Tag: Gaelic short film competition

Shortlists revealed in Gaelic Short Film Competition

“Strongest FilmG Ever”

The long-running Gaelic short film competition, FilmG, has released the shortlists ahead of the FilmG Awards in March, marking the biggest shake-up in categories in the competition’s 17-year history.

For the first time, there will be no Best Film category in either the -18 or 18+ competitions. Instead, the major prizes will now be awarded for Best Drama, Best Documentary, and Best Comedy—highlighting the breadth of Gaelic storytelling talent.

This year also saw another historic change: filmmakers were not given a set theme for the first time, allowing for complete creative freedom. The 127 entries across both competitions reflected the focus behind the scenes on development and progress.

Independent judges selected nominees across 15 categories, while the public will decide the final two awards through an online vote.

18+ Shortlists

All four films nominated for Best Drama are previous FilmG winners, including last year’s Best Film winner, Kayleigh Bell.

Three films stand out with three nominations each: Mhàiri Gillies from Skye and the duo of Eilidh Chandler & Rae MacIver for their respective documentaries, along with last year’s winner Luca Kerr for his drama ‘Geama’.

-18 Shortlists

Last year’s Best Film winner, Parker Dawes, picks up another two nominations, including Best Drama.

Only four other films collect multiple nominations – Gairloch High School, Sgoil an Taobh Siar, and Portree Secondary School each received two nominations, while the Comunn na Gàidhlig group from Harris received three nominations for their comedic take on the hit TV show The Voice.

Dingwall schools also had a strong showing, with two films nominated from Dingwall Primary and one from Dingwall Academy.

Murdo MacSween, FilmG’s Project Director, said, “It’s the strongest FilmG we’ve ever seen in terms of quality, and we have very competitive shortlists.

“The public vote has also been strong, so it’ll be exciting to see which two films come out as Scotland’s favourites!”

Alongside the competition, FilmG’s workshops, clubs, and activities continue to nurture the next generation of Gaelic storytellers, providing a pathway for aspiring filmmakers to enter the world of Gaelic media.

Maggie Taylor, Head of Publishing at MG ALBA, added: “FilmG is invaluable for Gaelic media, as it showcases all the new talent coming through.

“The judges have had a tough job this year, but we’re proud of all the filmmakers who have been busy across Scotland sharing their stories in Gaelic.”

The winners will be revealed at the FilmG Awards Ceremony at the SEC in Glasgow on Friday, 7 March 2025. You can watch all the films at www.filmg.co.uk. 

Complete list of nominations:

-18

Best Drama

Cus – Gairloch High School 
Air Choire – Parker Dawes
Spògan Buidhe – Portree High School FilmG Club

Seachad – Ullapool High School 

Best Documentary

An Treasamh Sùil – Tomas Dimbleby Weber
Òran na Cloiche – ‘Dà Bhogsa agus Bogha’ & Finlay Morrison
Na Fònaichean Tha Sin..! Tràilleachd na Fònaichean – Sgoil Lìonacleit 
FORSAN – Rosa O’Halloran

Best Comedy

An Seachnadh – Dingwall Academy
Na Mèirlich – Dingwall Primary School

Dè Nì Sinn? – Sgoil an Taobh Siar
An Guth – CnaG Na Hearadh

Best Youth Group

Na Fuadaichean – Dingwall Primary School
Pantar Phàislig – West Primary School, Paisley
Muncaidh Bhreascleit – Sgoil Bhreascleit
An Guth – CnaG Na Hearadh

Power of Gaelic Award

Nuair a bha mi Òg – Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath
Seanchas na Fairge – Staffin School and CnaG
Am Plana Gaoideach – Castlebay Community School 
Dè Nì Sinn? – Sgoil an Taobh Siar

The Creativity Award

Drogh Paitchyn / Clann Dona – Bun-scoil Ghaelgagh, Isle of Man
A-mach ‘s A-steach – Oban High School

An Cluba Saidheans aig a Bh.Uas. Nic an Ceàrdaich – Calderglen High School, East Kilbride
Faigh A-mach à Seo Mi! – Dunoon Grammar School

