The shortlists have been announced for the Bronze Torc Awards for Excellence at the 31st annual Celtic Media Festival.  The awards celebrate the very best of film, television, radio and digital media to emerge from within the Celtic diaspora.

78 productions and companies have been shortlisted across the 21 award categories, with 26 entries each from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.  As always, Celtic languages feature prominently across all categories with all of the factual entertainment entries being indigenous language productions. 

The presentation of the Bronze Torcs for Excellence will be one of the Festival highlights.  The awards have been divided into categories which include factual, arts, drama, entertainment, sport, current affairs, children and young people's programmes, as well as radio station and radio presenter of the year. The winners will be selected by an international jury and six category winners will be announced on each of the three days of the festival.

One of the most keenly contested categories this year will be Feature Length Drama, with BAFTA winner HUNGER up against Sundance Festival sensation FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN, the Welsh BAFTA winning MARTHA JAC A SIANCO and CRYING WITH LAUGHTER which was a big hit at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and also won Best Film at the BAFTA Scotland Awards.

The Celtic Media Festival, to be held in Newry, Northern Ireland from 21st-23rd April 2010, is a three-day celebration of broadcasting and film talent in the Celtic nations. Supported by broadcast, film, cultural and economic organisations, it provides a unique opportunity for those within the film and broadcasting community to network, exchange ideas, attend workshops and promote the richness of Celtic cultures today.

The chairman of The Celtic Media Festival, RTÉ's Director General Cathal Goan, believes the event is an important opportunity to showcase the quality and diversity of work being produced:

"I've been hugely impressed by the standard of entries this year.  From current affairs to feature length drama, the shortlist is evidence of the level of innovation, creativity and professionalism displayed by media practitioners across the Celtic nations. This year's shortlist once again demonstrates how the media industries can flourish and help promote Celtic heritage, language and culture."

Last held in Northern Ireland in Belfast in 2003, this is only the fourth time the festival has been hosted in Northern Ireland and the first time in Newry.  Previous high profile guests include screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (CRACKER, THE LAKES, THE STREET), film maker Ken Loach (THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY, KES, MY NAME IS JOE), Russell T Davies (DOCTOR WHO)and actors Rhys Ifans and Stephen Rea.