THE Celtic Media Festival has today (Tuesday April 4th) revealed details of its events, discussion, learning and networking programme for the 38th festival, set to take place in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, over May 3rd– 5th 2017.
Says Catriona Logan, festival director: “The Celtic Media Festival has, over the last few years, emerged as a key event for commissioners, in-house producers, indies and media specialists throughout the Celtic regions.
“This year, our networking and pitching sessions return alongside a packed learning and skills programme in our Green Light strand.
“I’d urge anyone who has never been to the festival, no matter what level they’re at in the industry, to look at the programme.
“We’re big enough to attract the key names you need to see, but not so big that you can’t meet them one to one when you’re here. The Celtic Media Festival is truly unique.”
Dee Forbes, formally of Discovery Networks Europe and now director-general of RTÉ, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s festival, where parallel chaired sessions of discussion and debate will consider a range of issues, including whether celtic language and identity issues have weakened the broader diversity agenda in the media of Celtic regions, and whether we are seeing the slow death of in-house production.
A range of bespoke learning and training classes will cover everything from tips and tricks to make your radio scripts sparkle and the art of dubbing and foley, while multi-award winning producer/director, Stephen Bennett, will take part in a masterclass on the art of documentary making.
Acclaimed Twin Town director, Kevin Allen, will be discussing the nuances of music in drama with BAFTA-winning composer, Mark Thomas, while CMF International Pitching Forum is back for a second year after its success in Dungarvan in 2016.
Topics such as Brexit, BBC Studios and Diversity on Screen will also be discussed.
The events and learning programmes will take place alongside the annual awards.
This year, literary legends, WB Yeats and Roald Dahl, go head-to-head in Arts, with BBC Wales’ Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected nominated alongside the RTÉ/BBC A Fanatic Heart: Geldof on Yeats.
In comedy, Still Game, one of Scotland’s most successful comedy exports, challenges Ireland’s Bridget and Eamon. And it’s a battle royale in the Radio Presenter category, as RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Blathnaid Ní Chofaigh goes head-to-head with Deacon Blue frontman, Ricky Ross, and Welsh tenor and Go Compare star, Wynne Evans, of BBC Radio Wales.
Nominees from across the U.K., Ireland and Europe will compete across 23 award categories, including arts, comedy, current affairs, drama, factual, sport, radio and more.
Entries for the 2017 Awards again approached the 500 mark, with the festival consistently attracting submissions from across the range of Celtic nations and regions.
Ten separate juries undertook almost 250 hours of listening and viewing to produce a shortlist of the very best in Celtic productions in the past year.
Festival director, Katriona Logan, continued: “The breadth of talent on offer this year is remarkable, and in particular the strength of native language nominees in this year’s shortlist.”
The 38th Celtic Media Festival takes place over 3rd-5th of May 2017 and will see hundreds of delegates enjoy a packed festival programme in Douglas, Isle of Man.
Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, TG4, BBC Scotland, RTÉ, MG ALBA, S4C, Northern Ireland Screen, BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Cymru Wales, and on the Isle of Man by Department of Economic Development, the festival consistently attracts international delegates wherever it is held and offers a programme that celebrates the influential media industry of the Celtic nations and regions, as well as providing networking opportunities for delegates and speakers alike.
Showcasing the best work from Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales, the festival is expected to attract some of the biggest names in the media world to the town.
Previous high-profile guests include Tilda Swinton, Rhys Ifans, Peter Mullan, Ken Loach, The Killing director, Birger Larsen, River producer Chris Carey, My Mad Fat Diary writer/showrunner Tom Bidwell, and Doctor Who and Torchwood producer, Russell T Davies.
Although the festival is primarily for industry delegates, there will be a wider programme of events. Full details of the festival programme will be announced shortly.
For delegate registration, visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
Public events will be announced next week.
ENDS
For further information, images or interview requests, please contact:
Press@celticmediafestival.co.uk
Festival media: Joseph.hoban@rte.ie
Programme: www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/the-programme
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