Technical Excellence Award

Parker Dawes – Air Choire
Alasdair MacDonald – Baile Mhoire
Uilleam MacDonald –  Am Fiùran
Alex Padarowski – Duine-èisg

Best Performance

Emily King – An Guth
Eloise McNay – Geama
Lexy Campbell – Cus
Jonathan MacDonald – Spògan Buidhe

18+

Best Drama
Air a’ Bheing – Kayleigh Bell & Adam Stewart
Geama – Luca Kerr
Falach-Fead – AllanWith1Eils
Sinne, Nas Sine – Cara Turner & Kirsty McBain

Best Documentary
Coinneach MacThòmais – Eilidh Chandler & Rae MacIver
Orient – David O’Brien
Anne Againne – Mhairi Gillies
A’ Bheàrn – Jessica Deigan

Best Comedy
Falach-Fead – AllanWith1Eils
A’ Cluich – Rambling Celt Productions
Ar Eilean Breagha – Eilidh Johnston
Cunnart bho na Meanbh-chuileagan – An Clas Camelon

Best Cultural Film
A’ Tilleadh Dhachaigh – Galson Trust Estate
Coinneach MacThòmais – Eilidh Chandler & Rae MacIver
Orient – David O’Brien
Anne Againne – Mhairi Gillies

Best Music Video
Cailleach Mhòr Stadhlaigh – Evie Waddell
Tha Smeòrach sa Mhadainn Chiùin – Cashlin MacKenzie
Mhic Iain ‘ic Sheumais – Dlù
Chan Eil – Evie Waddell

Technical Excellence Award
Rob MacNeacail – A’ Cluich
Mhari Gillies – Anne Againne
Cashlin MacKenzie – Tha Smeòrach sa Mhadainn Chiùin
Rae MacIver – Coinneach MacThòmais

Best Performance
Ró Ó hEadhra – Uisge-Bàis
Evie Waddell – Cailleach Mhòr Stadhlaigh
Kirsty MacArthur – Air a’ Bheing
Rachel Kate MacLeod – Geama

New presenters set to host Gaelic film’s biggest night of the year

BBC ALBA stars, Lana Pheutan and Hannah McKirdy, are set to host Gaelic film’s biggest night of the year: the FilmG Awards. The presenters will oversee the awards ceremony on Friday (23 February) where winners will be crowned for the 16th annual iteration of the Gaelic short-film competition.

With the awards historically held at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow and hosted by BBC ALBA stalwarts Fiona MacKenzie and Niall Iain MacDonald, the event this year takes place at the SEC with Lana and Hannah welcoming the audience of almost 500 filmmakers, industry professionals and FilmG devotees.

Lana and Hannah themselves participated in FilmG over the years, both picking up awards that helped propel them into their media careers.

Hannah picked up a Best Performance trophy in 2017 for Cheating our Language while Lana has won numerous awards, including winning two in 2017 (Best Comedy and People’s Choice Award), three in 2018 (Best Performance, Best Student Film and People’s Choice Award) and the prestigious Best Film award in 2019 for her film Sòlas.

Since then, Lana and Hannah have worked together regularly, as actors, podcasters and most recently as co-creators and stars of the BBC ALBA mockumentary Glan Fhèin, and as co-hosts of the successful BBC Radio nan Gàidheal podcast Fad Botal Fìon.

New FilmG co-host, Lana Pheutan, said: “This is the first year that myself and Hannah are presenting the FilmG Awards and I’m really excited, and a bit nervous, for what has historically been a fantastic night.

“We’ve both attended many FilmG ceremonies over the years and it’s always a great chance for young Gaelic speakers to meet, mingle, and celebrate the language. It’s up to us to keep the crowd entertained whilst guiding the FilmG nominees through a seamless night of celebrating Gaelic short films.”

New FilmG co-host, Hannah McKirdy, said: “FilmG is a fantastic vehicle for developing Gaelic talent, and Lana and I both benefited from the experience we gained through creating films, writing scripts, and later winning awards.

