Editor

The 33rd annual Celtic Media Festival will run in Derry-Londonderry from the 18th-20th of April 2012.

The festival is expected to attract some big name guests and prestigious industry speakers to the city.  Hollywood star Tilda Swinton, Creation Records founder Alan McGee and award winning actor, writer and director Peter Mullan were among the contributors at the 32nd festival in Stornoway, Scotland last year.

Previous high profile guests include screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, film maker Ken Loach and actors Rhys Ifans and Stephen Rea.

The three day celebration of digital media, broadcasting and film talent will be held in The Playhouse Theatre and will showcase some of the best work from Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany.   Entries can be submitted for consideration online at www.celticmediafestival.co.uk.

The Celtic Media Festival is an event for producers and broadcasters, for students and emerging talent, for media policy-makers and for the general public. A programme of local screenings, exhibitions, evening entertainment and celebrity interviews will be open to the public and a series of master-classes and seminars with well-known industry professionals will offer students and practitioners practical advice and insights.

Dòmhnall Caimbeul, Chairman of the Celtic Media Festival comments:

“We’re very excited to bring the Celtic Media Festival 2012 to Derry-Londonderry. Derry has a rich and vibrant cultural heritage and with the eyes of the world beginning to turn to the city in the run up to its year as City of Culture on 2013, there is a tremendous sense of creative energy emanating from the region.  I know our delegates will look forward to exploring all that Derry has to offer.”

The highlight of the Celtic Media Festival is the Awards.  Bronze Torcs for Excellence, celebrating the very best of film, television, radio and digital media to emerge from the Celtic nations and regions, – whether in English, Breton, Irish, Welsh, Manx or Scottish Gaelic - will be awarded in 20 categories. The winners will be selected by an international jury.

Entries can be submitted via www.celticmediafestival.co.uk from 9am Thursday 8th May. The closing date for entries for this year’s awards is Friday 21st October at 5pm.