Today (Monday, 14th February), as registration opens for the Celtic Media Festival, some of the highlights of the exciting three day programme of events have been released.

Kicking off the year-long celebration of Scotland’s Islands, the three day event – which this year returns to its birthplace of Scotland’s Western Isles from April 13-15th – will see some of the most influential names from the broadcasting and film industries come together in Stornoway to enjoy and celebrate the quality and diversity of work being produced by the Celtic nations today.

Events announced today include:

It is clear that UK audiences are not the only ones to love the daytime hit Come Dine with Me as the programme is now being produced locally in 30 countries. In an exciting discussion, Executive Producer, David Sayer, explains where the idea came from and why he thinks it’s achieved such success all over the world.

 In 2010, Irish film The Secret of Kells was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. Director Tomm Moore will give students at the Celtic Media Festival an insight into what it takes to create an award winning animation and how it feels to go head to head with the big guns of Pixar.

In 2010, after three years of planning, Triple Echo Productions managed to film a live 5 hour climb in high definition. Tackling the combination of outside broadcasting, climbing and safety planning, it proved to be a great success and attracted audiences well beyond those with an interest in the sport itself. The accompanying documentary 5 Climbs, 5 Islands charts the intense preparation for the big climb. Celtic Media Festival audiences will be treated to an unseen director’s cut of this film and hear from its makers how they managed to battle the elements to create the finished product.

The Celtic Media Festival will conclude on Friday 15th April with the exciting Gala Awards ceremony. The jury of industry experts will reveal the winner of the highly coveted Gold Torc for Spirit of the Festival, the only award reserved to promote Celtic languages on film and television, before delegates and guests hit the floor to dance the night away to Celtic rock band Face the West.

As announced last month, a special screening of the new documentary feature Upside Down: The Story of Creation Records will officially get this year’s Festival underway. The screening will be followed by a Q & A with the label’s enigmatic founder, Alan McGee, film director Danny O’Connor, and musician Mark Gardener (Ride) who also curated the soundtrack. Later, Alan McGee will take to the decks in an evening of music no-doubt inspired by the Creation’s portfolio, including Jesus and Mary Chain, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Super Furry Animals, and of course, Oasis.

 With such a packed Festival line-up, there is no better way to kick off Scotland’s Islands – the year of events and activities which will showcase Scotland’s Islands’ vibrant culture and creativity (www.scotlandsislands.com) – nor to celebrate the country as a Land of Food and Drink by experiencing the quality and diversity of Scotland’s larder on offer during festival events and receptions.

 Donald Campbell, Chairman of the Celtic Media Festival comments: “As the festival is returning to its birthplace this year, it’s only fitting that the event programme is shaping up to be the best yet. There truly is something for everyone.”

 Registration is now open at a new great value price of £100 + VAT. Registration allows access to the full daytime programme of panel discussions, masterclasses and workshops, as well as the exciting evening events. Screenings of new and acclaimed films from the Celtic nations will be taking place in Stornoway as well as on the islands of Harris, Barra, Benbecula and North Uist and will be free of charge. In addition, due to demand, an allocation for evening events in An Lanntair – Upside Down; 5 Climbs, 5 Islands; Gala Awards & Ceilidh with Face the West – is available for the public from the venue box office.

 A further highlight is sure to be the presentation of the Bronze Torc Awards for Excellence, which celebrate the very best of film, television, radio and interactive media to emerge from within the Celtic nations. To learn more about the programmes and films in the running visit the Celtic Media Festival website.

 For further details on festival registration, shortlist and programme, please visit: www.celticmediafestival.co.uk.

 Source: Material_UK