A heart-warming animated short film that aims to help young people address the theme of loss is to premiere at the forthcoming Cinemagic Festival.
Written by professional play therapist Eileen Russell, A New Day for Little Bear follows a fictional bear who is struggling with the loss of his stars in the night sky.
It serves as an allegory for dealing with darkness after the death of a loved one and provides a gentle and nurturing way to open conversations about loss, making it easier for children to express emotions and for adults to support them.
The film is part of a research initiative headed by WayMaker Child Therapy, and funded by Future Screens NI.
Ms Russell explained that at her WayMaker clinic they were “passionate about the work we do in helping to transform children’s lives through the healing power of play”.
“Experiencing loss at any age is hugely traumatic, but when you are a child, the grief is heightened further because they don’t have a full understanding of what has happened,” she said.
“We harness the power of storytelling to foster emotional well-being and resilience in children and families.”
One mother said that the film offered comfort to her and her children as she and her family experienced grief.
“Everything about this animation is gentle and soothing; the tone, the narrative, the imagery... everything.
“It offered us a moment to sit in Little Bear’s story as well as our own, to be curious and ask questions and to see the possibility of hopeful new ways.”
Young people who watch the cartoon will judge it for a festival award in the category of Best Short Film for a Children’s Audience.
A New Day for Little Bear will debut in Queen’s Film Theatre on September 28. For further information visit https://www.wearewaymaker.com/littlebear.