BBC, RTÉ, CHANNEL 4, FRANCE TÉLÉVISION AND SKY ARTS AMONG WINNERS AT CELTIC MEDIA FESTIVAL DAY 3

Dungloe in Ireland announced as venue for the 44th Celtic Media Festival in 2023

The Celtic Media Festival – The International Summit of Screen and Sound, drew to a close tonight as the final Torc Awards for Excellence were announced. France 3 Bretagne took home the coveted award in Single Documentary with Dañsal dindan ar glav, which tells the moving and personal story of Hélène, a cancer survivor. In Drama Series, BBC 1’s tense six part Vigil took home the award while in the Radio Presenter of Year category Michelle Nic Grianna from RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta won.

The winner of the International Pitching Forum – with a fantastic development prize of £10,000 – was also announced this evening. Dhivya Kate Chetty, Banoyi Films wowed the judges with her pitch for The Crossing; an observational documentary (series) charting the ordinary and extraordinary stories; the comings and goings; too-ings and fro-ings on the ferry crossings between Liverpool & Dublin, and Liverpool & Belfast.

The final Torc Award for Excellence was the highly anticipated Spirit of the Festival award which went to BBC ALBA’s Afro-Gàidheil. An intimate portrayal of identity, the viewer is taken on a journey by singer Cass Ezeji to meet Gaelic speakers of African heritage as she tries to find her place in a culture where she rarely sees herself represented.

Closing off the evening was the announcement of Dungloe in Ireland as the venue for the 44th Celtic Media Festival in 2023.

Catriona Logan, Festival Director, said: “This has been a really special Celtic Media Festival as it’s the first one we’ve been able to do in person since 2019. The spirit of the Celtic Nations and Regions is as strong as ever, with Breton drama Fin Ar Bed 2 (At The End Of The World) striking a world distribution deal during the festival which is fantastic. Congratulations to all the winners of the Torc Awards for Excellence and the International Pitching Forum, we look forward to welcoming everybody to Dungloe in Ireland next year for the 44th edition.”

Festival organisers revealed the Celtic Media Festival 2022 Day Three winners:

CATEGORY: FACTUAL SERIES
Winner: A Killing In Tiger Bay
Country: Wales
Production Company / Broadcaster: BBC Wales / BBC Wales

CATEGORY: RADIO DOCUMENTARY
Winner: Documentary on One: Miracle in Galway Bay
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: RTÉ Radio 1

CATEGORY: SHORT FORM
Winner: Lesbian.
Country: Wales
Production Company / Broadcaster: Rosemary Baker & Agata Mastalerz / Channel 4

CATEGORY: ARTS
Winner: Samhlú 2020
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: Fíbín Media / TG4

CATEGORY: RADIO MUSIC PROGRAMME
Winner: The Rolling Wave
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: RTÉ Radio 1

CATEGORY: SINGLE DRAMA
Winner: Ons
Country: Galicia
Production Company / Broadcaster: Maruxiña Film Company SL, Bando À Parte Lda and Televisión de Galicia S.A

CATEGORY: FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Winner: Runrig: There Must Be A Place
Country: Scotland
Production Company / Broadcaster: Blazing Griffin Pictures / Sky Arts

CATEGORY: SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Winner: Dañsal dindan ar glav
Country: Brittany
Production Company / Broadcaster: France 3 Bretagne – France Télévision

CATEGORY: DRAMA SERIES
Winner: Vigil
Country: Scotland
Production Company / Broadcaster: World Productions / BBC One

CATEGORY: RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
Winner: Raidió na Life
Country: Ireland

CATEGORY: RADIO PRESENTER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Michelle Nic Grianna – RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Country: Ireland
Production Company / Broadcaster: RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

CATEGORY: SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVAL
Winner: Trusadh – Afro-Gàidheil
Country: Scotland
Production Company / Broadcaster: MacTV / BBC ALBA