FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN NATIONAL GAELIC FILM COMPETITION - FILMG

MG ALBA’s national Gaelic online media shorts competition, FilmG has now announced the short-listed films for this year’s award ceremony which takes place next month at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow.

Having received a record 76 entries from all over Scotland and beyond, it was a difficult job for the judges to pick out the best in each category. The jury panel comprised BBC ALBA executives and experienced broadcast industry representatives, including Chris Young, producer of hit Brit movie, ‘The Inbetweeners’ and former ‘River City’ actor turned producer/director, Tony Kearney.

The judges were particularly impressed with the entries in the 12-17 categories with producer Morag Stewart commenting: “It was extremely challenging to choose only four films for each shortlist category, especially as there were so many entrants, and having worked with a lot of the schools on media projects, I know how much work would have gone into producing the films. This year’s award ceremony is sure to be an exciting event as each category has some excellent contributions.”

Donald Campbell, chief executive of MG ALBA, said: “We are very excited about this year’s competition having received a record number of entries and a high calibre of short films and imaginative interpretations of this year’s theme ‘On the Threshold ’.

“It is very encouraging that young and old alike embrace this competition from within the Gaelic and non-Gaelic communities both home and abroad, and we would like to encourage as many people as possible to get behind the short-listed finalists by watching the films online.”

All of this year’s FilmG entries and a breakdown of the short-listed films are now available to view on the FilmG website at www.filmg.co.uk.

The prestigious awards ceremony will take place at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow on Friday 9 March, where up-and-coming band ‘Donald MacDonald & the Islands’ will provide live entertainment whilst an array of special guests will be there to present awards.

RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES IN NATIONAL GAELIC FILM COMPETITION - FILMG

MG ALBA’s national Gaelic short film competition, FilmG, has received a record 76 films this year – more entries than ever before.

All entries can be viewed online from today (Monday 16 January) on the FilmG website www.filmg.co.uk, where you can vote for your favourite film until the 31^st of January. Your vote will help determine who receives this year’s esteemed People’s Choice award.

The FilmG Jury, composed of representatives of the broadcast industry in Scotland – including Chris Young, producer of box office hit and award-winning film ‘The Inbetweeners’ and ‘River City’ actor Tony Kearney – will work alongside BBC ALBA executives  to judge the films and compile a shortlist of finalists.  

This year’s entrants have come from throughout the country and further afield from Canada and offer an impressive mix of traditional and contemporary interpretations of this year’s theme ‘Air an Stairsnich’ / ‘On the Threshold ’.

The adult category has seen an increase in the number of documentaries made by those keen to explore and share a slice of real life from their own home turf. Among the documentaries submitted include a short film from the Isle of Eigg about a local resident and her famous clootie dumpling, whilst a local from Stornoway has submitted a film about two siblings who, being deaf, have never known a word of Gaelic despite their upbringing in a Gaelic speaking family in Harris.

The 50 short films in the 12-17 category feature a variety of storylines ranging from ‘X-factor’ parodies to haunting hijinx!

The entry from Mallaig High School offers their own take on the infamous ‘A-TEAM’ in the form of the ‘G-Team’ helping to protect Gaelic from their arch enemies, whilst Plockton High School’s short film depicts a scientist creating a new cleaning product with the help of a monkey!

As well as an exceptional increase in the number of schools entering this year, there have also been individual young film-makers eager to go it alone. Having previously entered the competition through her school, Ardnamurchan High, Caitlin Ferguson (17) borrowed equipment available from FilmG and shot her own film – a moving story about a young pregnant girl who finds herself up in court. 

Caitlin said: “I’d like to thank FilmG for their guidance in past years which gave me the confidence to take this year's competition on alone. When I first thought about producing my own film it was a bit daunting, but having had the support from FilmG’s mentors I was amazed at how enjoyable and rewarding the production process was. I’m very excited about this year’s competition and look forward to hearing the shortlisted films.”

Donald Campbell, chief executive of MG ALBA, said: “Each year more and more people enter FilmG, and this year is no exception. The appetite of the schools and youth sector in particular to embrace the competition and produce high quality short films is extremely encouraging. We are also particularly pleased with the number of entries submitted from young people and schools both within and beyond  the Gaidhealtachd.”

The winning films will be announced at the prestigious FilmG Awards ceremony to be held at the Fruitmarket in Glasgow on the 9^th of March. 

FILMG COUNT DOWN STARTS HERE – ONE MONTH TO GO!

There is now only one month to go until the closing date of FilmG, MG ALBA’s Gaelic shorts film competition, but that’s still plenty of time to make a short film according to competition organisers. 

This year FilmG is expecting to receive more films than ever, especially in 12-17 category, where the FilmG workshop team has been visiting schools throughout the country helping classes make their films. 

Last year the competition attracted 71 entries with 34 in the adult competition and 37 in the 12-17 category.

The films being entered by schools are full of murder, mystery, suspense and as always a touch of comedy. The entry from Plockton High School includes a monkey creating his own line of cleaning products, whilst Lochaber High School are filming their own Gaelic Dragon’s Den staring Father Christmas.

This year, more entries are also expected in the ‘best student short’ award, where many budding film makers have been inspired by the ‘On the Threshold’ theme plus the fantastic prize of one month’s work experience with a production company.

Community groups are also encouraged to get involved with a £1,000 prize for the winning entry in the ‘best community short’ award. Uist Drama Group is one group which has been encouraged by FilmG to swap stage for screen to make a short entry for this year’s competition.

