FilmG, the Gaelic short film competition, is celebrating its 15th anniversary by announcing a bold new theme for this year’s festival of events.
Filmmakers are tasked to create films based on the theme of Buidhe (Yellow), a nod to FilmG’s eye-catching branding and a fun play-on-words with its double meaning also meaning “lucky” in Gaelic.
The FilmG festival will this year launch on 1 September, including a series of events and workshops, culminating in a December entry deadline for the hotly-anticipated awards ceremony in February.
FilmG is owned by MG ALBA, who brought in the new, Stornoway-based Gaelic company Astar Media to run the project.
Hoping to build on FilmG’s fantastic legacy, Astar Media’s Managing Director Murdo MacSween, said: “We’ve got huge plans for FilmG, with a motivated approach to create clear development pathways and allow those with a passion for craft or creativity to find their place.
“FilmG has been a game-changing vehicle for Gaelic, and we’re hoping to kick-start this year’s competition with a festival of events and grass-roots engagement.”
Alison Bruce, Brands Communication Manager at MG ALBA, said: “It’s great to see FilmG return for its 15th year. We’re delighted to be working with Astar Media to deliver this year’s competition and we’re looking forward to seeing their bold new approach come to life over the weeks and months to come.”
To find out more about FilmG, get in touch via the website www.filmg.co.uk or the FilmG social media.
BBC ALBA will bring a bumper summer of live and specially-recorded music to you as they broadcast from three of Scotland’s biggest festivals.
Coverage of TRNSMT, Belladrum and Celtic Connections will all be broadcast by BBC ALBA over the course of the summer.
Glasgow’s TRNSMT Festival kicks off the offering this weekend, July 8 and 9, as Niall Iain MacDonald hosts live coverage on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm, before coverage continues on the BBC Scotland channel from 10pm on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday July 10.
The live programmes will feature musicians from the Main Stage, King Tut’s Stage and specially-recorded acoustic numbers from the TRNSMT weekend at Glasgow Green.
Headline acts include Paolo Nutini, Sam Fender, The Strokes, Foals, Lewis Capaldi and Wolf Alice.
Highlights will be broadcast from July 16 and 23.
Later in July BBC ALBA will have live coverage of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival from the beautiful Belladrum Estate near Inverness.
Highlights from all three days of the festival will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA from 9pm on July 28, 29 and 30 hosted by Fiona MacKenzie and Niall Iain MacDonald.
Audiences can also enjoy additional live coverage on the BBC Scotland channel from 11pm on July 29 and 30.
Nile Rodgers & Chic, Van Morrison and Emeli Sandé headline the Highland festival’s Garden Stage, with other acts including The Fratellis, Sam Ryder, Passenger and Tide Lines.
In addition to the fabulous line up of live music will be specially-recorded acoustic performances and interviews.
And if you miss any of the best performances, BBC ALBA will be screening highlights each week from August 6 at 9pm.
Two very special Celtic Connections concerts from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will also air on BBC ALBA later in the summer.
Capercaillie and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) partner to perform some of Capercaillie’s greatest hits, creating a magical blend of traditional and classical music on September 17 at 9pm.
Gaelic electronic dance music giants Niteworks also join forces with the BBC SSO for a thrilling performance which will be screened on September 24 at 9pm.
An accompanying documentary about Niteworks and the creation of their much anticipated third album, released earlier this year, will air on September 22 at 9pm.
MG ALBA Director of Content Additionality, Margaret Cameron, said: “A summer of music on BBC ALBA takes our audiences from festival fields to urban concert halls, covering a variety of amazing talent along the way.
“Behind this rich selection of musical styles lie key collaborations with Celtic Connections, BBC SSO, TG4 and the BBC Scotland Channel as well as the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, TRNSMT and producers Beezr Studios, BBC Scotland Productions and The Ninety.
“We’re delighted to share these brilliant line ups with our audiences.”
Their ambition for Gaelic media underpins MG ALBA’s direction of travel as they publish their Annual Report in a year where the impact and value of Gaelic media has been an increasing focus.
