Celtic Film & Television Festival hailed as success

The 24th Celtic Film & Television Festival, which this year took place in Belfast's Waterfront Hall, has been hailed as one of the most successful to date.
The event, which ran from 3-5 April, closed at a special gala dinner at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast which was hosted by Belfast Lord Mayor Alex Maskey and attended by over 300 delegates. Director Stephen Frears, whose latest film ‘Dirty Pretty Thing’ was screened at the Festival, was also at the ceremony.
Organising committee chairman Sean Fulton said: "This is possibly the most successful Festival we have had. Over 600 people came through the doors during the four days, a remarkable figure which would have been unthinkable in Belfast just ten years ago."
It was Irish broadcaster RTÉ's turn for three victories at the ceremony, giving the host region a total of five for the Festival, level at the top with Wales. However, perhaps the most competitive category was won by ‘Un Hiver à Istanbul’, Brittany’s only victor, which focuses on issues of democracy and human rights in Turkey.
Cornish juror Phil Shingler agreed this year had seen an exceptionally competitive set of categories, saying: "It has been very difficult for the jury to separate so many excellent entries. It is a balance between productions that entertain and productions with power, and it is interesting how many productions are appearing on the same subjects at the same time.”
The winners for the five categories were:

• Factual Documentary Un Hiver à Istanbul - Odysseus Productions
• Arts Documentary Liam Ó Flaithearta - ROSG
• Radio Documentary The Maze - BBC Northern Ireland
• Young People Darn O Dir - Teledu Apollo
• Celtic Music No Gods and Precious Few Heroes - RTÉ Radio 1

The final three awards were handed out at the gala dinner.
The Frank Copplestone Award, which is awarded to first-time directors, was awarded to Irish Director John Comiskey for Hit and Run, which was produced by Dublin-based Sackville Films and funded by RTÉ.
Welsh actress 14-year-old Iona Rhys won the Jury Award in Eldra, produced by S4C.
The Spirit of the Festival Award went to Siberia – ‘An Bealach Ó Thuaidh’, produced by John Murray who was also responsible for documentary feature winner 'The Ghost of Roger Casement'.
Next year's ceremony is due to take place in Scotland.
(AMcE)