St Ives chosen to host Celtic Media Festival 2014

The Celtic Media Festival returns for the 35th year running as major international festival.

The festival will take place on 2 April 2014 for three days in the scenic seaside town of St Ives. It aims to promote the distinctive language and culture of the Celtic regions on screen, and is expected to attract over 300 delegates.

Leo Devine, Head of BBC South West Region, said: “Hosting an international festival of this calibre will provide a fantastic opportunity for Cornwall to showcase the amazing array of creative media talent in our part of the world."

The festival showcases the best talent in film, television, radio and digital media from Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, The Isle of Man and Brittany within the past year.

St Ives will play host to several big name guests and industry figures such as: actors Tilde Swinton, Rhys Ifans and Peter Mullan; film maker Ken Loach; News International Director of communications, (and former Communications Director for Boris Johnson) Guto Harri; BAFTA award-winning scriptwriter Jimmy McGovern and producer of Dr. Who and Torchwood, Russell T Davies.

The festival is primarily intended for industry delegates but local screenings, exhibitions, evening entertainment and interviews will be open to the public - including master-classes and seminars for local students.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Bronze Torc Awards for Excellence, which are selected by an international jury to be presented at the festival.

Domhnall Caimbeul, Chairman of the Celtic Media Festival comments: “We’re hugely excited to bring the Celtic Media Festival back to St Ives in our 35th year. The Celtic Media Festival first visited this picturesque seaside town back in 1997 and it was the perfect host town, so we’re absolutely thrilled to be returning again in 2014.”

The brand new website for the Celtic Media Festival 2014 launches today, and full details on the festival can be found at www.celticmediafestival.co.uk.