A GAELIC film competition has welcomed a number of Canadian film entries for the first time.
Seven Nova Scotian short films have been entered for Scotland’s annual FilmG festival this year.
Four of these films have been shortlisted for the awards ceremony this Friday at Glasgow’s SEC.
The festival, run by MG Alba, provides opportunities for young people to participate in Gaelic media.
Megan Dale, FilmG project manager, said: “This year we were particularly impressed by perspectives outside of Scotland and the reach Gaelic has internationally.
“We had a fantastic time visiting Nova Scotia last summer and were inspired by the wealth of talent across the pond. It’s great to see it being showcased amongst this year’s FilmG competition."
The four shortlisted Nova Scotian films join over 50 others all vying for “Best Production Design”, “Technical Excellence” and the “Best Film” awards.
Nominated for the “Inspiration Award”, Whycocomagh Education Centre produced the film An Tàillear Paraisteach. The elementary school, in Cape Breton, provides core Gaelic language programs to children.
The film explores John the tailor's journey across the ocean from Scotland to Nova Scotia and what happens when a whale takes interest in his boat.
Dùghall Mac A' Phi, from Cape Breton, has been nominated in the “Best Performance” category for his role in An Leabhar Prìseil.
The short film, produced by the Gaelic Filmmakers Society of Nova Scotia, explores a Gaelic speaker's quest to find a sought-after book in his local library.
Joyce MacDonald from the Gaelic Filmmakers Society of Nova Scotia said: “We're a group of Scottish Gaelic learners who are interested in filmmaking. In 2021 we got together and started organising workshops to help Gaelic speakers and learners tell stories on film.
“Many of the Gaelic learners here are the children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Gaelic speakers, but due to social pressures and shame, families mostly stopped passing on the language.
“Film is a way of telling stories, and we're so pleased to see our Nova Scotian stories among the entries to FilmG this year.”
Colette Thomas, born in Halifax and raised on Cape Breton with her Gaelic-speaking grandfather, has had her documentary Na Gàidheal Dubha nominated for the Inspiration Award.
The documentary explores the origins of a black Gaelic-speaking cook featured in Rudyard Kipling’s 1896 novel Captains Courageous.
Jude Sampson, a Nova Scotian Gaelic learner, has had their movie Seall agus Innis nominated for “Best Production Design”.
Their film follows eight different people as they ask the question, “what is the last thing I loved”.
Maggie Taylor, MG Alba's Head of Publishing, congratulated all nominees this year and recognised the ‘diverse selection’ of stories.
“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,” she said.
“The awards night is where this talent can be recognized, and I'm excited to see who will be crowned FilmG winners on the 23rd of February.”
The ceremony will be live-streamed to YouTube from 7:30pm on Friday, and a highlights programme will broadcast on BBC Alba two days later on Sunday.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here