The Annual Report contains an overview of the key moments MG ALBA and the wider Gaelic media sector have experienced throughout the year, with a wide range of programmes and media focused initiatives demonstrating the vibrant health of Gaelic media across a range of platforms.
It is not without concerns. Lack of growth in iPlayer viewings demonstrated the impact of a reduction in new original content, with very limited amounts of drama and comedy not being enough to consistently secure the younger audiences that BBC ALBA needs to engage with.
This was a year of where securing the future of Gaelic media in the digital media world has been paramount. The partnership behind SpeakGaelic created an innovative and vibrant multiplatform learning programme for Gaelic, modernising the ability to learn our language in the digital world and demonstrating the importance of collaboration to achieve results.
An economic impact assessment by Ekos showed a return on investment of £1.34 on every £1 spent on Gaelic media, illustrating why MG ALBA presented a vision of the future – Lèirsinn: A Route Map for Gaelic Media – which is ambitious but demonstrates what real investment could bring. MG ALBA’s Chair, Allan MacDonald, who highlights in his annual message that had MG ALBA’s funding kept pace with inflation since the inception of BBC ALBA in 2008, core funding this year would be in the region of £20 million as opposed to the actual level of £12.8million stated:
‘The BBC ALBA channel is currently not equipped to deliver for the audiences it serves. There must be a renewed settlement for Gaelic media that reflects the current times in which we live, and MG ALBA is working closely with the Scottish and UK Governments to deliver this. Securing Gaelic media in the digital domain is vital as a key component for the future of the Gaelic language within our communities. ‘
Speaking as the Annual Report was published, Chief Executive Donald Campbell, looked to the future but acknowledged that investment is needed for MG ALBA to deliver saying:
‘’MG ALBA is proud to present our vision of Gaelic media, outlining what could be achieved with the right funding. This underfunding is now significantly impacting on our ability to serve audiences with the wide and diverse range of content they deserve, particularly in the era of global streamers where competition for audiences is fierce. This must be addressed if we are to be confident of a future Gaelic media service that is relevant in the modern digital era for all our audiences.”
MG ALBA has paid tribute to its Director of Multiplatform content, Iseabail Mactaggart, as it is announced she is to join the Department of International Trade as its Deputy Director, Scotland.
Donald Campbell, Chief Executive of MG ALBA, said:
“Iseabail has made a huge contribution to MG ALBA and to Gaelic media since she joined us as Director of Development & Partnerships in 2014 and then in her role as Director of Multiplatform Content since 2016. Under her leadership we have seen great success in the internationalisation of Gaelic media content, the development of comedy and drama for BBC ALBA and the delivery of Gaelic digital media to all audiences.
Iseabail has cemented FilmG as a key outlet for young people seeking to develop and share their media content. And she leaves us having launched the user generated content site, càrn, and after leading the successful development and launch of SpeakGaelic, a once in a generation media intervention in Gaelic learning.
Everyone at MG ALBA would like to thank Iseabail for her commitment and passion to our work and we wish her all the best in her new role.”
Allan MacDonald, Chair of MG ALBA said:
“Iseabail has been an extremely effective Director of Multiplatform content, driving forward the work of BBC ALBA beyond the linear service. Her strategic approach to content across the multi-platform media in which we now work has facilitated opportunities for engagement with Gaelic media in a world which is increasingly driven by digital presence.
I have no doubt Iseabail will continue to support Gaelic media to thrive, and we wish her well for her future.”
MG ALBA is delighted to announce that Stornoway-based media and project management company Astar Media has been awarded a two year contract to deliver Gaelic short film competition, FilmG.
Astar Media will be responsible for strengthening FilmG’s role as an important talent development vehicle, and for increasing its profile as a celebration of the digital content being created by new generations of confident Gaelic speakers.
FilmG has seen many of its participants go on to develop media careers and receive further industry recognition. Since its launch in 2008, the competition has seen over 1000 film entries, generating a significant volume of new and engaging Gaelic content, with a greater focus on creating a digital community in Gaelic.
