Film festival going from strength to strength
THE annual Carmarthen Bay Film Festival is up and running in Llanelli this week.
The festival kicked off yesterday and runs through until Thursday.
Festival chief executive Kelvin Guy is delighted with the response to the event.
He said: “From our first festival in 2012, we have gone from 35 submissions to more than 1,000 from 74 different countries.
“Not only have the submissions increased over the years, but the number of film-makers and festival patrons attending has as well.
“We have had film-makers flying in from the US, Australia, Holland, Italy, France and many parts of the UK.”
The festival is based at Theatrau Sir Gâr’s Llanelli town-centre Ffwrnes Theatre.
Admission to view competing films is free.
Mr Guy said the festival had come a long way since its first years based at the Stradey Park Hotel.
“It is astonishing how the festival has grown in popularity from very small beginnings,” Mr Guy said.
“They say great things grow from little acorns and that is very true of the film festival.
“In recent years we’ve had added glitz and status as the event is on the approved list for Bafta Cymru Wales.
“The Bafta abbreviation is pretty special in the world of film. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is recognised as a hugely prestigious organisation worldwide.
“To get this recognition from Bafta Cymru Wales is a huge honour and is a great achievement when you consider what the festival has achieved since it launched.
“It helps give added prestige and stardust to the festival, with entrants now being eligible for Bafta awards as well as the ones on offer at the festival.
“We hope the festival really catches the imagination of the public in Llanelli and the rest of South Wales. It’s free – the only ‘pay’ part of the event is the awards dinner at the end.
“It’s clear that Llanelli and Carmarthenshire is making headway in terms of being recognised for film, television and digital media.
“The global response has been fantastic, and I’d like to think that the festival is doing its best to put Llanelli and Carmarthenshire on the world map for film-makers.”
Mr Guy urged film fans to attend the competition screenings.
“Llanelli and Carmarthenshire has been used as a base for many films in recent years and the industry is forming an important part of the economy.
“I’d appeal to the people of Llanelli and the wider community in Wales to come on down and attend the film screenings.”
The climax of the week is the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival awards dinner at Ffwrnes Theatre on Thursday.
There is a film-makers’ networking event at Llanelly House tomorrow.
The festival president is Wynford Ellis Owen and the vice-president is Judith Guy.
Festival patrons include Sharon Morgan, Marc Evans, Arfon Haines Davies and Julian Lewis Jones.
The festival is recognised by Bafta Cymru. Carmarthen Bay Film Festival is also now a Bafta British Short Film qualifying festival.
Wales Interactive (Wi), the awardwinning interactive movie and video game publisher, has four of its interactive films shortlisted for the festival this year and is hosting an Interactive Movie night.
For more information about the festival, see the website at www. carmarthenbayfilmfestival.co.uk