THE Celtic Media Festival, the phenomenal three-day celebration of Celtic content and production, drew to a close this evening as the final Torc Awards for Excellence were announced.
In a special recorded address to delegates, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, spoke of “why the Celtic Media Festival is so important”.
The First Minister noted what had been an “outstanding year for Scottish production in TV, Radio, Film and Digital. The nominees for tonight’s awards demonstrate that fact”.
In a festival first, the winner of the International Pitching Forum – with a fantastic development prize of £10,000 – was also announced this evening. John MacLaverty bagged the invaluable seed investment for his Finding Nessieproject, a smart, funny hour-long documentary perfect for holiday viewing; an archive rich documentary treat that will tell the story of Scotland’s most famous fiction.
Hosts, Cathy McDonald and Sanjeev Kohli, presented six awards this evening, and winners included Loose Women’s Kaye Adams for Radio Presenter of the Year, and BBC Radio nan Gaidheal as Radio Station of the Year.
Lomax in Éirinn was named as Spirit of the Festival.
Catriona Logan, festival director, said: “What a 40 years it’s been; what a festival it’s been; and what a night it’s been. The Celtic media sector goes from strength to strength and so too does the Celtic Media Festival.
“Tonight’s winners demonstrate once again that Celtic content makers are at the forefront of their field. As we celebrate winners from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Galicia, and nominees from all over the celtic nations and regions, it really hits home just how international we are as a community. As we prepare to head to Quimper in Brittany in 2020, that international dimension is something we as a festival are determined to cherish and develop.”
The Celtic Media Festival Torc Awards celebrate the very best of film, television, radio and interactive media to emerge within the Celtic nations in the past year. The 40th edition has seen a record number of delegates in attendance promoting the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations and regions and has proven to be a priceless opportunity to network and get up close with the biggest names and organisations in the industry.
Festival organisers are excited to reveal the final winners of the Celtic Media Festival 2019 this evening:
CATEGORY: SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Winner: The Man Who Wanted To Fly
Country: Ireland
Production company / broadcaster: Loose Horse / RTÉ
CATEGORY: DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Un Bore Mercher
Country: Wales
Production company / broadcaster: Vox Pictures / S4C
CATEGORY: COMEDY
Winner: Soft Border Patrol
Country: Ireland
Production company / broadcaster: The Comedy Unit / BBC Northern Ireland
CATEGORY: RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
Winner: BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Country: Scotland
CATEGORY: RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Kaye Adams, BBC Radio Scotland
Country: Scotland
Production company / broadcaster: BBC Radio Scotland
CATEGORY: SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVAL
Winner: Lomax in Éírinn
Country: Ireland
Production company: Aisling Productions Ltd for TG4
For more information on the wider Festival programme visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk.
For further information, images or interview requests please contact:
Jenn Nimmo-Smith at press@celticmediafestival.co.uk / jenn@electricshores.com
Notes to editors:
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, said: “I want to send my very best wishes to everybody in Aviemore attending the 40th Celtic Media Festival. In 1980, when Scotland first hosted this event on South Uist and Benbecula there were fewer than 50 delegates; this year more than 500 delegates are attending from the Celtic nations and regions and beyond that really underlines the growth and the success of this festival over the past four decades. Scotland is proud of the part that we’ve played in that success and we are delighted to be hosting it once again.
“In many ways, it’s fitting that we do so now this is after all a hugely exciting time for Scotland’s screen and broadcast sector. Last August saw the launch of Screen Scotland our new dedicated screen unit. And, in October, Channel 4 announced their plan to establish a creative hub in Glasgow which will open later this year. And in February, the new BBC Scotland Channel launched joining BBC Alba in serving Scottish audience. In addition, this has been another outstanding year for Scottish production in TV, Radio, Film and Digital and the nominees for tonight’s awards demonstrate that fact.
“Of course, they also highlight the quality of the work being produced across the Celtic Nations and regions.
“Our task now is to continue to build on that success and that’s why the Celtic Media Festival is so important. It brings together people who are passionate about the representation of Celtic languages and cultures. And it provides a forum to discuss ideas learn from each other and explore opportunities for collaboration. That kind of exchange is always important but perhaps particularly so in 2019 as we mark the international year of indigenous languages.
“So I want to thank all of you for attending, I hope you’ve all had a hugely enjoyable and productive time in Aviemore and I hope the contacts, knowledge and experiences you’ve gained will help you as you continue your fantastic work in the years and decades ahead.”
ABOUT THE CELTIC MEDIA FESTIVAL
Celtic Media Festival, in association with Screen Scotland, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2019 from the 4th-6th of June in Aviemore, Scotland
The Celtic Media Festival is supported by broadcast, film, cultural and economic development organisations throughout the Celtic countries
The festival is an annual three-day celebration of broadcasting, film talent and excellence from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany and Galicia.
One of the many festival highlights will be the presentation of the Torc Awards for Excellence. Categories include Factual Series, Arts, Drama Series , Sport, Current Affairs, Best App, Radio Station of the Year and a new category for 2019, Short Form. For further details, please see www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
For more details on the history of the festival, award categories and delegate registration, please visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
The Celtic Media International Pitching Forum will take place at CMF19 with a development fund prize of £10,000
The festival is core funded by: BBC Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, RTÉ, TG4, MG ALBA, Northern Ireland Screen, BBC Scotland, S4C, Television de Galicia, Isle of Media
Festival sponsors for 2019 are: Screen Scotland, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and The Highland Council
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