Next year’s Celtic Media Festival takes place in Dungarvan in County Waterford, Ireland, and, with the addition of three brand-new award categories in Comedy, Radio Comedy and Radio Magazine Show, a total of 24 Torc Awards will be presented at the 2016 Festival. Over the years the Festival has celebrated the very best in Celtic media, with BBC/Hartswood Films’ Sherlock, BBC/RTÉ/Artists Studio Ltd’s The Fall and BBC Cymru Wales’ Doctor Who just a few of the major productions to be nominated for Torc Awards for Excellence. Past winners include RTÉ One’s Love/Hate, Fiction Factory’s Y Gwyll/Hinterland and TG4/Magamedia’s Corp + Anam.
Catriona Logan, Festival Director said: “We’re delighted that the number of entries submitted for the 2016 Torc Awards for Excellence are so high. It showcases the increasing breadth and depth of the Celtic media industry when our Call for Entry figures increase year on year. Our national and international juries have a wealth of productions to choose from when they pick winners for each category, and we can’t wait to see everyone in Dungarvan in April to celebrate the talent on offer at the Festival.”
The 37th Celtic Media Festival takes place over 20th – 22nd April 2016 and will see hundreds of delegates enjoy a packed festival programme. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Waterford City and County Council, TG4, BBC Scotland, RTÉ, MG ALBA, S4C, Northern Ireland Screen, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Cymru Wales, the festival consistently attracts international delegates wherever it is held and offers a programme that celebrates the influential media industry of the Celtic nations and regions, as well as providing networking opportunities for delegates and speakers alike.
Irial Mac Murchú, chief executive of studio satellite services and production company Nemeton TV, who was involved locally behind the selection of Dungarvan, said the people of the town are already gearing up for the festival which looks set to bring a “massive boost” to the town.
“What makes Dungarvan an interesting choice is that instead of in other cities where the festival has been concentrated around one venue, Dungarvan is so compact that the town itself almost becomes the venue rather than just one place.
“I expect the festival is going to have a pretty big impact over those few days on Dungarvan and not only that but it comes the Wednesday after the annual food festival in the town so it will be a really, really big week in Waterford.”
Full information on the Call for Entries and award categories is available at www.celticmediafestival.co.uk
The Celtic Media Festival 2016 will take place in Dungarvan in County Waterford, Ireland, from 20th – 22nd April 2016.