Michael Sheen wins Best Actor, Sara Lloyd-Gregory wins Best Actress*
Tidy Productions triumphs as Stella wins three awards including Best Writer*
BBC’s Dewi Llwyd receives a BAFTA Cymru Special Award*
Cardiff, 29 September: In a glittering night the best of Welsh television and film was celebrated at the British Academy Cymru Awards at the Wales Millennium Centre on Sunday 29 September.
Taking a break from his latest role in the film adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s 19th-century literary classic Far From the Madding Crowd, Hollywood star Michael Sheen accepted the award for Best Actor for his role in The Gospel of Us, a film version of the three-day Passion play staged in his home town of Port Talbot.
This year’s Awards were dominated by independent productions, with television drama the real winner of the night as Wales’ home-grown productions for UK-wide audiences began to make their mark.
Sky’s Stella made by Tidy Productions claimed Best Television Drama and Ruth Jones triumphed as Best Writer for the series. Sara Lloyd Gregory was crowned Best Actress for her lead role in Alys and the S4C series made by Apollo also won Best Photography and Lighting. The BBC’s The Indian Doctor produced by Rondo Media and Avatar Productions took Best Director Fiction for Lee Haven Jones and Sherlock produced by Hartswood Films for BBC claimed two craft awards.
BBC Cymru Wales’ Doctor Who 50th anniversary was celebrated during the ceremony with a montage of clips from the show and the Welsh producer responsible for spearheading the 2005 revival of the series, Julie Gardner, was honoured with the Sian Phillips Award. Julie, who flew in especially from her Los Angeles base to accept the Award, also held the position of executive producer on the highly popular Doctor Who spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Representing the Welsh film industry The Machine, the sci-fi thriller made by Red & Black Films, won the Special Achievement for Film along with Best Costume Design for Chrissie Pegg and Original Music for Tom Raybould.
Television news and documentary coverage was well represented with Fy Chwaer a Fi, the moving story of Llanelli-based twin sisters Catherine and Kirstie Fields, winning Best Director Factual for Mei Williams for his Bulb Films production for S4C. Mei Williams also won Best Photography Factual for his English version of the documentary for BBC Cymru Wales.
S4C’s Newyddion anchor for over 30 years, Dewi Llwyd won the Special Award for his outstanding contribution to television.
Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones took to the stage to present the Gwyn Alf Williams Award, an accolade presented to a programme or series of programmes which have contributed to the understanding and appreciation of the history of Wales, awarded this year to Green Bay for their production The Story of Wales for BBC Cymru Wales.
Best Presenter went to Huw Edwards for The Story of Wales and ITV Cymru Wales’ Byd ar Bedwar made for S4C won Best Current Affairs for an edition that investigated drugs deaths on Anglesey.
Two of S4C’s most popular annual televised events were also honoured with Y Sioe/12 produced by Boom Pictures Cymru receiving the award for Best Sport Programme or Live Outside Broadcast, whilst the singing competition Cor Cymru from Rondo Media won Best Music and Entertainment Programme.
Other awards for S4C included the short film Cân i Emrys by Double Agent Cyf which won Best Short Form and its Makaton programme Dwylo’r Enfys made by Ceidiog was named Best Children’s Programme. Barrister Gwion Lewis was presented with the Breakthrough Award for his presentation of Cymdeithas yr Iaith yn 50 which marked the anniversary of the Welsh language movement and was also produced by Rondo Media.
This year’s ceremony was presented by Matt Johnson and BBC News’ Sian Lloyd and featured show-stopping performances from Hollywell-based duo Richard and Adam and West End star Sophie Evans.
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About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its awards ceremonies, BAFTA has an international, year-round programme of learning events and initiatives that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York.
BAFTA Wales – or BAFTA Cymru – extends the Academy’s charitable mission across the UK in support of Wales’ creative communities. The highlight of BAFTA’s events calendar in Wales is the annual British Academy Cymru Awards, an independent platform showcasing the work that truly reflects the best of the country across film, television and games, making a difference to those producing creative work as well as those watching it.
BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. To access the best creative minds in film, TV and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more information, visit www.bafta.org.
_*This page was updated on 2/10/2013 to clarify that the winner of the News Coverage category was Wales Tonight – April Jones, not Newyddion – Y Gemau Olympaidd as previously announced. A statement made by BAFTA Cymru Chairman, Dewi Vaughan Owen, is available from the BAFTA Cymru office._