Thurso High School film recognised for 'inspiration' at FilmG Gaelic short film awards
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On Friday night, the winners of this year’s prestigious Gaelic short film competition, FilmG, were announced to an audience of almost 500 filmmakers, industry professionals, and FilmG devotees.
Winners were crowned across 16 categories in the London Auditorium of the SEC in Glasgow as BBC ALBA stars Lana Pheutan and Hannah McKirdy hosted this year's "Gaelic Baftas".
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Thurso High School were among the individual winners, presented with the new Inspiration Award in the under-18 competition.
The award was for their film, "Ar Sealladh aig Àrd-sgoil Inbhir Theòrsa" – a five-minute documentary exploring the views of Thurso’s teachers and pupils on Gaelic medium education.
Other winners from the Highlands included Dingwall filmmaker Rachel Urquhart (Raonaid Urchardan) for her work on her documentary, "Còisir – Mgr M!", winning the Technical Excellent Award (over-18).
The five-minute short film looks at the impact made by Iain-Murdo MacMillan and his choir at Inverness Gaelic Primary School.
Elsewhere, the Rionnag Award (under-18) went to polyglot Jasmine Krzyzanowska-Pawlak from Millburn Academy in Inverness for the best off-screen contribution.
Miss Krzyzanowska-Pawlak, who is currently learning Gaelic as her third language, earned the award for her camera work on "Sealladh na Bànrigh".
Taking top spot in the under-18 competition was Stirling-based Parker Dawes who won the Best Film for "Iomlaineachd (Perfection)".
This is the second year in a row that Dawes has picked up the Best Film Award, a testament to his Gaelic storytelling ability and continued investment in his craft, earmarking him as one of Scotland’s best young film talents.
Parker Dawes, Best Film winner (under-18), said: “It was an amazing night and it was great that people had the opportunity to view and appreciate my film.
"I enjoy entertaining people with my stories and competitions like FilmG enable me to do this and to pursue filmmaking which is something I really love. This is my second year winning, but it still came as a big surprise - it’s still sinking in!”
Securing first place in the over-18 category for Best Film was Kayleigh Bell’s documentary, Sealladh mo Sheanair, which explores her “Grandfather’s Perspective” through a series of interviews. This is Kayleigh's first win in this category at the FilmG Awards.
The Inspiration Award in the over-18 competition went to Edinburgh-based filmmaker, Luca Kerr, for his horror "Campachadh (Camping)".
Glasgow-based production company, Lost Rollerskate Pictures, picked up the award for Best Story (under-18) for their film, "A bheil thu an sin? (Are you there?)". This is the first year the production company entered FilmG, headed up by high school student, Tomas Dimbleby Weber.
Last year's Best Performance winner, Finlay Morrison, has once again won the award in the under-18 competition, however, this year he shares the accolade with his brother Calum for their performances in the comedy, "Bràthair Mòr Nan Gàidheal!!".
In the over-18 competition, the Best Performance Award was won by Evie Waddell, a Gaelic and Scots singer hailing from Stirlingshire, for her film, "Fios no Fois". Her film explores the confusions of deaf experience through Gaelic song, accompanying choreography, and BSL.
There were also two winners for the FilmG Choice Award – the only awards selected by public vote via the FilmG website.
In the under-18 competition the winner was Sgoil Lionacleit, on the Isle of Benbecula, for their moving film, "Aillse", Sealladh Marsaili, which explores Marsaili’s journey with cancer from a young age.
In the over-18 competition, Skye’s Niamh MacKinnon took home the Choice Award for her film, "Glac an Latha", which encourages everyone to embrace the present.
A highlights programme will be shown on BBC ALBA at 8pm this evening, or on demand on BBC iPlayer.
The livestream of the whole event will also be available on the BBC ALBA YouTube channel.
FilmG project manager, Megan Dale, said: “What a brilliant night! We're still reflecting on the wealth of talent and enthusiasm displayed during the FilmG Awards.
“2024 has been a year of firsts for FilmG; we had our first entrants from Canada; it was our first year at the SEC; we had new presenters; and our biggest-ever audience of 500 attending the awards.
"Our bigger venue meant that more nominees and FilmG enthusiasts could attend the awards and this added a real buzz to the event. A huge congratulations to all the nominees and winners – it was fantastic seeing them all dressed up for the awards night and it truly felt like the Gaelic Baftas.”
MG ALBA's head of publishing, Maggie Taylor, said: “A huge congratulations to all our nominees and winners – what a brilliant night celebrating the best of Gaelic storytelling.
“What becomes evident – looking at the talented list of FilmG winners - is that Gaelic storytellers hail from all over Scotland. We have winners from Thurso, Inverness, Skye, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Western Isles.
“A big thank-you to Lana and Hannah who did a fantastic job at keeping the room captivated whilst presenting awards to the next generation of Gaelic filmmakers. Hopefully nights like the FilmG Awards encourage Gaelic speakers to continue making films and that their stories and voices are incredibly important in shaping Scotland’s storytelling.”
A full list of films from FilmG can be found at filmg.co.uk.
