by Robert Lloyd
The Carmarthen Bay Film Festival has received a prestigious boost as plans begin to take shape for the 2015 event.
The festival, which enters its fourth year in 2015, is now on the approved list for BAFTA Cymru Wales.
Festival CEO and organiser Kelvin Guy said: “The BAFTA abbreviation is pretty special in the world of film. “The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is recognised as a hugely prestigious organisation worldwide.
“To get this recognition from BAFTA Cymru Wales is a huge honour and is a great achievement when you consider what the festival has achieved since it launched in 2011.
“Being on the list of approved BAFTA Cymru Wales festivals helps give added prestige and stardust to the festival, with entrants now being eligible for BAFTA awards as well as the ones on offer at the festival.”
Mr Guy said: “Last year’s festival was a great success and closed with a a Gala Awards Dinner at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
“It was a glitzy affair putting the spotlight on the very best films shown during four screening days at the festival venue at the Stradey Park Hotel.
“We had three BAFTA Cymru members at the awards dinner and one of our chief guests was Llanelli MP Nia Griffith.
“The festival is now truly international and it was nice to reflect that in the final awards night.”
Mr Guy, a 49-year-old former Bryngwyn School pupil who is regarded as the expert on the life of Welsh silent movie star Gareth Hughes, added: “There was a big increase in entries for the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival again for 2014.
“Entries flooded in from all four corners of the globe to hit a magnificent total of 135 submissions.”
Mr Guy added: “The news is now going out worldwide that the festival is now on the approved festival list for BAFTA Cymru Wales awards entry eligibly. So the advice to all film-makers out there is, Get submitting for our fourth festival; who knows where it might lead?
The festival dates for 2015 are May 12 to 15, with the main venue at the Stradey Park Hotel.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
