Highland schools in running to scoop national short film awards
FilmG, MG ALBA’s Gaelic Short Film Competition, has announced the shortlists for this year’s competition and budding young film-makers from the Highland Region have once again been successful in making this year’s shortlists.
This year’s FilmG theme, ‘Rùn’ (Love/Secret/Intention) inspired an array of new ideas and stories from filmmakers making it an exciting yet difficult job for the jury to pick out the best from this year’s entries.
The jury panels comprised of a variety of BBC ALBA and Freelance industry professionals, including ‘Dè a-nis?’ presenter Derek MacIntosh and previous FilmG winner Elly Welsh.
Elly said: “It was a great experience judging this year’s batch of films. Having gone through this process myself I understand how important it is to encourage and recognise new talent, and there was certainly a lot to be excited about this year. Every film that has made it onto the shortlists is of a very high standard and I hope that as many people as possible enjoy watching the films.”
The top prize in the Youth category for teenagers aged 12-17 is Best Film and shortlisted for the first time is Ullapool High School’s drama film ‘Droch Run’ (Bad Intention). This is about a girls camping trip with a very sinister edge.
A new award this year is for the best Music video and Dingwall Academy have been shortlisted for their film ‘Ailean Dubh As Lochaidh’ (Dark-haired Allan from Lochy). In this very funny film the pupils have recorded their own version of the well-known Gaelic song and with it the story of Ailean Dubh who maintains his alluring appeal to one young girl, no matter the awful things he does.
Shortlisted for both Best Production and the FilmG Theme award is the very moving period war film by Inverness Royal Academy called ‘Saorsa’ (Freedom). This film is about two brothers who go off to fight in the First World War, when one gets killed in combat the other is sent home to help his family, only to be told he will be traveling on the ‘Iolaire’.
Also shortlisted for the FilmG Theme Award is Lochaber High School and their film ‘Ard Sgoil Loch Abair-E’. This black comedy is about the situation in the school that requires teachers to reduce pupil numbers so there is enough room for everyone in their new school building. They are left with no option but to murder their pupils! Adding to the sinister appeal of this film is that the real French, PE and Science teachers act their own parts very well.
As ever the Ardnamurchan High School’s hard work has not gone unnoticed by the judges. Their film ‘O Mo Dhùthaich’ (Oh My Country) has being shortlisted for Best Production due in no small part to their ambitious use of props and locations. It is said never to work with children or animals, well this team of teenagers had a horse on their set, and made a beautiful period drama about a young woman being evicted from her croft.
Hamish Fraser, Chair of Highland Council’s Gaelic Implementation Group said, “FilmG is an excellent platform for young people to use both their creative and linguistic skills to produce Gaelic short films that can be showcased nationally. I’m delighted that a number of Highland schools have been shortlisted and are in the running to scoop the National Gaelic Short Film Awards. He continued, “experiences related to the Arts, Media and Heritage are a vital part of our young people’s education and FilmG continues to make a huge contribution towards delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence through the medium of Gaelic. I wish all the participants every success, and the Council is delighted to sponsor the Community Prize within the FilmG Awards.”
All the shortlists are now available online on the FilmG website, where you can also view all entries in this year’s competition. The winners will be announced at the prestigious FilmG awards ceremony taking place at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on Friday 14 March, keep an eye on social media for information about tickets. Providing entertainment at this year’s ceremony will be up-and-coming Irish band ‘Seo Linn’. They became an internet sensation last year when they collaborated with Irish summer school ‘Coláiste Lurgan’ to produce a Gaelige music video of Avicci’s ‘Wake Me Up’. It received well over 3 million hits on Youtube and boosted interest in the language amongst teenagers in across Ireland as well as internationally.
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