2017 shortlist announced
FilmG, the national Gaelic short film competition, has announced this year’s shortlists, with stand- out entries by promising filmmakers, schools, and community groups from all around Scotland making the hotly contested finals.
This year’s FilmG attracted more entries than ever before, with many clever, fun and quirky interpretations of the theme ‘ Strì’ (Endeavour/Conflict).
The FilmG jury panels comprised of industry professionals, including producers, directors and scriptwriters from all over Scotland, as well as top sports commentators given the inclusion of the new Sports Commentary category this year.
One of this year’s panelists is BeesNees media director, Duncan MacDonald who said: ' It is great to see so many filmmakers of all ages engage in this competition.
' This year we have seen a wide range of films and individual takes on the topic and those making the shortlist had a clear narrative and viewpoint. It's not always about technical brilliance – heart and soul come through strongly in the best work.'
FilmG is MG ALBA’s Gaelic short film competition aimed at developing new on-screen and off-screen talent for BBC ALBA and new media and is open to anybody over 12 years of age to make up to a five minute short film in Gaelic.
The youth category received 56 entries this year, with a large geographic spread of schools from across Scotland making the shortlist, including Lionacleit School in Benbecula, Plockton High School, Millburn Academy in Inverness, James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh and Calderglen High School in East Kilbride, among the finalists.
With such fierce competition, it is fantastic to see first-time FilmG entrants, Calderglen High School making the shortlist for Best Film, with Eadar Dà
Bheachd, their humorous take on the theme that sees the class fall out over their ideas for a film they are working on.
Also in the running for Best Film is Gairloch High School’s emotional drama, Briste, about the devastating effects of illness on a family, which also caught the attention of the judges for Best Script award.
The Best Young Filmmaker shortlist is testament to the breadth of young talent entering the competition, with not only documentary filmmakers such as Eòin Cumming from Laide near Gairloch making the cut for his mountain biking documentary Strì Ris a’ Chiad Chloich, but also the emergence of creative young animators as S1 pupil Ruairidh MacAlasdair, also from Gairloch, who has been shortlisted for his quirky animated game of hide and seek, in Falach-fead.
There were also some superb films shortlisted in the Open category, which includes entries by promising filmmakers over the age of 17, as well as community groups.
The shortlist for the Best Documentary includes the captivating A’ Tuiteam, by Jessie Ann MacDonald & Paul Steele from South Uist with viewers given an insight into Jessie’s life coping with epilepsy. Also, shortlisted for this award is Taobh Eile Duilghe, by up-and- coming filmmaker Kerr Gibb from Portree, with his portrayal of the lives of 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. This film also earned him a place on the shortlist for Best Community Film.
With so many great entries, one of the hardest categories for the judges to whittle down was Best Comedy. Making it to the final four however was Girls, Strì and Macaroni by Iain Wilson from Staffin, which follows the antics of rapper Ally C and his compadre Calum Kan-y- e.
Keen BBC ALBA viewers will have spotted Sabhal Mòr Ostaig TV Course students’ parody, Cheating Our Language, which also made the Best Comedy shortlist. The TV course students were not alone in making the cut, with Glasgow Kelvin College’s Gaelic learners getting a mention for their comedy, Leasan, in which a cruel Gaelic tutor teaches pupils insults when they think they are learning the basics of the language.
As with the Comedy award, many of the category shortlists have been very closely contested, including the new Best Sports Commentary.
The four shortlisted commentaries are evenly matched with two boys, Calum MacMillan and Jack MacDonald, who gave us their take on the Billy Macneil Cup Final, and two girls, Kate Bradley from Ardnamurchan and Christina MacDonald from Skye making the final list. Kate Bradley chose to comment on the women’s shinty Valerie Fraser Cup Final, whilst Christina chose a favourite moment from the semi-final of the same tournament.
Top sports commentator and FilmG judge, Derek Murray, said: ' It was an absolute joy and hugely encouraging to see so many aspiring commentators entering this competition.
' We had a plethora of engaging and informed commentary and those shortlisted would not look out of place on BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal or BBC ALBA. I would be privileged to work beside any of them and who knows, soon we may well get that opportunity.'
All of the shortlists are now available to view online at FilmG Youth and FilmG Open and you can also view all 105 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 February.
Keep an eye on FilmG twitter and Facebook for information about tickets.