Belfast to host Irish premiere of 'Narnia'

Belfast will roll out the red carpet tonight for the much anticipated Irish film premiere of 'The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'.

Director Andrew Adamson (who directed the Shrek movies), academy award-winning producer Mark Johnson, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, co-founder and President of Walden Media, Michael Flaherty, along with the University's Chancellor Senator George Mitchell and the President of Ireland Mary McAleese are among some of the many guests expected to walk the red carpet in Belfast on Thursday.

The glittering spectacle is the final fundraising event for Queen's University's new £44 million library which will feature a special reading room dedicated to Belfast author CS Lewis who wrote the much-loved children's book.

Following the screening at the Odyssey, a special gala dinner will be held in the University's Great Hall where senior Disney and Walden Media executives and local dignitaries are expected to attend.

Speaking about hosting the premiere, Queen's Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Disney, Senator George Mitchell said: "It gives me great pleasure that Queen's University and The Walt Disney Company have come together for this unique celebration.

"CS Lewis has inspired so many children throughout the world that it is appropriate the Irish film premiere of his much loved book be held in his home town.

"Queen's has a solid reputation for fostering and producing creative talents through courses in drama, music, creative writing, film studies and art history that it is marvellous the university could honour this literary great in such a way."

The All Ireland Premiere of 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' will take place on Thursday night in Warner Villages Cinemas, at the Odyssey.

A schools preview will take place on Friday morning for approximately 450 children from schools involved in the 'Discovering Queen's' access programme.

Queen's Film Theatre (QFT) will also be screening a season of films in December in honour of CS Lewis.

(MB/SP)