“This year, over 50 films have been shortlisted across the categories, which demonstrates the wealth of Gaelic Filmmaking talent in Scotland and beyond. We know exactly how excited and nervous the nominees will be – we’ve been in their shoes – so Lana and I will be there on the night to ensure everyone has a good time.”

The FilmG Awards will take place on the evening of Friday 23 February in the Lomond Auditorium of the SEC in Glasgow.

The awards will be live-streamed to BBC ALBA’s YouTube and FilmG’s Facebook, with a highlights programme to be broadcast two days later on BBC ALBA (8pm on Sunday 25 February): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wsfr.

Nominees announced for Gaelic short film competition

Luca Kerr from Edinburgh has been nominated for the Inspiration Award for his film ‘Campachadh.’

While some may be eagerly awaiting the Baftas and Oscars, Scotland’s Gaelic communities are busy preparing for Gaelic film’s biggest night of the year: the FilmG Awards.

Over 50 films have been shortlisted for the FilmG Awards, a night celebrating the best Gaelic storytellers and filmmakers in Scotland and beyond. Winners will be crowned in categories such as Best Performance, Best Production Design, Technical Excellence, and the Best Film Award.

Leading the way with four nominations in the Under-18 competition is ‘A Bheil Thu An Sin?’, a psychological drama by the new independent filmmaking group Lost Rollerskate Pictures from Glasgow Gaelic School.

In the Over-18 competition, Inverness charity FC Sonas’s ‘Blàr nan Gàidheal’, which tells the story of the first-ever official football match in Gaelic, also has four nominations, closely followed by Isle of Lewis-based Tormod MacLeod’s funeral farce ‘An Tiodhlaiceadh’ (three nominations).

With the judges’ job now complete, the only categories still to be decided are the FilmG Choice Awards, with the public vote for these categories still open until midnight, 2nd February. Votes can be cast online by the public at www.FilmG.co.uk.

Rachel Kennedy, FilmG Judge and star of hit BBC ALBA drama series An Clò Mòr, said: “It’s been a record-breaking year for FilmG, with over 160 entries – the highest number of submissions since the competition began. The appetite for the competition is brilliant, but it makes our job as judges incredibly difficult as there is so much talent to choose from.

“Our shortlist has been carefully considered and showcases the best Gaelic filmmakers based on production, technical ability, and storytelling. From highly skilled animation to tear-jerking documentaries and cutting-edge dramas, the high level of talent, creativity, and effort has been evident in every film shortlisted, and they are all deserved finalists.”

FilmG Project Manager, Megan Dale, said: “The theme for this year was “Mo Shealladh’ (My Point of View), and all the entrants embraced this by showcasing different perspectives and playing with form. The shortlisted films show a deep understanding of perspective and the importance of listening to Scotland’s multitude of voices.

“The nominees represent different perspectives from all over Scotland, including Thurso, Portree, Glasgow, Harris, Lewis, Dunoon, and Inverness. Often, when we think of the film industry, we picture London or Glasgow, but FilmG shows that a wealth of talent can be found in all corners of Scotland (and beyond) and that it is important to encourage these voices to be heard.”

MG ALBA’s Head of Publishing, Maggie Taylor, said: “Congratulations to all the nominees this year – it’s wonderful to see such a diverse selection of stories and to acknowledge the skill, talent, and enormous technical effort it takes to bring them alive. The Awards night is where this talent can be recognised, and I’m excited to see who will be crowned FilmG winners on 23 February.

“For the first time, the nominees list includes Gaelic filmmakers from the Isle of Man and Canada, showing the international reach of the Gaelic film competition. We hope to continue developing FilmG’s transnational ties and supporting the talented filmmakers emerging across Scotland.”

The FilmG Awards will take place on 23 February in the Lomond Auditorium of Glasgow’s illustrious SEC.

The awards will be live-streamed to YouTube, with a highlights programme to be broadcast two days later on BBC ALBA (Sunday 25 February).

All eyes on Edinburgh’s FilmG event

Aspiring filmmakers gathered in Edinburgh last week at an engagement event for FilmG, the long-running Gaelic short film competition.

