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nations and regions
News from
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru was formed in 1988 after a steering commit- tee that had met a year ear- lier felt the time was right for the establishment of a Welsh branch of BAFTA. The firm foundations laid by those early “pioneers” have served BAFTA Cymru well; it is an organisation still committed to promoting, developing and cele- brating all that is best within the film and television industry in Wales, and apart from its regular special events also holds film screenings and workshops.
From the outset, BAFTA Cymru decided to be a fully bilingual organisation and all its printed material appears in both English and Welsh, translation services are provided at meetings, and its recently revamped web site www.bafta-cymru.org.uk carries all the latest news and views on linked but separate Welsh and English sites.
That commitment to both lan- guages extends through to its Annual Awards Ceremony where the best films, television pro- grammes and most recently inter- active mediums in English and Welsh compete within the same categories for the coveted BAFTA Cymru Awards.
During its short existence the organisation has been successful, and that is in no small measure due to the quality of its manage- ment committees (made up of elected members) served by its full time officers, and the gen- erosity of its sponsors – which from the outset have included the broadcasters BBC Wales, HTV and S4C and the main awards spon- sor, the post production and facil- ities company Barcud Derwen.
The indications are that BAFTA Cymru will be able to build on this success. Its membership base is loyal, and hopefully with the intro- duction of a new student cate- gory will increase; new additional sponsors have been found and there is a general feeling that it is now a more relevant and inclu- sive organisation than in the past.
As the links with BAFTA UK become ever closer, BAFTA Cymru looks forward to the future with optimism. Ymlaen gyda’n gilydd. Let’s move forward and progress together.
Eldra sweeps the board at BAFTA Cymru Awards
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ny held at the Cardiff International Arena in May.
Set in Bethesda North Wales, during the summer holidays of 1933, the story is based on the childhood memories of Eldra Jarman, a descendant of the famous Romany Abram Wood.
The thirteen-year-old gypsy girl is played by Iona Wyn Jones (whose screen acting debut this was) and the film explores a time and place where different cultures are in conflict, and dif- ferent value judgements are put to the test.
Eldra’s family live in a house, yet their lifestyle is Romany, their neighbours earn a meagre living working in the local quarry, but had undergone a three year long strike for better working condi- tions. The owner of that quarry is Lord Penrhyn and Eldra’s father is his gamekeeper.
For thirteen-year-old Eldra life is full of contradictions, as she struggles to find her own identi- ty and comes to grips with the problems facing any teenager. Her Romany world is peopled with fairies and thrives on romance, magic, fantasy and the wonders of nature, whilst the real world all around involves poverty, wealth, friend- ship and hostility.
Producer Bethan Eames picked up the award for Best Drama, Rory Taylor won Best Director of Photography, Bill Bryce and Pamela Moore got theirs for Best Design and Best Costume and the film’s haunting music based on the Welsh triple harp gained the best Original music award for Robin Huw Bowen.
Photos from top: Iona Wyn Jones in Eldra and with Gareth Wyn Roberts
ldra, Teliesyn’s film for S4C won five BAFTA Cymru Awards at a special ceremo-
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