BAFTA winning writer Jimmy McGovern (Cracker, The Streets) and renowned documentary filmmaker Paul Watson (Malcolm and Barbara: A Love Story) are among the names lined up for the Celtic Media Festival, running the 16 – 18 April in Galway.
The 3 day industry only event will see McGovern participate in a ‘High Drama’ seminar, where a guest panel, featuring producer Ed Guiney, BBC NI’s Kevin Jackson and producer Cilian Fennell, will examine the role drama plays in a broadcaster's schedule. Paul Watson will participate in an ‘Up Close’ public interview during the event.
The Celtic Media Festival, an annual celebration of film and broadcasting talent from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, is expected to attract up to 400 delegates to Galway. In addition to a range of seminars covering sports, drama and factual amongst others, the festival’s Bronze Torcs for Excellence Awards, a highlight of the event, will see honours in 18 festival categories for film, television, radio and digital media presented by RTE’s Mary Kennedy and TG4’s Daithi O’Sé. Among the nominees are recent IFTA winners ‘Kings’, ‘Prosperity’, ‘Aifric’ and ‘At Home with the Cleary’s’.
Other guests speaking at the festival include BBC Journalist Fergal Keane, Michael O'Keefe (CEO of the BCI ), Vasha Wallace (Freemantle Productions), James Hickey (Matheson Ormsby Prentice), Ewan Angus (BBC Scotland) and Stuart Cosgrove (Channel 4).
Festival Chairman and RTE Director General Cathal Goan commented, “The Celtic Media Festival is the celebration of a year’s work and an opportunity for film and programme makers to see and hear productions and meet practitioners from other Celtic countries and elsewhere.”
Celtic Media Festival takes place from the 16 - 18 April 2008 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Galway. The ‘High Drama’ panel and ‘Up Close’ interview will take place on Thursday 17th.
For a full festival programme and to register visit www.celticfilm.co.uk/programme/.
