The Celtic Media Festival has revealed the nominees for the prestigious Torc Awards for Excellence. The winners are set to be revealed at the 38th Festival in Douglas on the Isle of Man, over May 3rd – 5th 2017.
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 front-man Ricky Ross for BBC Radio Scotland 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. 10 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.
In a change for 2017, new category History attracted a huge number of quality entries. Amongst those nominated is a co-production between TG4, BBC Northern Ireland and Doubleband films, Eoin Mac Néill: Fear Dearmadta 1916. Through dramatic reconstruction, access to MacNeill’s unpublished memoir, interviews with key historians and the personal account of MacNeill’s grandson, former Tánaiste Michael McDowell, pivotal moments in history are brought to life in this drama-doc.
TG4’s Eipic, nominated in the Drama Series category is a story about escape, empowerment and what it means to be a teenage “hero” in contemporary rural Ireland. Set against the backdrop of the 1916 centenary celebrations, Eipic will go up against the wildly successful Line of Duty, BBC Scotland’s One of Us, and the epic adaptation of War and Peace.
Radio stations and presenters from across the celtic regions compete this year in a strong line-up of native language content, covering music, magazine and documentary programming.
Single Documentary, one of the most hotly contested categories every year, contains nominees from 14 productions covering a multitude of subjects. The critically acclaimed Dunblane-Our Story, tells the story of the tragic shooting from the point of view of those caught up in the terrible events. In a landmark film to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, many people who have never talked on camera reveal what happened on that day. Wales’ The Aberfan Young Wives Club marks the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, and how Aberfan has endured since 21st October 1966 when the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip killed 116 children and 28 adults. Ireland’s I am Immigrant is a window into the lives of young immigrants who have grown up Irish, and tracks the political reaction to immigration in Europe as the conflict spills violently onto our streets.
In Sports Documentary, Jimmy Johnstone examines the life of a phenomenal Scottish sporting talent, telling the story of the highs and the lows of an unforgettable working class footballer, Celtic legend, husband and father who lost his life to motor neurone disease age 61.
Host nation Isle of Man’s local Manx Radio has secured a number of nominations.
Festival Director Catriona Logan said:
The breadth of talent on offer this year is remarkable, as always the quality of programming shows the calibre of those working in the Celtic Nations and Regions. A huge amount of entries were whittled down by our dedicated National Juries who, in all, watched and listened to over 250 hours of top quality submissions. We’re absolutely delighted that Celtic Media Festival is approaching and we’re looking forward to revealing the winners at the Festival in Douglas on the Isle of Man in May.
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 and Apple Tree Yard producer Chris Carey, My Mad Fat Diary and Watership Down writer 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 more information visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
CELTIC MEDIA FESTIVAL – Isle of Man 2017 – NOMINEES
SCREEN
Animation
Second To None – Caboom Ltd
The Lost Letter – Dream Logic Studio
Arts
A Fanatic Heart: Geldof on Yeats – RTÉ and BBC / Peninsula Television
Oíche Chaillte an tSeanchaí – TG4 / C-Board Films
Roald Dahl’s City of the Unexpected – BBC Wales / Rondo Media
The Greatest Poem of World War One:
David Jones’s In Parenthesis – BBC Wales and BBC Four/Wildflame Productions
Children’s Programme
Down On the Farm – BBC Scotland
Is Éolaí Mé – TG4 / Meangadh Fíbín Teo
Os Bolechas – Televisión de Galicia / Edicións Bolanda
Llond Ceg – S4C / Green Bay Media
Louzaoueg Anna – France 3 Breizh / JPL Films
Comedy
Bridget & Eamon – RTÉ2 / Pure Class Productions
Still Game – BBC SCOTLAND / BBC Studios
‘Run Sbit – S4C / Cwmni Da
Current Affairs
BBC Scotland Investigates: Lies, Laws & the Bin Lorry Tragedy – BBC Scotland
Eorpa Irish Babies – BBC Scotland Gaelic
Living With Dementia: Chris’s Story – BBC Wales
RTÉ Investigates – Standards in Public Office – RTÉ
Y Byd ar Bedwar – Y Cymry a’r Qu’ran – S4C / ITV Cymru Wales
Drama Series
Eipic – TG4 / Magamedia
Line Of Duty – BBC / World Productions Limited
One of Us – BBC Scotland
War and Peace – BBC One / BBC Cymru Wales
Entertainment
Centenary – RTÉ
Les Miserables: Y Daith i’r Llwyfan – S4C / Rondo Media
Factual Entertainment
