Interview with Catriona Logan from Celtic Media Festival

Can you tell me what the Celtic Media Festival is all about?

As we approach the 40^th anniversary of the festival, we are truly coming of age as the premier media festival for the Celtic nations. The festival is a place for all those connected to media in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and beyond to showcase content, to do business, to make connections and, crucially, to compete with their peers across the regions for the coveted Bronze Torc Awards for excellence. So we are about making connections and celebrating the best of the best.

Why bring it to Llanelli?

The festival is truly nomadic. In the last few years we have travelled from Cornwall to Inverness to Ireland and the Isle of Man. In choosing a location for Wales, Llanelli stood out for so many reasons, not least the state of the art Ffwnes Theatre, which is an incredible venue.

For those who have not attended what can they expect?

They can expect some fantastic sessions on everything from wildlife programming to children’s content. They can expect an insightful keynote from Ken McQuarrie, BBC Head of Regions. They can expect to do real business at our international pitching forum and of course enjoy the nail-biting drama of the awards sessions.

Towy – The Dark River is premiering at CMF, what is the documentary about and can the public attend?

Yes there’s a free screening. It tells the story of the longest river that flows fully within Wales – it has a unique geography but also a fascinating cultural history.

What sets Celtic Media Festival aside from other festivals?

It’s a small festival and so if you attend you can be assured that you or your work will not get lost in the crowd. People make real connections at the CMF and return year after year.

Can you tell us anything about what 2019 holds for CMF?

Well, it’s the 40^th festival and so that alone will be a landmark year – I can’t say more than that just now, but I can promise a stunning location as we mark this historic milestone.