Ross-shire Gaelic speakers dominate FilmG awards nominations
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Ross-shire Gaelic speakers make multiple appearances in this year's nominations for the esteemed Gaelic film competition, FilmG.
Highland Gaelic speakers have dominated this year's nominations list, with Ross-shire featuring widely.
Hannah Robertson of Tain Royal Academy has been shortlisted for Best Performance, while Silas Brown from Ullapool High School is a nominee in the Rionnag (Star Award) for his technical excellence as an individual. In the Rionnag category, every single nominee is from the Highlands and Islands. In the 18+ category, Blythe Wilson of Strathpeffer was nominated for Best Performance.
Meanwhile, Dingwall-born filmmarker Rachel Urquhart has picked up not one, but two award nominations. Her film Còisir – Mgr M! was nominated for the Community Award, and Rachel herself was nominated for the Technical Excellence Award.
With the judges' job now complete, the only categories still to be decided are the FilmG Choice Awards, with a public vote for these categories open until midnight, February 2. Votes can be cast online here.
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."
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."
MG ALBA's head of publishing, Maggie Taylor, said: “For the first time, the nominees list includes Gaelic filmmakers from the Isle of Man and Canada, showing the international reach of this 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 February 23 in the Lomond Auditorium of Glasgow's SEC. The awards will be live-streamed to YouTube, with a highlights programme to be broadcast later on BBC ALBA, on Sunday February 25.
