Hard-hitting investigations and sporting legends were among the day’s winners at the 3-day Celtic Media Festival in Llanelli, Wales.
The 39th festival is underway as hundreds of delegates arrive to experience the annual unique celebration of film, television, radio and digital media, which promotes the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations and regions.
The first of 2018’s prestigious Torc Award winners were announced. And it was a very good day for the Irish, taking four of the five awards presented.
RTÉ Investigates’ Living on the List was named Best Current Affairs programme, while the Below the Radar TV production, Rocky Ros Muc, which examined spirit inside the ring and troubles outside, won in the Best Sports Documentary category. Raw Nerve Production and Defacto Films’s animated short film An Beal Bocht won Best Animation, and Paper Owl Films’ TV series Pablo won Best Children’s Programme.
The awards celebrate the very best of film, television, radio and interactive media to emerge within the Celtic nations in the past year. Winners were chosen from an exceptional shortlist, and today saw Ireland win 4 out of 5 awards.
We’re delighted to launch the 39th Celtic Media Festival here in Llanelli, Crymru, at the start of what will be an amazing few days. Today’s winners highlight the extraordinary ambition and value of indigenous media. From hard-hitting investigations to animation, children’s programming and sport documentary, today’s winners are the best of the best from across all the Celtic nations. Their achievement, and their contribution to their own nations and our sector as a whole, is truly celebrated here today.
Catriona Logan, Festival Director
Delighted with this win. Especially for Tommy Collins the director, producer Pearse Moore and animator John McCloskey.
Máire Ní Chonláin, Commissioning Editor – TG4
The standard was so high in the category we didn’t think we would win so we are absolutely delighted today!
Máire Bhreathnach, Producer -Below The Radar
Philip Gallagher and I are deeply indebted to our editor Paul Maguire for showing tremendous faith and perseverance with us in this project. It’s a very proud moment for us.
Barry O’Kelly, Producer – RTÉ Investigates
I just came up with the original idea of course, the team that created Pablo are a very creative diverse team and they brought their considerable talents to this production that is now going out into the world and changing the world for generations because it’s bringing awareness of what it’s like to experience life if you’re on the autism spectrum. And if you’d told me four years ago that an autistic character would be doing that in the world and I’d be standing here with a Torc Award for that I wouldn’t have known what to say, it’s just brilliant.
Gráinne McGuinness, Producer – Pablo
For full details on the festival visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk and to keep up to date with the latest news from the festival follow on twitter: @celticmediafest and on Facebook. #celticmedia
Celtic Media Festival 2018 Day 1 winners:
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Living on the List (Ireland) – RTÉ Investigates
ANIMATION
An Béal Bocht (Ireland) – Raw Nerve Production / Defacto films
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME
Pablo (Ireland) – Paper Owl Films
SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Rocky Ros Muc (Ireland) – Below the Radar TV
ENTERTAINMENT
Y Salon (Wales) – Boom Crymru