymount University, and the Fairmont Miramar & Bungalows. These organizations played an important role in delivering superior learning experiences for aspiring young creatives. Celebrating the success of the program, Joan Burney Keatings said, “We are incredibly proud to collaborate with so many incredible organizations from both Northern Ireland, Ireland and Los Angeles.
A major highlight of the evening was the sold-out silent auction, which featured an array of exclusive items and experiences. Guests bid on a premium Los Angeles Dodgers game day
package with field-level seats and preferred parking, a VIP salon experience at Sally Hershberger with celebrity stylists Alex Osorio and Caleb Wilson, and a framed Bride Hard movie poster signed by Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp. Other coveted items included ten VIP tickets to the Laugh Factory with branded merchandise, a Cryoskin Neveskin Classic Facial from Pulsed Self Healing, a curated trio of Le Bon Argent Champagnes, and a premium tequila set featuring the ultra-rare Purísima Blanco by Brent Hocking.
The shared ethos among everyone involved is a catalyst for Cinemagic to offer the highest quality opportunities for young people in the creative industries.” Ciara Mckinney of Northern Ireland Connections added, “We are delighted to be partnering with Cinemagic as sponsor of the Los Angeles Showcase as we see it as a fantastic opportunity to be able to both help and highlight the immense talent of our young people from Northern Ireland. It is an opportunity to make and build industry connections in the USA and for us at NI Connections, that is what we are passionate about – making those connections and providing our diaspora with an opportunity to demonstrate the full potential of their talent and influence.”
Now in its 15th year in Los Angeles, Cinemagic continues to position itself as a global leader in the creative industries by promoting youth empowerment and cross-cultural storytelling. The annual showcase highlights the global power of film to inspire, connect, and build meaningful industry connections for the next generation of talent. Through programs that emphasize cultural exchange, hands-on learning, and industry access, Cinemagic empowers young talent as it continues to expand its global influence.