FILM / Best of the reps

BELFAST Cinemagic The UK's largest festival of cinema for young people gets into full swing next week, with screenings of 35 films from 12 different countries, discussions with film-makers, a young people's jury nominating the best film, and special masterclasses - in direction with Thaddeus O'Sullivan (December Bride), and in production with Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, Into the West). The film programme begins next Tuesday with a double-bill of Steven Gough's Elenya and Creature Comforts creator Nick Park's latest animation, The Wrong Trousers, and closes on 16 December with a preview of the new Disney adventure, Free Willy.

Cinemagic, 7 Lower Crescent, BT7 1NR (0232- 232444)

CAMBRIDGE Andrew Birkin The director will introduce a special screening of The Cement Garden at the Arts Cinema this Sunday, and lead a discussion afterwards. Birkin's son Ned, who plays six-year-old Tom, a child with a penchant for drag, will also join in the discussion.

Cambridge Arts Cinema, 8 Market Passage, CB2 3PF (0223-352001)

GLASGOW Vincente Minnelli Musicals A season of four of Minnelli's classic Hollywood musicals in new 35mm prints begins next week with The Pirate (8, 9 Dec), starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and with a Cole Porter score. It also includes Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in The Band Wagon (15, 16 Dec); Astaire and Lucille Bremer in Yolanda and the Thief (22, 23 Dec); and Judy Garland in Meet Me in St Louis (29, 30 Dec). Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose St, G3 6RE (041-332 8128)

LEICESTER Bugs Bunny (and Friends) Christmas Party This Saturday there's a day of films, fun and games, celebrating the world's most famous wabbit. Phoenix Arts, 11 Newarke St, LE1 5SS (0533-554854)

LONDON

Directing for Low-Budget Films This weekend American director Jon Jost leads an intensive course for film-makers on a tight budget. For details contact Elliot Grove at the London Film Workshop (071-351 7748)

Double Take Meet The Bees Starting tonight, Australian comics Des Mangan and Sally Patience blend cinema and stand-up by redubbing all 42 characters in the 1978 Golden Turkey-winner, The Bees. 3-24 Dec, Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Place, WC2 (071-437 8181)

Everyman Cinema 60th Birthday Celebrations begin this Sunday, with Anna Massey introducing a special screening of East of Eden, starring James Dean and her father Raymond Massey, who was the last actor / manager of Everyman Theatre before it was transformed into a cinema in 1933. Everyman, Holly Bush Vale, NW3 6TX (071-431 2240)

Mayakovsky Centennial The Russian revolutionary poet's vision is recreated this weekend using installations, film, video, music and actors. London Film-makers Co-op, 42 Gloucester Ave, NW1 (071-586 8516)

MANCHESTER Consuming Passions A season of films which explore culinary and carnal pleasures begins today with Alfonso Arau's Like Water for Chocolate (3-9 Dec). The programme also includes Larry Cohen's comedy horror, The Stuff (4 Dec), Tampopo (17-19 Dec), Bigas Luna's Jamon, Jamon (18 Dec), and Les Blank's playful homage to garlic, Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (21 Dec). Manchester Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford St, Manchester (061-228 2463)

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Celluloid Serial Killers A season of serial killer thrillers begins tonight with David Hayman's The Hawk (see review above), and a late-show of Candyman, and ends on 19 December with Granada TV's Prime Suspect. To complement the season, the cultural historian Mark Little will present an illustrated discussion about the morbid fascination of serial killers on Saturday 11 December. Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St, NE1 6QG (091-232 8289)

Die Young, Stay Pretty The Tyneside Cinema also hosts a short season to mark the death in October of actor River Phoenix. His best performances can be seen in My Own Private Idaho (4, 5 Dec), and Running on Empty (16 Dec). This Saturday afternoon the sociologist Tom Shakespeare will lead a discussion exploring the making of cult heroes and Phoenix's appeal. Details as above.