Screen Machine on the way to the Maes!

Picture caption: The Screen Machine
Picture credit: Ewen Wetherspoon
Caernarfon’s newly revamped main square Y Maes is set to be transformed into a screening venue between 25-27 March 2009 as part of the 30th Celtic Media Festival’s community outreach programme.
The Screen Machine is an articulated lorry which transforms into a luxury cinema with some clever rigging. Over the three days of the Celtic Media Festival, it will offer members of the public, schools and community groups in the area an opportunity to enjoy screenings and performances, highlights of the Festival’s award winners, feature films and lots more.

On the first day, Wednesday 25 March, BBC Wales’ award-winning Doctor Who series will be holding workshops with local schools between 10am and 3pm. As part of the school sessions, young people will enjoy a past episode of Doctor Who in the Screen Machine and then enter into the spine-tingling world of Doctor Who with a special exhibition – including favourites such as the TARDIS, Daleks and a Cyberman – taking place in K2.

Between 3.30 and 4.30pm the general public will be able to enjoy a past episode of Doctor Who in the Screen Machine.

In the evening, there will be a Young People and Film evening featuring local filmmaking projects by Y Prosiect, Zoom, Coleg Menai and Bangor University. Tickets available for free from the Galeri box office on 01286 685 222.

On Thursday, Cyw, S4C’s service for younger children, will be showing the award-winning Holi Hana and giving local schoolchildren the opportunity to meet Jac y Jwc between 10am and 2pm. At 2.30pm there will be a showing of the Oscar-nominated Welsh language film Hedd Wyn as part of Galeri’s Tonic programme, followed by a free showing of Justin Kerrigan’s feature film I Know You Know between 7pm and 9pm. Tickets for both films available for free from the Galeri box office on 01286 685 222.

On Friday, Cyw will be back to entertain local schoolchildren between 10am and 2pm, and there will be a free walk-in session of ITV programmes between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

Each year, the Celtic Media Festival awards 19 Bronze Torcs for Excellence to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in Celtic film, television, radio, and digital media and between 5-6pm each day there will be an opportunity to view the winners of the day.

Huw Jones, Local Committee Chair CMF 2009 said, “Although primarily an industry event, we were all keen to encourage further public participation at the Celtic Media Festival in Caernarfon this year. I think the Festival has pulled together a fantastic range of events to give the people of Gwynedd a taste of what’s going on in terms of broadcasting in the Celtic nations, and I encourage everyone to visit the Screen Machine at some point during the Festival.”

Gwynedd Council Leader, Councillor Dyfed Edwards added,“As a Council we are delighted to welcome the Celtic Media Festival to Caernarfon to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this important celebration of broadcasting and film talent and excellence from throughout the Celtic nations.

“We look forward to welcoming our friends from throughout the Celtic nations to Caernarfon to celebrate the 30th Celtic Media Festival in March 2009. This promises to be a fantastic event which will allow local companies in the creative sector to showcase their talents as well as reaffirming the Caernarfon area’s reputation as a thriving location for the development of the creative sector here in Wales.”

You can now see the full Celtic Media Festival 2009 programme on the website at www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/programme

ENDS

For further enquiries or to discuss particular feature angles or press passes for the festival, please contact Gwen Siôn on 01286 685 254 or gwen@cambrensis.uk.com.

Notes for editors:

FAST FESTIVAL FACTS

• The Celtic Media Festival's aim is to promote the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries on screen and in broadcasting. The Celtic Media Festival is supported by broadcast, film, cultural and economic development organisations throughout the Celtic countries.

• The Festival is an annual three-day celebration of broadcasting, film talent and excellence from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.

• One of the Festival highlights will be the presentation of the Bronze Torcs for Excellence. Nineteen Torcs are to be won in categories which include factual series, arts, drama, sport, current affairs, children’s programmes, interactivity and radio station of the year. To view the shortlist visit www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/shortlist

• The Celtic Media Festival has been held in Wales 7 times previously: In Harlech 1981, Cardiff 1984, Caernarfon 1988, Carmarthen 1992, Bangor 1996, Aberystwyth 2000 and Cardiff 2005