Celtic Media Festival atmosphere hits streets of Dungarvan

It’s lights, camera, action for the media mini-hub of Dungarvan as the West Waterford town gets set to stage the biggest Celtic Media Festival to date.

Now in its 37th year, a record-breaking 510 entries were submitted to festival organisers for 2016.

The event, from this Wednesday until Friday, embraces the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries, through both screen and broadcast productions by companies in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany, and Galicia.

Nominees from more than 90 production companies and broadcasters will compete across 23 award categories.

A 5% increase in Irish entries sees the host nation lead the way with 42 nominations for the prestigious Torc awards.

They include TG4 drama An Klondike, which swept the board at the Irish Television and Film Awards, and the RTÉ/Motive Television series The Notorious, starring UFC fighter Conor McGregor.

Glasgow-based festival director Catriona Logan, a native of Dublin, said they were “taken aback” by the high quality of programming entered into the festival.

“It’s hugely important to acknowledge the stellar work that these people do, and all the entries this year are testament to the talent and skill that these programme makers have.

“We’re extremely proud to be able to bring some of the leading names in the media and broadcast industry to Dungarvan and to offer a genre and platform-spreading programme to our festival delegates.”

According to Ms Logan, this year’s festival will see new opportunities for independent production companies. A shortlist of 12 submissions has been invited to formally pitch to some of the most important commissioners and decision makers in the broadcasting world.

Celtic Media Festival 2016 full programme is now online! Don't forget to register!
https://t.co/qd60X9vbAR pic.twitter.com/H5zdavJX1a

— Celtic Media Festival (@CelticMediaFest) March 31, 2016

Despite being held in Ireland nine times previously, it is the first time the festival will take up residence in Dungarvan, with hundreds of delegates expected to descend on the town for the three-day event.

Irial Mac Murchú, chief executive of studio satellite services and production company Nemeton TV, who was involved locally behind the selection of Dungarvan, said the town was an ideal venue for the festival.

celticmediafestival.co.uk.