Young Edinburgh Gaelic speakers mingled alongside the FilmG team and seasoned creatives from various backgrounds, with former FilmG winners Lachlan Peel, Euan MacDonald and Màiri MacLennan all in attendance.

The event helped spread the word about this year’s competition, paving the way for potential collaborations. A follow-up event in Inverness later in the same week further extended FilmG’s presence across Scotland.

This year’s competition theme, “Mo Shealladh” (My Point of View), sparked interesting and creative ideas amongst attendees as signature branding decorated the city centre venue The Hanover Tap.

FilmG will accept short films (up to five minutes in duration) up until the deadline of 8 December 2023.

To find out more about the rules, the categories and the prize money, visit: www.filmg.co.uk or contact the FilmG team at filmg@astarmedia.scot.
 Sùil air Tachartas FilmG ann an Dùn Èideann 

Thàinig filmeadairean còmhla ann an Dùn Èideann an t-seachdain a chaidh aig tachartas FilmG, an fharpais film goirid Ghàidhlig a tha air a bhith ann o chionn fhada.
 
Thàinig Gàidheil òga Dhùn Èideann còmhla ri sgioba FilmG agus chuir iad eòlas air daoine cruthachail bho dhiofar chùl-raoin, le Lachlan Peel, Euan Dòmhnallach agus Màiri NicIllinnein a bhuannaich FilmG uile an làthair.
 
Chuidich an tachartas le bhith a’ sgaoileadh fios mu fharpais na bliadhna-sa, a’ fuasgladh na slighe airson co-obrachadh a dh’fhaodadh a bhith ann. Leudaich tachartas ann an Inbhir Nis nas fhaide air adhart san t-seachdain buaidh FilmG air feadh na h-Alba
 
Bhrosnaich cuspair farpais na bliadhna-sa, “Mo Shealladh”, beachdan inntinneach is cruthachail am measg an luchd-frithealaidh, agus rinn suaicheantas FilmG sgeadachadh air an àite ann am meadhan a’ bhaile The Hanover Tap.
 
Gabhaidh FilmG filmichean (suas ri còig mionaidean a dh’fhaid) chun a’ cheann-latha, 8 Dùbhlachd 2023. Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu na riaghailtean, na roinnean agus an t-airgead duais, tadhail air www.filmg.co.uk no cuir fios gu sgioba FilmG aig filmg@astarmedia.scot.


The Search Is Over: Winners of Gaelic Film Competition FilmG revealed

The winners of this year’s prestigious Gaelic short film competition FilmG 2022 were announced last night (Friday, February 25) in a special awards ceremony on BBC ALBA.
 
Many of the winners across the 17 prize categories were brought into the FilmG studio by video link to accept their award and chat with programme hosts and competition stalwarts Fiona MacKenzie and Niall Iain MacDonald.

The specially created awards programme was shown on BBC ALBA last night and is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards.

Films followed this year’s competition theme Lorg, which means search, find or trace, and with over 90 filmmakers attempting to find the winning formula, the judges had a tough job whittling down the entries over multiple days.

Parker Dawes (14), a pupil at Ardnamurchan High School in Strontian, West Lochaber, scooped three awards – Best Young Filmmaker, Best Film Fluent Speakers and Best Production, for his slapstick spy thriller Spies-R-Us.

Parker said: “We chose the spy topic because it was opposite to the film we made last year which didn’t win any prizes.

“We were interested to see if an action film could get different results – and it worked! I created a storyboard and we had crash mats so everything was well planned.

“I’ve always loved filmmaking and I’ve always looked up to FilmG. I’m really happy to get these awards because my friends and I were so sad when we didn’t win last year. It was great to be on that podium as a winner.”

An animation by Alina Brust from Edinburgh won ‘Best Film’ in the Open Category, the first time an animation has won this prize in FilmG.

‘An Taigh Solais’ follows a shepherd who is trying to find a lost sheep and has to shelter with her flock in an abandoned lighthouse to escape a storm. Due to the pandemic Alina had no access to university facilities so she made the entire film in her bedroom.