Big Week On The Farm – RTÉ / Independent Pictures
Port – BBC ALBA and TG4 / Bees Nees Media
Wil, Aeron a’r Inca – S4C / Cwmni Da
Factual Series
An Lot – BBC ALBA / MACTV
Coastal Path – BBC SW
Doctoriaid Yfory – S4C / Green Bay Media
Rural Addiction – RTÉ / Midas Productions
Scotland’s Game – BBC Scotland
Tríd an Lionsa – Headhunters – TG4 / Sibéal Teo
Y Ditectif – S4C / ITV Cymru Wales
History
Eoin Mac Néill: Fear Dearmadta 1916 – BBC2 NI and TG4 / Doubleband Films
Ffwtbol a Fflêrs: Cofio Arwyr `76 – S4C / Rondo Media
Golden Tree – Golden Tree Productions
Scotland and The Klan – BBC / Matchlight
Short Drama
Breathe – Greeble Ltd
Hula – Braw Films
Pili Palod Penygroes – BBC Wales and S4C / It’s My Shout Ltd
The Battle of Ronaldsway
Single Documentary
A-vihanig – France 3 Bretagne
Aberfan – The Fight for Justice – BBC One / Cynyrchiadau Alpha Productions
Coming Oot! The Fabulous History of Gay Scotland – BBC Scotland / Hopscotch Films
Dunblane – Our Story – BBC 1 / STV
Dying Breed – A38 Films
Enough to Fill Up an Eggcup – Mark Jenkin – The Independent Film Unit
Erwan Ropars, Hêrezh ar bazhvalan – France 3 Bretagne
Hamish – BBC ALBA / Bees Nees Media
How To Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story – RTÉ / Alleycats TV
I Am Immigrant – RTÉ / Motive Television
In Eadan na Taoide – TG4 / Scannáin Lugh Teo
Swansea Sparkle: A Transgender Story – BBC One Wales / Telesgop
The Aberfan Young Wives’ Club – ITV / Shiver Cymru
Where You’re Meant To Be – BBC / Better Days
Single Drama
Brown Willy – The Malabar Film Unit
El desconocido – Televisión de Galicia / Vaca Films
The Green Hollow – BBC One Wales and BBC Four/BBC Cymru Wales
Sports Documentary
Crash and Burn – RTÉ and BBC / Dot Television
Jimmy Johnstone – BBC ALBA / purpleTV
Merci Cymru – S4C / BBC Wales
Kieran Hegarty Award for Innovation
Build It Scotland – BBC Scotland
Lifebabble – BBC Scotland
Mise Gaillimh 2020 – Saoi Media
MTTV news – PMC-TV ltd
Say Something in Manx – Say Something.com
#towerlives – BBC Wales
Llond Ceg – Galactig
Voices 16 – BBC Northern Ireland Productions
wearehere – BBC Scotland
Wilde Stories – Athena Media
RADIO
Radio Comedy
Big Country – BBC Radio Ulster / Cave Bear Productions
Bennett Arron Worries About… Being Offensive – BBC Radio Wales / Absolutely Productions
Breaking the News – BBC Radio Scotland
Bron Meirion – BBC Radio Cymru
Colm O’Regan Wants a Word – RTÉ Radio 1 / Sideline Productions
Fags, Mags And Bags – BBC Radio 4 / The Comedy Unit
Lewis Macleod’s Wired News – BBC Radio Scotland / The Comedy Unit
The Unexplainers – BBC Radio Wales / Zipline Creative LTD
Radio Documentary
Aberfan – BBC Radio Cymru
Aberfan – Covering a Catastrophe – BBC Radio Wales / Leaping Wing
Fianais – BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Documentary On One: Ireland’s Secret Hangman – RTÉ Radio 1
Documentary On One: No Time To Lose – RTÉ Radio 1
Our Story – Ravenscraig – BBC Radio Scotland
Sin an Saol – RTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta
Tormod a’ Bhocsair – BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
The Forgotten Champion – BBC Wales Sport
Young Voters on the Isle of Man – Manx Radio
Radio Magazine Show
Adhmhaidin – RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
An Bricfeasta Blasta – Raidió na Life
Beag air Bheag – BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Behind the Headlines – Isles FM – Annie Delin
Rhaglen Aled Hughes – BBC Radio Cymru
Scots Radio – Birseland Media
The John Toal Show – BBC Radio Ulster
Women Today – Manx Radio
Radio Music Programme (Live)
Blas Ceoil – BBC Gaeilge
Caithream Ciuil – BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Frank Hennessy’s Six nations Musical Finale – BBC Radio Wales
Mac ‘Ille Mhicheil – BBC Radio nan Gàidheal/Sorbier Productions Ltd
Recordiau Rhys Mwyn – BBC Radio Cymru
The Rolling Wave – RTÉ
Travelling Folk Special with Bruce MacGregor – BBC Radio Scotland
Radio Presenter of the Year
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh – RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Ricky Ross – BBC Radio Scotland
Wynne Evans – BBC Radio Wales
Radio Sports
A Long way to Tipperary – Sunday Sport RTÉ End of year – RTÉ Sport / Adrian Eames
Cymru v Gwlad Belg – BBC Radio Cymru
Euro 2016 Wales V Belgium – BBC Wales Sport
Spòrs na Seachdain – BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Sportsound – BBC Scotland
WPLRADIO – audioBoom
Radio Station of the Year
Raidió na Life 106.4FM – Raidió na Life
BBC Radio Ulster – BBC Radio Ulster
Radio Foyle – BBC
Raidió Fáilte – Raidió Fáilte
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta – RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Manx Radio – Manx Radio
BBC Radio Scotland – BBC Radio Scotland
Radio nan Gàidheal – BBC Gàidhlig
BBC Radio Wales – BBC Radio Wales
Radio Cymru – BBC Radio Cymru