102 Dalmations Blasts off Belfast's Cinemagic

This year's programme includes a plethora of events, ranging from Gala performances of eagerly awaited films such as Rocky and Bulwinkle, 102 Dalmatians and Pokemon: the Movie 2000 to Sophie's World, Animal Farm and also harks back to such classics as The Wizard of Oz, Scrooge and Miracle on 34th Street.

Cinemagic opens with 102 Dalmatians; Glen Close reprises her role as the deliciously devilish Cruella DeVille and is joined by Tony (Baldrick) Robinson as her side kick and Gerard Depardieu as her henchman Jean Pierre Le Pelt. The cast also includes Ioan (Horatio Hornblower) Gruffudd and Tim McInnerny also of Blackadder fame. Cruella is fresh out or jail and determined to get her hands on the spotted coat and this time the action takes place in Paris.

Closing the festival is Pokemon: the Movie 2000 the sequel to the smash hit Pokemon the Movie and promises an exciting new adventure with the immensely popular animated characters.

Rocky and Bullwinkle are set to save the world again in the Irish Premiere of the CGI version of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. With a star-studded cast, including Robert de Niro and Rene Russo, it promises to be a hit with fans of the cartoon. Watch out for cameos from Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.

Those few of you who haven't read the international best-seller 'Sophie's World' now have a chance to see it on the big screen. Jostein Gaarder's amazing journey through time and thought, with visits to Shakespeare, De Vinci, Socrates and other visionary legends promises to be a visual and intellectual inspiration.

Pete Postlethwaite leads a live action version of George Orwell's Animal Farm, with voice talent provided by Star Trek's Patrick Stewart, Ian Holm and Kelsey (Frasier) Grammer. With a mixture of live and model animals akin to the likes of Babe, the audience has a chance to spot the real animals from the excellent animatronic animals provided by Jim Henson's Creature Shop has given life to animals.

The Festival also sees the return of Babar in King of the Elephants and a haunting animated version of the Diary of Anne Frank. The Colour of Paradise is similarly visually stunning and tells of a young, blind boy who sees the world though his hands. His father however sees young Mohammed as an inconvenience and is worried that he might be a hindrance to his forthcoming marriage.

A Cow and the Boy will strike a chord as the BSE crisis heightens and a young boy tries to save his favourite cow from the claws of the French government. Heading to Germany, Lola and her infamous red hair can be seen dashing backwards and forwards in Run Lola Run.

Another Shakespeare classic has been translated to the 21st century in the form of Hamlet. Julia Stiles plays Ophelia to Ethan Hawke's Hamlet in this fresh interpretation. There is also a fantastic selection of shorts from all over the world, which promise to entertain adults and children alike.

In addition to an amazing selection of films, there are conferences, competitions and workshops to suit all tastes. The highlight of the conferences has to be the three day event 'What's the Story" with keynote speakers such as Roy E Disney (Vice Chairman of the Walt Disney Company). There is a very special opportunity to see a collection of short films, which are the results of a competition for 9-13 year old writers from across the UK. Disney Channel's Incredible Story Studio has turned them into live action and animation shorts and the evening will be introduced by Roy E Disney.

There is also a Top of the Pops workshop with the Executive producer Chris Cowey and Arena 21 provides opportunities to check out what's new in the world of multimedia entertainment including the much anticipated Playstation 2.

Unusually and to the Festival's credit, the panel chosen to judge the films in competition for Best Feature Film and Best Short Film are all young people. The films competing are marked in the brochure as are all of the short films are in the competition.

Tickets start at a mere £2 and rise to £6.50 and can be obtained from the Cinemagic Box.

Sophie Mount