Alina (23) said: “I’m inspired by the Scottish landscape and coastline, especially the lighthouse and the cliffs around St. Abbs, one of my favourite places. And a lighthouse is a perfect setting for a weird and spooky story.

“Making this film was a great opportunity to combine my two passions of art and languages.

“I’m so grateful that all my hard work has paid off – as a Gaelic learner it feels like such a special achievement for me.”

Scooping the prize for Best Production (Under 12), Coignear air Chall (5 Lost Souls) by Sandbank Primary School in Dunoon follows five school friends as they take a spooky journey to one of the town’s historic landmarks.

A film about hillwalking and scrambling as a way to get a new perspective on the world from beyond the cold, dark glens and high above the clouds, ‘Thar Nan Sgòth – Beinn Eighe’ (Above the Clouds – Beinn Eighe) by Anndra Cuimeanach from Gairloch secured the prize for Best Documentary (12-17).

In the Open category a short documentary called ‘A’ Mhuir’ (The Sea) about wild swimming by the students at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in the Isle of Skye who take part in the sport, has picked up two separate awards, Film Duthchais and Best Director (Anna Garvin).

Emily Murray (21), from Lewis, accepted the FilmG award on behalf of the class. She said: “Taking part in FilmG was a good opportunity to practice the skills we had learned in class, such as camera, sound and editing.”

Anna Garvin (23) from Oban, who is studying Gaelic in Media at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye, said: “I feel very honoured to have won this.  It was my first time directing and I learnt so much about the skills needed to direct from working on this film. 

“Entering FilmG was a great opportunity to use all the technical and production skills we had learnt so far to create a film that would be shown to a public audience.“

‘Am Buaile Dubh’ which takes a look around Am Buaile Dubh on the outskirts of Inverness, has secured the Best Performance award for the film’s producer and narrator, Eòghan Stiùbhart.

Eòghan (40), from Inverness, is a Gaelic teacher with over 5k followers on Instagram for his Scottish Gaelic learning videos. He’s also an advocate for men’s mental health.

He said: “I went to Am Buaile Dubh a lot through lockdown, it’s a great place to be outdoors and get exercise. It allows me to be in a little world of my own and helps my mental health.

“For this film I wrote a monologue about what the place means to me and paired this with my own and old images and maps to illuminate the place.

“Winning this award was a surprise and honour, it was really cool to win the big metal G.”

And ‘Eilean Lois’ (Lois’s Island) by Somhairle MacIain (Sorley Johnston) from Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, which follows him and his girlfriend, Lois, as they cycled the Hebridean Way in the summer and he teaches her to speak Gaelic on the trip won them the award for Best Student Film.

Former Bishopbriggs Academy pupil, Sorley (19), who is studying Gaelic Media at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye, said: “I entered FilmG because I wanted to showcase a film that I had made myself while I was still on my course and had access to all the editing equipment and software.

“I’m planning on putting the prize money towards equipment of my own so I can continue to make films after my course finishes.”

Debbie Mackay, Project Manager at CGS who deliver the project said: “It was another great year for entries, and we were especially impressed by the high level of storytelling and filmmaking skills amongst our youth categories.

“As the competition continues to grow, we see filmmakers push themselves to a higher standard year after year. It’s a privilege to be a part of the project.”     

Iseabail Mactaggart, Director of Multi-platform Content at MG ALBA said: “FilmG has always been so important to Gaelic media as a whole and also to the individual filmmakers and groups who take part year after year.

“Seeing the talent coming through the ranks and refining their craft in order to pick up one of the coveted prizes is gratifying for all involved in Gaelic media, and testament to our ambition to continue to nurture an unrivalled Gaelic-speaking talent base both in front of, and behind the camera for years to come.”

All films from this year’s competition are available to watch on the FilmG website: www.filmg.co.uk

Further updates can be found on FilmG’s Social Media Channels:

www.facebook.com/filmgalba/ 
www.instagram.com/filmg_alba/ 
twitter.com/FilmGAlba