Inverness to host 2015 Celtic Media Festival

INVERNESS has been chosen to host next year’s Celtic Media Festival, renowned for attracting some of the biggest names in the broadcasting and film world.

Inverness will host the Celtic Media Festival in 2015. Picture: TSPL

The annual festival is to be held in Inverness for the third time, having been held in the Highland capital in 1987 and 1991.

The three day celebration of broadcasting and film talent will showcase the very best film, television, radio and digital media to emerge from Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and Brittany within the past year.

Over 300 delegates expected

The Celtic Media Festival promotes the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations and regions in broadcasting and cinema.

It is expected to attract over 300 delegates, as well as a host of big name guests and prestigious industry figures to the town.

Previous high profile speakers at the festival include actors Tilda Swinton, Rhys Ifans and Peter Mullan, filmmaker Ken Loach, The Killing director Birger Larsen, Doctor Who and Torchwood producer Russell T Davies, and former Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Marianne Buckland.

Though the Celtic Media Festival is primarily for industry delegates, there will be a wider programme of local screenings, exhibitions, evening entertainment and celebrity interviews open to the public, including a series of masterclasses and seminars for local students.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the presentation of the prestigious Bronze Torc Awards for Excellence.

The awards celebrate the very best of film, television, radio and digital media to emerge from within the Celtic diaspora with Celtic languages featuring prominently across all categories.

The winners will be selected by an international jury, and presented with their awards in Inverness over the three-day event.

Delight

Councillor Alex Graham, Provost of Inverness said: “Attracting international events and festivals to the City is important to the local economy as they generate income for visitor providers and publicise the City to people across the globe.

“I look forward to meeting and welcoming all the Celtic Media Festival delegates next Spring and take this opportunity to wish the Celtic Media Festival organisers every success.”

Councillor Hamish Fraser, chair of Highland Council’s Gaelic Implementation Group, added: “I am delighted that the Celtic Media Festival is returning home to the Highland Capital next year.

“The Celtic Media Festival supports the development of lesser used languages across the Celtic nations and is a hugely important event in the Gaelic calendar.

“The growth of Gaelic within the media has expanded significantly over the last few years and the Festival helps to increase the profile of Gaelic and creates confidence in the use of the language, within all forms of media in new and innovative ways.”

The major international event, which celebrated its 35th year in 2013, has been held in Scotland on seven previous occasions.