Each year, the competition culminates in a highly anticipated awards ceremony which is broadcast on BBC ALBA.
The competition had previously been delivered in partnership with Skye-based multi-media company Cànan Graphics Studio (CGS).
Alison Bruce, Brands Communication Manager at MG ALBA said:
“Encouraging and inspiring filmmakers to become involved in the dynamic Gaelic media industry has always been at the heart of FilmG. CGS has made huge strides in fulfilling this aim since the competition’s inception and MG ALBA would like to thank everyone at CGS for growing FilmG to where it is today. We look forward to working with Astar Media to continue to develop and build on the success of the competition among Gaelic speakers of all ages and abilities. Through the tender process, we were particularly impressed by Astar Media’s ambitious outlook and passion for developing the competition with Gaelic language and culture at its heart.”
Budding filmmakers and industry professionals alike are encouraged keep an eye out for more information about how to enter this year’s FilmG15 competition in the coming months.
BBC ALBA is delighted to announce Bekah MacLeod as its latest CBBC ALBA presenter.
The 24-year-old, from Skeabost, Skye, was on air for the first time last week as she made her CBBC ALBA bow on Wednesday.
The Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI alumna relished her on-screen debut as a part of the Gaelic-speaking presenting team, joining the presenter team consisting of Calum MacDonald, Ellen MacDonald, Hannah McKirdy, Zach Ronan & Lana Beaton.
Bekah, who is an avid reader and is currently trying to learn to roller skate, with some degree of success, has always loved TV and drama.
Calling on the experience she gained at the University of the Highlands and Islands through Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s TV course and from her work towards a degree in Gaelic and Media Studies, Bekah thrived in the studio environment.
Currently living in Glasgow, the former Portree High School pupil has also spent time elsewhere in the BBC, undertaking an MG ALBA-sponsored student placement at Radio nan Gàidheal in Stornoway.
Speaking after making her TV debut and explaining her route to working in broadcasting, Bekah said: “I’ve had a few different jobs and never really knew what I wanted to do, but I’ve always loved being on stage and performing.
“I did some extensive training on my TV course where we covered a little bit of everything over two years”.
“Day one in the studio was fun – but it’s quite different with the camera pointed at you!
“It was weird looking back at the recording as you notice things you wouldn’t normally see in yourself – I didn’t realise I blinked that much! Or you think: ‘Oh gosh what am I doing with my hands?’.
“The support I’ve received from everyone at BBC ALBA has been super helpful.
“It’s cool explaining to people what my job is and telling them I spend part of my day recording in a CBBC studio like we used to watch when we were younger.
“Between my placement at Radio nan Gàidheal and my early career with BBC ALBA, they have really helped me confirm to myself that working in the media is the perfect place for me.”
MG ALBA has published an invitation to tender for the Delivery of Services for FilmG15 and FilmG16.
Deadline: 8 June 2022
More information: here
A revealing three-part series is the latest in a number of collaborations between BBC ALBA and TG4 dealing with international stories.
Presented by Anne McAlpine (Anne Lundon) (Landward, BBC News) for BBC ALBA, An t-Uisge / Rain Stories explores how rain has influenced our cultures and traditions since time began.
Scientists study it, communities pray for it and governments have tried to control it; An t-Uisge / Rain Stories asks what rain actually is, and why it’s more important now than ever as the world deals with the climate crisis and looks for solutions.
The Atlantic fringes of Ireland and Scotland are infamous for their rainfall, but it’s these downpours that we have to thank for much of the regions’ produce.
In Raasay, off the coast of Skye, Anne visits the distillery to see if, as the saying goes, today’s rain really is tomorrow’s whisky.
But Anne discovers that the rain doesn’t always bring good tidings when she visits the National Trust for Scotland’s Hill House in Helensburgh. Right on the edge of Argyll’s coastal temperate rainforest, the Hill House is now undergoing a costly recovery after decades of rain damage.
