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Celebrating 25 years of the Cymru Awards

29 June 2016

The brightest stars of Welsh film and television joined Ffilm Cymru Wales and BAFTA Cymru to celebrate two special anniversaries.

29th June 2016    

At last night’s London soiree (28 June) hosted by Sheridans media law firm, distinguished guests including television presenter Griff Rhys Jones, Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, and BAFTA-nominated writer and actor Celyn Jones mixed with an array of talent from the Welsh film and television industry, along with professionals from the wider UK industry. 

As BAFTA Cymru celebrates the 25th anniversary of their Awards and Ffilm Cymru Wales marks their 10th anniversary, the two organisations have united to showcase award-winning Welsh talent; highlight the vital contribution that film and television makes to our culture and economy; and share latest developments in how the sector in Wales is developing. 

Guests at the event also included BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Clare Sturges; The Call Up and Don’t Knock Twice and one of Screen International’s Future Leaders; and representatives from the BFI, BBC, Pinewood Pictures and Welsh Government. 

In her speech to open the event, BAFTA Cymru Chair Angharad Mair said “Two important organisations and milestones are being celebrated here tonight. 25 years ago we couldn't have imagined how much Wales would develop in terms of film and television - who would have thought that Pinewood would have film studios in Wales, that Dr Who would be synonymous with Cardiff and that S4C would have 3 Oscar nominations to its name. Film and television, and the creative industries contributes significantly to the Welsh economy, and the celebration here tonight is a positive reinforcement of those achievements. Even though we are a small nation, we can be incredibly proud of our Welsh talents and successes.”

Looking to the future Michael Gubbins, Chair of Ffilm Cymru Wales, commented "There is a strong feeling of momentum behind the film and audiovisual industries in Wales. Ffilm Cymru Wales and our good friends at Bafta have worked extremely hard to position Wales as a centre for talent, and for the businesses that sustain that talent. We believe that we are putting in place innovative and inclusive policies and practices that will ensure that today's success stories are just the start of an exciting future."

Next up, Ffilm Cymru Wales will be hosting their Magnifier cohort in Cardiff on July 15th, supporting companies to make the most of their good ideas – identifying opportunities to develop intellectual property such as games, publications, soundtracks, adaptations and educational assets beyond their feature proposal; alongside early planning to broaden the market awareness and audience for their projects.  

The British Academy Cymru 2016 Awards ceremony will take place at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on 2nd October. Last year’s winners included S4C’s television phenomenon Y Gwyll / Hinterland, Gruff Rhys’ original score for Dylan Thomas drama Set Fire to the Stars, and a special award for director Euros Lyn (Broadchurch, Happy Valley), whose Ffilm Cymru Wales-supported debut feature film Y Llyfrgell / The Library Suicides will be released in UK cinemas on 5th August.