Creative talent at Gaelic film awards 7/2/10
MG Alba, the Gaelic Media Service today praised emerging creative talent in Scotland, following FilmG, their Gaelic online digital shorts competition, which was aimed at unearthing creative talent in the Scottish media industry.
The competition, for the second year running, was a resounding success attracting an excellent calibre of entries from all over Scotland as well as many international productions, with creative ideas ranging from chilling ghost stories to animations, action and adventure.
FilmG’s award ceremony was held at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on Friday night.
Guest presenter was Joe Thomas who stars as Simon Cooper in the BAFTA nominated British sitcom The Inbetweeners, along with some of Scotland’s most successful film makers and script writers who have supported FilmG. The award ceremony culminated with live entertainment from BBC ALBA Rapal winners, Niteworks.
Donald Campbell, Chief Executive of MG ALBA, said: “Congratulations to all wining entries in this year’s completion. In the second year running, FilmG has attracted an excellent calibre of entries in both the Young People and Adult category, all of whom have shown great ambition and creative talent.
“Our aim is to help develop creative talent in Gaelic media through FilmG, and we were extremely impressed with the range of imaginative interpretations of this year‘s theme ‘Gaisgeach’, (Hero, Warrior or Champion).
Winners of the top awards were:
Best Drama Ewan Smith from Dundee for Cnap-
Best Performance Liz Pyper a Glasgow Gaelic student originally from Blackhall, Edinburgh
for ‘An Latha a fhuair Gaidhlig greim air an t-
Best ‘Young People’ Film Pupils from Ardnamurchan High School for ‘An Texan a'
Tilleadh Dhachaigh’ (The Texan Coming Home) which is about Texan returning home to
Strontian -
People’s Choice Award Pupils from Islay High School for (The Tower). An Tùr tells the story of a girl who is dreaming in class of a tower and sees her friend walk into it. She wakens with a fright from the teacher and sees him wearing the same cloak as she saw in the dream. She warns her friend not to go to the tower. Her dream becomes reality where she goes on a mission to save her friend. Upon saving her, she remembers that there are three other girls missing. To view this film visit www.filmg.co.uk/en/viewfilm09.php?id=123.
FilmG does offer opportunities in the Scottish creative industry. As a result of entering FilmG last year, Uisdean Murray, an acclaimed young director from North Uist, who won the top award of ‘best professional film’ for his entry ‘Siubhlachan’ (Traveller), had his short entered into two prestigious international film festivals last summer; the Time Film Festival, Switzerland and the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival South Korea. The film was also screened at Rutger Hauer’s Internet Contest last year.
‘Siubhlachan’, an intriguing Gaelic short film which tells the poignant tale about a young girl, Seonag, who travels back in time to visit her recently deceased Grandfather was commissioned for a BBC ALBA drama and broadcast on Christmas Eve 2009.