In the series, viewers will learn that the survival of this iconic Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece relies on the protection of a huge breathable suit of armour which encases the historic and beautiful building.
We also see traditions often used to keep the rain at bay. In Ireland, a statue of the Child Jesus, known as the Child of Prague, is placed in the garden on the eve of a wedding in the hope of clear skies for the following day.
Other Scottish stories in the series include: Prof. Mark Sutton and Netty Van Dijk of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, who show Anne their unique experiment to monitor Nitrogen pollution, which gets into rain from farming and car emissions. Dr. Edward Graham, of University of the Highlands and Islands, discusses acid rain and Gordon Cameron, of Applecross, shows Anne how the community has used its abundant resource – rain – to create a community hydro scheme.
Anne also meets Michael Begg, an award-winning East Lothian sound artist collecting rain sounds to make music to highlight Climate Change.
Light Water Is Black Water, a commission from the Ocean ARTic Partnership, was created using rainfall data combined with rain sounds.
Michael is filmed recording the sound of rain as it hits the trees in a forest and in a variety of containers, from a copper pot to a Tibetan singing bowl.
Other highlights of the series, which was also funded by Screen Scotland, as well as NI Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, TG4, LIC in China, Creative Wales and distributed by TVF International, include eye-catching rituals from around the world – to call rain and to ward it off – two of them involving weddings!
In Assam, India, the wedding of two frogs is a highly colourful annual event to summon the monsoon rains.
Anne said: “We have an abundance of rain in Scotland and growing up in the west I’m well used to being out in all seasons, for work and pleasure. Working on this series was so interesting; digging deeper into the science and the stories – of which there are many!- behind rain was a topic I’m very interested in – as most Scots are!”
At the National Center of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi, Anne met some of the scientists involved in seeding the clouds – a type of weather modification that aims to increase the rain in this desert country.
She adds: “It was amazing to learn about how the UAE as a country addresses its water shortage.”
Anne also travelled to Sharjah in the UAE, to an art installation where you walk under rain, but don’t get wet!
Rain Room is a hundred square metre field of perpetually falling raindrops. When you walk into the room, network sensors in the floor cut off the supply of water from above, letting you wander through the downpour without getting wet.
Anne says: “It was a very unusual experience. As the sun is beating down in the desert outside you step into this darkened room filled with pouring rain! It was really cool.”
The MacTV /Cwmni Da / Below the Radar / LIC co-production series features stories from Scotland, Ireland, India, USA, Kenya, China and the United Arab Emirates.
AN T-UISGE / RAIN STORIES begins on BBC ALBA on Wednesday, April 6 at 9pm. Each programme will also be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards.
BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal content has today been recognised for its high quality with 14 nominations across the categories at this year’s Celtic Media Festival.
Highlights include landmark documentary Trusadh: Afro-Gàidheil, (MacTV) in which musician and actor Cass Ezeji explores her cultural identity as a young Gaelic speaking Black woman in Scotland, which has been nominated for both best episode in a Factual Series and is also in the running for the coveted Spirit of the Festival award.
BBC ALBA’s ever popular traditional music coverage has also been recognised, with lockdown made Cuirm @ Celtic: Duncan Chisholm (Beezr Studios) securing a nomination in the Live Music category. Continuing the music theme, HG Productions’ documentary God Save the Quine, looking at some of Scotland’s best female musicians and their rise to fame has secured a nomination in the Factual Entertainment Category.
Independent production company Sgeul Media, based in Glasgow, has received two nominations for it’s poignant and important documentaries; Dystonia: Beatha air Fhiaradh follows the story of DK MacPhee, who has suffered for most of his life with the condition dystonia, and his search for treatment, and Ceòl is Cràdh examines the mental toil that the music industry can have through the eyes of some of Scotland’s premiere traditional musicians.
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal content has also been recognised with 6 nominations, including its insightful coverage of the Euro 2020 tournament Ailig aig na Euros, landmark short radio drama Danns a’ Rathaid and detailed retrospective look at the collapse of the BCCI bank Staing BCCI – ‘S Iomadh rud buidhe ‘s chan e an t-òr.
