MG ALBA’s Gaelic short film competition, FilmG, has been launched with an event at Pacific Quay, the BBC headquarters in Glasgow, where pupils from three local high schools visited to see this year’s theme revealed and to hear Gaelic-speaking BBC staff talk about their experiences working in the industry.
The competition, which is now in its eighth year, is aimed at uncovering new talent for the Gaelic TV channel, BBC ALBA, as well as encouraging grassroots filmmaking and story-telling in Gaelic-speaking communities across Scotland.
It is hoped that this year’s theme ‘Cliù’ which means prestige, fame or reputation, will be a good way for filmmakers to access interesting stories about individuals or places for their films.
As well as a number of additional awards, including Best Script, Best Comedy Short and Best Animation, this year’s competition also sees the addition of an award for the Best Mobile Short.
Entrants are asked to shoot at least 70 per cent of their footage on a mobile device and funders, MG ALBA, believe this will lead to the creation of more user-generated Gaelic content.
Iseabail Mactaggart, MG ALBA’s director of Development and Partnership, said: “The rise in digital media is extremely exciting.
“More and more people are viewing content online and the space between the creator and the audience is getting closer, particularly with social media as a means of promoting content.
“We’d like to see more Gaelic content within this space and FilmG is a great scheme for supporting this outcome.”
FilmG is particularly popular with high schools across Scotland that teach Gaelic.
Three schools were able to attend the event, Glasgow Gaelic School, Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld, and Grange Academy in Kilmarnock.
Pupils enjoyed hearing from BBC staff about their experiences, particularly De-a-Nis? presenter, Megan MacLellan, who got her first big break through FilmG.
Megan said: “I thought I was just acting in a little school film, but then I was short-listed for my performance and won the award at the first FilmG Awards ceremony back in 2009.
“As my studies were coming to an end an opportunity to audition for De-a-Nis? came up and I jumped at it. I love how varied my job is, sometimes I’m in the office and other times I can be out filming some really cool and fun things.”
FilmG is now open for entries until Wednesday 16 December, all films must be in Scottish Gaelic and can be up to five minutes (youth category) or up to ten minutes (open and community) in length.
Films from previous years are available to watch online at www.filmg.co.uk.
If you’d like to make a film and want to know more about the competition, please contact the team at fios@filmg.co.uk.
ENDS
Picture caption: BBC ALBA short Film competition launch, The Bridges, BBC Scotland Pacific Quay. Back row L to R Megan MacLellan, Norrie MacIver, Margaret Jane Mason. front, Lewis Conley Caitlin Watt. and Freya Dinning.
Picture Ian Rutherford
For further information contact Gary McQueen at Media House on 0141 220 6040 /gary@mediahouse.co.uk
About FilmG
FilmG is MG ALBA’s Gaelic media shorts competition to seek out and nurture new on-screen and off-screen talent for BBC ALBA and new media. The competition is open to anybody over 12 to make a three-to-five minute short film in Gaelic. Visit www.filmg.co.uk for more information.
FilmG is project managed by Cànan, the award-winning design, language and creative media company based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye. For more information, visit www.canan.co.uk
About MG ALBA
MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). MG ALBA works in partnership with the BBC to deliver BBC ALBA. Find out more about MG ALBA and the partnership at www.mgalba.com or visit www.bbcalba.co.uk for scheduling and programme information.
BBC ALBA is available on the following platforms:
· Sky 143 (UK)
· Freeview / You View 8 (Scotland only)
· Virgin Media 161 (UK)
· Freesat 110 (UK)
· BT Vision 8 (Scotland only)
· Smallworld 170 (Ayrshire and North West England)
· BBC iPlayer
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