NEWS
Celtic Connection
Catriona Logan, director of the Celtic Media Festival, chats to Katharine Gemmell about the event’s 40th anniversary and the
changes she’s seen in her time at the helm
The Celtic Media Festival (formerly the Celtic Film and Television Festival) was initially created as a way to promote the under-represented culture and languages of the Celtic nations in the media, when it was fi rst held on the isle of Benbecula. ‘It started 40 years ago for people from Scotland, Wales and Ireland to meet up and discuss different issues in the media industry, because a lot of media-related events were focused on London at the time,’ says Catriona Logan, director of the festival.
Although it still champions indigenous languages, the festival has grown to incorporate countries from around the world. ‘The media industry has become so globalised we had to diversify. We now try to bring people from all over the world to facilitate international co-productions. for independent producers from the UK to go across the world, so we bring people to the festival so it’s easier for local producers. We bring the mountain to them.’ The annual three-day festival will take place this year in Aviemore from 4–6 June for a special 40th- anniversary edition. It consists of a major conference of seminars, masterclasses, premieres and parties, as well as the Torc Awards, which celebrates the best work from the Celtic nations. It’s diffi cult
With numbers capped at 500 for each day, the festival has an intimate feel and resists a velvet- rope approach. ‘We cap our numbers, unlike other conferences, because we want a producer to be sitting at the bar and have the chance to meet the
14 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019
commissioning editor for the BBC or Channel 4,’ says Logan. ‘It’s really important that there’s an intimate feel. We always say that this has to be the nicest festival. It’s important that if someone came up on their own that they would feel welcome straight away.’
Aside from its big birthday, this year is also special because the festival is offering a £10,000 development prize for its International Pitching Forum. The theme is Factual Programming and for the fi rst time it will be panellists that select the winner. ‘It’s a great opportunity for producers to pitch their ideas to some of the most infl uential decision makers from across the world and we’ve seen an incredible array of pitches since its launch in 2016,’ says Logan. Refl ecting on the event’s 40-year history and her nine years as director, Catriona Logan says she has witnessed a lot of changes to both the festival and the industry along the way. ‘We get to watch the TV industry from one degree away, we watch with a sense of detachment, while knowing the ins and outs.’ She continues: ‘The difference in the quality of TV in the last 10 years is insane, we are absolutely in the golden age and this is because we’re hearing different viewpoints and perspectives – it’s the only way to improve on quality.’
Celtic Media Festival, Aviemore, Tue 4–Thu 6 Jun; for more info or to volunteer at the festival, go to celticmediafestival.co.uk
COMING UP
P H O T O :
M A R Y M C C A R T N E Y
TERMINAL V Dance and electronic music festival featuring Richie Hawtin’s fi rst appearance in Edinburgh for 18 years. The line-up also includes the likes of Mella Dee, Mall Grab, Helena Hauff and Maceo Plex, all under the massive roof of the Royal Highland Centre. Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Apr.
LUMINATE CREATIVE AGEING Luminate celebrates our creative lives as we age by offering a wide range of inspirational arts activities with, by and for older people, as well as creative events bringing generations together. Various venues, Scotland, Wed 1–Fri 31 May.
SOUTHSIDE FRINGE A 17-day independent fringe festival that aims to broaden the scope of music, comedy, burlesque, cabaret, art and theatre events which are happening deep in Glasgow’s Southside. Various venues, Glasgow, Fri 10–Sun 26 May.
PERTH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Music, comedy, theatre, dance and visual arts are all up for grabs at this festival. The 2019 programme includes Scottish sweetheart Lewis Capaldi, Verdi’s Macbeth by Fairport Convention, Jools Holland and Horrible Histories. Various venues, Perth, Thu 16–Sat 25 May.
KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH Located deep in the Southern Uplands of Scotland, this outdoor festival places a focus on roots music, with this year’s line-up including Benjamin Zephaniah and the Revolutionary Minds, Elephant Sessions, Talisk and more. Knockengorroch Farm, Castle Douglas, Thu 23–Sun 26 May.