The winners of this years coveted Celtic Media Festival Torc Awards will be announced in June at the International Summit of Sound and Screen in Quimper, Brittany.
A full list of BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal nominations is available below, but for more information, head to https://www.celticmediafestival.co.uk.
| BBC ALBA Nominations | BBC Radio nan Gàidheal Nominations |
| Factual Entertainment
God Save the Quine History Teàrlach Ceannadach: A Good Man Speaking Music Cuirm @ Celtic: Duncan Chisholm Children’s Alba Eagalach – Witch Trials Sol Factual Series Trusadh – Afro-Gàidheil Short form Ardan ‘s Aineolas: Soidhnichean Arts Ceòl is Cràdh Single Documentary Beatha air Fhiaradh Spirit of the Festival Trusadh Afro-Gàidheil |
Radio Music Programme
Siubhal gu Seachd Radio Documentary Ailig aig na Euros Staing BCCI- ‘S Iomadh rud buidhe ‘s chan e an t-òr. Radio Sports Spòrs na Seachdain Radio Drama Danns a’ Rathaid Radio Station of the Year BBC Radio nan Gàidheal |
Having had over 250,000 plays of its media content since the launch of its first stage last year, the SpeakGaelic multiplatform learning project now moves to its second stage.
This will see it offer its unrivalled multiplatform Gaelic learning materials to Gaelic users who are ready to take the next step in their Gaelic journey.
SpeakGaelic offers a unique integrated learning model, with the content and progression based on a European standard (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The materials which form its foundation are authored by the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Programmes are available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds as well as on the BBC ALBA channel, and its presence on YouTube ensures global availability. Self-guided online learning is possible through the SpeakGaelic website, alongside all of the classroom materials. SpeakGaelic is also supported by imaginative social media content.
Face-to-face learning is also available, with local Gaelic classes and tutors adopting SpeakGaelic as the backbone to their teaching, catering to those seeking a more structured learning environment with additional media content providing an even more immersive experience.
SpeakGaelic is being delivered by a partnership between MG ALBA, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the BBC, and is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the Scottish Government, MG ALBA and the BBC.
The first stage of the project (A1), aimed at complete beginners, was launched in October 2021, and now the second stage (A2), aimed at both A1 graduates and those who have previous knowledge of Gaelic but need a refresher, launches today, March 14.
BBC presenters and social media stars, Joy Dunlop and Calum Maclean lead SpeakGaelic.
Joy Dunlop, from the village of Connel in Argyll, is familiar to many who watch BBC Scotland and BBC ALBA as a regular weather presenter, musician and programme contributor.
Calum Maclean is known to social media regulars for his outdoors content (including his unforgettable ‘midge challenge’) and in BBC ALBA’s Dhan Uisge, he showcases his passion for wild swimming in the seas, lochs and rivers around Scotland.
Iseabail Mactaggart, SpeakGaelic Project Director and Director of Multiplatform Content at MG ALBA, said: “SpeakGaelic is the biggest project ever aimed at helping adults take up – and improve – their Gaelic and aims at being a game-changer for the learning and usage of Gaelic.
“It’s hugely important that we make it as easy as possible to learn Gaelic, and for those who already have Gaelic, to grow in confidence in its usage, and offering this multiplatform approach allows individuals, classes and institutions to choose their preferred route, with complementary content available whenever they need it.
“It’s vital for the future of Gaelic – and for its role in a modern, diverse Scotland – that we build confidence in all of the language’s speakers, whether they are new or lapsed or already fluent and seeking to consolidate. As each stage of SpeakGaelic comes on stream, we very much hope that all those with an interest in using their Gaelic find the material and content that suits them, wherever and however they learn, so that we help them grow in confidence.”
Sign up for more information today at www.speakgaelic.scot or follow the SpeakGaelic social media pages – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & TikTok.
