The third annual Wales International Film Festival (WIFF) has been officially launched at Neath’s iconic Gwyn Hall where it will be staged later this year with partners including Neath Port Talbot Council, Neath Port Talbot College Group, Neath Inspired and Confucius Institute UWTSD.
Singing super star and Port Talbot resident Paul Potts was the guest of honour at the launch. He wished the festival well in a short speech in which he recalled the film One Chance starring James Corden based on his overnight success after winning Britain’s Got Talent.
The festival organisers have received a large number of high calibre, independent submissions from around 30 different countries for the 24 categories and 50 diverse features, short and animation film projects which have been selected for screening at the festival.
The 2019 Awards Ceremony will be held on the evening of Monday, September 23rd at the Gwyn Hall, hosted by Kev Johns MBE when WIFF’s partners and sponsors of categories including ‘Best Short Film’, ‘Best Feature Film’ and ‘Best Short Comedy’, will be on hand to award a total of 30 prizes. The festival runs between September 23rd and 24th.
At the launch, the Deputy Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Anthony Taylor, said: “This festival will give us the chance to sell Neath Port Talbot to a wider audience. This is also the perfect location for the festival as it is right in the heart of Neath and the County Borough has a long history of producing talented, creative people.”
The Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Councillor Scott Jones added: “Local businesses, attractions and the local economy will benefit from the increase in visitors to the town and surrounding areas. “The creative workshops and networking sessions involving film makers and producers from all around the world will inspire our youth by outlining skills and employment opportunities within the film/tv and creative sectors that are available as a future vocation.
Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has already sent his best wishes to all the competitors via a video on his social media platforms and has said as he will be away filming during the festival, his father Meyrick Sheen will be attending and supporting the event on his behalf.
Wales International Film Festival Director Samira Mohamed Ali said: “WIFF 2019 will be an excellent event for up-and coming film makers to meet industry experts and experienced producers and directors to network and exchange ideas with people from Europe, US and Canada.
“The ethos behind our non-profit organisation is that we showcase and elevate the best talent with the aim of expanding the festival on multi-platforms across Wales, the UK and internationally.”
Other guests included Neath Town Council Mayor Bob Price, Michael Sheen’s father Meyrick who has been involved with the festival for some years and Vivienne Zheng of the University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goleuadau, camera, amdani!Lansio Gwyl Ffilmiau Ryngwladol Cymru yng Nghastell-nedd
Mae trydedd Gwyl Ffilmiau Ryngwladol Cymru (WIFF) wedi cael ei lansio’n swyddogol yn Neuadd Gwyn, y lleoliad eiconig yng Nghastell-nedd, lle bydd yn cael ei llwyfannu’n ddiweddarach eleni gyda phartneriaid megis Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, Grwp Coleg Castell-nedd Port Talbot, Neath Inspired a Sefydliad Confucius PCYDDS.
Paul Potts, sy’n serennu ym myd y gân ac yn byw ym Mhort Talbot, oedd y gwestai anrhydeddus adeg y lansio. Dymunodd yn dda i’r wyl mewn anerchiad byr lle cyfeiriodd at y ffilm One Chance, lle seiliwyd rôl James Corden ar ei lwyddiant ysgubol ar ôl ennill Britain’s Got Talent.
Mae trefnwyr yr wyl wedi derbyn llawer o gynigion annibynnol o ansawdd uchel, o ryw 30 o wahanol wledydd, ar gyfer y 24 categori a’r 50 o amrywiol brosiectau ffilm, yn gyflwyniadau nodwedd, ffilmiau byr ac animeiddiadau, a ddewiswyd i’w sgrinio yn yr wyl.
Cynhelir Seremoni Wobrwyo 2019 nos Lun 23 Medi yn Neuadd Gwyn, yng ngofal Kev Johns MBE, pryd y bydd partneriaid WIFF a noddwyr categorïau fydd yn cynnwys ‘Ffilm Fer Orau’, ‘Ffilm Nodwedd Orau’ a’r ‘Comedi Byr Gorau’, wrth law i ddyfarnu cyfanswm o 30 o wobrau. Cynhelir yr wyl ar 23-24 Medi.
Adeg y lansio, dywedodd Dirprwy Arweinydd Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, y Cynghorydd Anthony Taylor: “Bydd yr wyl hon yn gyfle i ni gyflwyno Castell-nedd Port Talbot i gynulleidfa ehangach. Mae hefyd yn lleoliad delfrydol ar gyfer yr wyl, yng nghanol Castell-nedd, ac mae gan y Fwrdeistref Sirol hanes hir o gynhyrchu pobl ddawnus a chreadigol.”
Ychwanegodd Maer Castell-nedd Port Talbot, y Cynghorydd Scott Jones: “Bydd busnesau lleol, atyniadau a’r economi leol yn elwa o’r cynnydd yn nifer yr ymwelwyr â’r dref a’r ardal o amgylch. Bydd y gweithdai creadigol a’r sesiynau rhwydweithio gyda gwneuthurwyr a chynhyrchwyr ffilmiau o bob rhan o’r byd yn ysbrydoli ein hieuenctid trwy amlinellu sgiliau a chyfleoedd cyflogaeth sydd ar gael fel galwedigaeth i’r dyfodol yn y sector ffilm/teledu a’r sector creadigol”.
Mae Michael Sheen, yr actor o Hollywood, eisoes wedi anfon dymuniadau gorau i’r holl gystadleuwyr trwy fideo ar ei lwyfannau cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ac mae wedi dweud, oherwydd ei fod yntau i ffwrdd yn ffilmio yn ystod yr wyl, y bydd ei dad, Meyrick Sheen, yn mynychu ac yn cefnogi’r digwyddiad ar ei ran.
Dywedodd Cyfarwyddwr Gwyl Ffilmiau Ryngwladol Cymru, Samira Mohamed Ali: “Bydd WIFF 2019 yn gyfle ardderchog i wneuthurwyr ffilmiau sy’n ennill eu plwyf gwrdd ag arbenigwyr y diwydiant a chynhyrchwyr a chyfarwyddwyr profiadol, er mwyn rhwydweithio a chyfnewid syniadau gyda phobl o Ewrop, yr Unol Daleithiau a Canada.
“Ethos ein sefydliad nid-er-elw yw ein bod ni’n arddangos ac yn dyrchafu’r doniau gorau, gyda’r nod o ehangu’r wyl ar sawl llwyfan ledled Cymru, y Deyrnas Unedig ac yn rhyngwladol.”
Ymhlith y gwesteion eraill roedd Bob Price, Maer Cyngor Tref Castell-nedd, Meyrick, tad Michael Sheen, sydd wedi ymwneud â’r wyl ers rhai blynyddoedd, a Vivienne Zheng o Brifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant (PCYDDS).
More stories