The Celtic Media Festival has announced its programme of events for the festival which takes place in Caernarfon from 25 – 27 March 2009.
The three day festival promotes the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries on screen and in broadcasting and is supported by broadcast, film, cultural and economic development organisations throughout the Celtic countries of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.
The festival's DVD Library will be in operation with all shortlisted DVDs available to watch in one's own time. All original entries into the competition are also available to watch – with an index of all programmes is in the festival brochure.
Panel discussions will host such topics as - Can We Have Our Television Back? Commercial Television Within the Celtic Nations & Regions, Independent Survival Strategy, How Green Is Your Production? and What Not To Swear.
There will be an In Conversation event with writer and documentary maker Jon Ronson, the Celtic Media Festival International Screen jury will screen one award winning programme of their choice and discuss the ideas/story behind it with the and there will be a presentation by An Sgàilean Ùr, the film-making inititive for young Gaelic speakers.
Irish Panelists who will take part in numerous discussions include Catriona Scott, Head of Development, Campbell Ryan; David McRedmond, CEO, TV3; Richard Abbott, Acting Chair , NIMRS Northern Ireland Music Rights Society; Ed Guiney, Producer, Element Pictures; Pádhraic Ó Ciardha, TG4; Mary Bates, Producer of ‘Teach Glas’ and Peter Feeney, Head of Public Affairs, RTÉ
Highlights of the festival also include the Green Light: Media Students at CMF series of events which will present topics for those entering the industry, a masterclass with the duo Hammer & Tongs, a workshop on how to start a career in radio and much more.
There will be a presentation of the Torc Awards each lunchtime for certain categories and the festival will be finishing on a high note with the Celtic Media Festival gala dinner. Irish titles up for awards include ‘Blueprint’ in Factual Series, ‘In the Name of the Fada’ in Factual Eentertainment, and ‘Brian Keenan: Back to Beirut Ireland’ in Factual Single. The Sport category features ‘Re-United’ and Inis Films ‘Waveriders’ while ‘Patrick McCabe: Blood Relations’ is nominated in the Arts category and shorts ‘An Ranger and Rearview are up for awards in the Short Drama section.
