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nations and regions
BF A F T A C y m r u
ebruary can be a funny month. The magic of Christmas has gone, you’re broke after the January sales and nine times out of ten all your New Year resolutions have gone by the board. So what’s good about it?
Well, it is the start of the Awards season, and as far as BAFTA Cymru is concerned it is that time of year when members votes will have given us short lists, when juries will meet to decide on the winners and when young Welsh blacksmith and designer Toby Petersen starts casting the BAFTA Cymru masks, which will be the much coveted glittering prizes.
The small matter then remains of producing the event and ensur- ing that the thousand plus guests who attend have a really good time and that the awards winners have a night to remember.
BAFTA Cymru’s Annual Film, Television and New Media Awards Ceremony will be held at The Cardiff International Arena on April 26.
The UGC Cinema Cardiff was the venue for a recent BAFTA Cymru event in conjunction with The University of Wales Press. Author and broadcaster Peter Stead, with illustrated material from a number of films starring Welsh actors, launched his new book Acting Wales –Stars of Stage and screen, a series of personal essays on a range of Welsh acting talent from Ivor Novello down to the present impact of Catherine Zeta Jones, Ioan Gruffudd and the so called “Taff Pack”.
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The Awards take place every two years and are attended by Scotland’s film and television community, who turn out in force to support the younger end of the industry.
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The evening was hosted in true celebrity style by Scots comedian Rhona Cameron, who kept the audience amused and intrigued with her sharp wit and girlish charm.
Awards were presented by most of Scotland’s nationally known film and TV stars and per- sonalities including Brian Cox, Gary Lewis, David Hayman, Simone Lahbib, Daniela Nardini, Elaine C Smith, James Cosmo, Denis Lawson and Gerard Butler. Irish actress Victoria Smurfit, star of the nominated film, The Last Great Wilderness, joined us from Ireland on the night to present the award for Best Actor.
Once again, the number of entries and categories has grown - a testament to the strength and tenacity of the young and new filmmakers and producers who have persevered with their work despite frequently having to face difficult financial circumstances and, in the case of some features, the lack of any clear route towards distribution.
For the first time ever there were feature films in competition with four new and first time directors.
Runaway winner in the Best Feature Film category was Saul Metzstein’s Late Night Shopping which swept up Best Director, Best Craft (Mike Gunn for production design) and Best Feature Film.
New acting talent was recog- nised in Ken Loach’s young pro- tege, Martin Compston, winning Best Actor for his extraordinary role in Sweet Sixteen. Best Actress went to Kathleen McDermott for her first screen appearance in Lynne Ramsay’s girl road movie, Morvern Callar.
In TV Drama the awards went to Clara Glynn’s The Practicality Of Magnolia, starring Sheila Hancock, and to Richard Smith for Best Screenplay for Brian Currie’s Leonard, featuring Holby City’s Denis Lawson. Rory McCann was awarded Best Television Performance for his role in Channel Four’s quirky series The Book Group.
Scotland excels in short film drama and this year there were
46 entries into that category alone. Angela M. Murray won Best Director for her Tartan Smalls film, The Choir, and Max Berman picked up the prize for Best Craft (production design) on the same film. Becky Brazil won Best Screenplay for Best Man and her young star, Leeann Hogg, was awarded Best Short Film Performance. Best Short Film was Wish by Rene Mohandas.
As ever, the event was followed by a celebration dinner and party where the stars and guests were able to enjoy the fun and renew old acquaintances.
The event is now four years old and completely established as “the one to win” in Scotland. We look forward to an interesting future for film and television here with an event which really does promote and highlight the way ahead for both the Scottish and the national screen industry.
BAFTA North
fter a successful and prolific 2002, BAFTA North intends to continue its eclectic pro- gramme of screenings and events throughout this year.
This year will see dramatic increase in its community and educational operations. Funded in part by newly launched North West Vision’s Regional Investment Lottery Fund, BAFTA North will be touring the North West region with a series of events under the title ‘Behind the Scenes’.
These career advice work- shops cater for young people who would not otherwise gain access to specialist knowledge and equipment, aiming to encourage participation by demystifying the otherwise daunting world of moving image production.
‘Behind The Scenes’, a series of practical and informative sessions will feature professionals from in front of and behind the camera of popular, locally produced films and television programmes. They will include individual and group participation with experts.
The events will be enhanced with relevant careers advice
given by a representative from the Mersey TV personnel depart- ment, who will advise on access and training in the broad spec- trum of moving image produc- tion jobs.
Later in the year, large-scale events will be held throughout the North at prestigious loca- tions. ‘In Conversation with...’ is a unique series of events that will feature legendary industry professionals who will converse on and define their career achievements in the moving image industry.
‘Script to Screen’ is yet anoth- er project aimed at new and upcoming industry professionals which will demystify the script to screen process, concentrating on award winning TV drama and new TV dramas.
It is anticipated that this diverse programme of events will encour- age further sponsorship enabling a wider tour of the projects throughout the North of England. BAFTA North is currently looking for future partners to this end.
The next 12 months will also bring new collaborations with education institutions, local arts organisations and enabling rele- vant agencies to continue the valued service BAFTA North pro- vides to its members.
We are looking forward to wel- coming members from across the Nations and Regions to join us in celebrating the vibrant moving image industry in the North.
BEAFTA East Coast
very year the weeks between late September and Christmas become increasingly busy as the screen- ings and Q&A sessions multiply.
This past year was the busiest to date. We have never before held so many events that have attracted so much major talent. At times it felt like a roll call of the Who’s Who in the film industry.
This is probably due to the change of date for the Film Awards, which attracted a lot of attention in the local trade press here. It has been exciting for BAFTA members who, after
TAFTA Scotland
he stars were sparkling with style at BAFTA Scotland’s recent New Talent Awards. Held in Glasgow’s Armadillo con- cert hall, on the banks of the River Clyde, excitement ran high as the 550 guests arrived to par- ticipate in this unique ceremony.