Liam Neeson has urged film fans to go and see a new Ireland's first ever Christmas film, which was made by and for children.
The Oscar nominated actor is the narrator of A Christmas Star, a movie made by the Cinemagic children's charity, which brings together talented youngsters from across Ireland and further afield.
"The older we get, we can get very, very cynical," Neeson said. "It's just nice for this time of year, I'm talking about Christmas, to be reminded that there's this little bit of magic in the air. You know, cinema can certainly create that."
The feature film includes more than 40 trainee crew members aged 18-25 and a caste of talented young actors whittled down from the 5,000 who auditioned.
Premiering in Belfast on Wednesday, it tells the story of Noelle, a youngster who embarks on a magical journey to save her friends and family.
Born in dramatic circumstances under the Christmas Star, she believes she has the gift to perform strange miracles and teams up with a misfit gang of local kids to save her village from a conniving developer before they lose faith, leaving her to battle alone.
Along with Liam Neeson's distinctive voice, the film also boasts Pierce Brosnan and Suranne Jones among the lead cast and includes cameos from Kylie Minogue and a guest appearance by Dermot O'Leary.
Neeson, who is also a patron of the Cinemagic charity said, "Cinema does break down barriers I have seen it, In my 70 movies that I've made over the past 30 years, it's a powerful medium, it really is. I've seen kids from the Lower Bronx, inner city Dublin, on these Cinemagic two-week courses... their communication skills improve, their literacy skills in school improve. It's all a win-win situation."
A Christmas Star will premiere in Belfast tomorrow and is in cinemas from November 13.