Floraidh Forrest from FilmG said: “Year on year FilmG has successfully attracted more film entries from all over the country and beyond and this year’s competition looks set for receiving a record number of entries. Each year we have been greatly encouraged by the level of interest and enthusiasm for the competition across all categories and the degree of creativity in the Gaelic film making sector. If you’re still thinking about entering there is still plenty of time to start with one month to go before the closing date and many online resources still available to help you on your way.”       

The films promise to be as high a standard as ever and all will be available to view online once the competition closes. The winning films will be announced at the FilmG Awards ceremony which we can now reveal will be at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on the 9 March 2012.

If you’re still trying to find inspiration then you can view all short-listed and winning films from previous years available online.

To be in with a chance of winning some great prizes as well as being able to attend the fabulous awards ceremony, all you need to do is make a 3-5 minute short film in Gaelic and enter it via our website, www.filmg.co.uk by 6 January 2012.  If you are not a Gaelic speaker help is available through TalantG, where Gaelic speakers are willing to assist with translations, voice-overs and acting.

FilmG Front of Camera Workshop 2011

Have you ever thought that Acting or Presenting might be for you?

Well, here it is: your opportunity to give your front of camera skills a try!  FilmG are holding its annual Front of Camera workshops at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on 18 November 2011.  This day-long event will cover both presenting and acting skills, offering you the chance to appear in front of the camera and get guidance and advice from two industry professionals.

With over 30 years of experience working in broadcast, producer Morag Stewart is an expert at getting the most of out of both seasoned professionals and up-and-coming presenters.  

Artair Donald studied acting at the RSAMD and has since performed in numerous Gaelic programmes, including Machair, Eilbheas and Màiri Mhòr. He is currently the Gaelic Drama Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.  

The workshop is free and open to everyone.  To book your place, just contact Flòraidh Forrest on 01471888508 or floraidh@canan.co.uk. 

FilmG Encourages Submissions of Gaelic Films from Overseas

FilmG, the innovative Gaelic online short film competition, has just announced its prizes for this year’s competition and included is a prize-list for the first time is ‘Best International Film’.  This will be for the best film in Scottish Gaelic from anyone resident in a country other than Scotland.  The prize will be 2 tickets to the FilmG awards ceremony in Glasgow on the 9 March 2012 with expenses up to £500 being paid. 

In previous years’ short films have been submitted from all over the world including New York, Alaska and Ontario.  This year FilmG would like to capitalize on new social media technologies to spread the word about the competition and get even more entries. 

International entrants will also be eligible for other prizes including ‘Best Drama Short’, £1,500 and ‘Best Documentary Short’, £1,500.  For a full list of the prizes visit our website.

To be in with a shot at winning, all you need to do is make a 3-5 minute short film in Gaelic.  If you are not a Gaelic speaker, FilmG can provide support with translators and Gaelic speaking actors through our TalantG scheme.  Films can be entered online via the FilmG website where you can view previously entered films.  The competition closes on the 6 January 2011. 

For more information contact Floraidh Forrest, FilmG’s Project Manager on fios@filmg.co.uk.  

This year’s theme is ‘Air an Stairsich’ (on the Threshold).

TWO NEW PRIZE CATEGORIES ADDED TO THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION

FilmG has announced its prizes for this years’ competition. The two top prizes are £1,500 for the Best Drama Short and £1,500 for Best Documentary Short.  Also, for the first time there are awards for Best Community Short and Best International Short.

It is hoped that the prizes, some of the best in the country for a short film competition, will get people involved in film-making. Of particular note is the fantastic £1,000 prize for the Best Community Short that targets grassroots film-making in communities.

The Best International Short will be awarded to the best film in Scottish Gaelic from anyone resident in a country other than Scotland. The winner will receive two tickets to the awards ceremony in March, with travel expenses up to £500.  With this prize, FilmG is particularly hoping to capitalize on the growing interest in Gaelic overseas. In previous years short films have been submitted from as far a field as New York, Alaska and Ontario.

In the 12-17 category there is a top prize of £1,000 for Best Film and the Best Performer will spend the day-out on the set of a BBC ALBA programme.

If you are interested in entering the competition, all you need to do is make a 3-5 minute short film in Gaelic. The competition closes on the 6 January 2011.

For a full list of prizes and information on training, see the FilmG website:

HOST OF RENOWNED SCOTTISH DIRECTORS AND ACTORS SUPPORTED FILMG WORKSHOPS

A host of tutors, whom have worked on some of Scotland’s finest television programmes, including Eorpa, Still Game, Chewin’ the Fat, the Culture show and Hamish Macbeth, were on hand to offer guidance at this year’s FilmG weekend workshops. 

The workshops took place at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye over the weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August and offered the fantastic opportunity for more than 25 budding film-makers to learn essential skills from true professionals.

Michael Hines, who has previously directed Still Game and River City, said: “It’s great to be back sharing my experiences with such a diverse group of people. It’s apparent to me that FilmG is going from strength to strength.”

Saturday night saw an exciting new development for the FilmG weekend, where tutors came together to shoot a scene in front of the participants.  This master-class brought together many of the skills taught in the individual sessions throughout the weekend, putting into context what participants had been learning. 

Rachel Kennedy from Back in Lewis and a student studying acting at the University of the West of Scotland, who was a participant in the FilmG workshops, said: “FilmG was a brilliant opportunity to learn from a network with a whole host of passionate and talented people. The location alone was enough to inspire. The range of diverse workshops available meant that you were leaving the weekend with extensive new skills and the confidence and drive to create your own film. I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone.”