2 Week Gaelic Immersion April 14 - 25th, Cape Breton Gaelic Society Nova Scotia

[Pictured above: Oi Polloi were the first punk rock band to record a single Carson in Scottish Gaelic.]

2 WEEK Gaelic Immersion
Speak and understand more Gaelic with this intensive 2 week course!



WHEN: Monday APRIL 14 to Friday APRIL 25
10am till 4pm 1 hr lunch break

WHERE: Cape Breton Gaelic Society
296 George Street, Sydney

Instructors: Angus MacLeod and Beth MacNeil



The classes will be in the TIP (Total Immersion Plus) methodology.

It is total Gaelic immersion during class time. You learn through hands-on interaction with the tutor and fellow students.

You will learn practical and useful language in a fun and comfortable setting.



The tutors have a wonderful sense of humor which makes your learning experience more enjoyable.

It is recommended that you bring a recording device as there is no reading or writing taught.

Gaelic show about Cape from 70's



By listening to your recordings at home you will learn and progress much faster.

Bring your lunch, tea and coffee will be provided.



[About this video: this is a very old show called Se' Ceap Breatainn Tir Mo Graidh which was prodiced by scottish television about Gaelic in Cape Breton. It is the only footage I've ever seen of Joe Neil MacNeil and other old timers. This segment features Maxie MacNeil and his daughters as well as a Gaelic mass in Glendale. Its a rough copy. ]

For registration or more info
call Peggy Gillis 902-828-2218



WEEKLY CLASSES

WHEN: Every Saturday until April 12 (with the exception of Easter Saturday March 22)
10am till 3pm 1 hr lunch break

WHERE: Cape Breton Gaelic Society
296 George Street, Sydney

Instructors: Beginners Beth MacNeil
Intermediate Shannon MacDonald
Advanced Angus MacLeod
The teaching method used is TIP (Total Immersion Plus).
Bring lunch, tea and coffee provided.
Call Peggy with any questions
828-2218

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2008 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2008 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Celtic Media Festival 2008 Calls for Entries

Celtic Media Festival 2008 Calls for Entries

Oct 2007

The 29th Celtic Media Festival, which takes place in Galway from 16th-18th April 2008, is calling for entries for its 18 award categories across film and television.

The festival is an annual celebration of film and broadcasting talent from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, with the primary aim of promoting the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries on screen and in broadcasting.



The festival has 18 categories including Animation, Arts Documentary, Drama Series, Feature Length Drama, Short Drama and Education, with ‘Best of Category’ being chosen from each.



In addition, the festival will present the Frank Copplestone First Time Director Award to the best first TV programme or film, and a Spirit of the Festival award to a film or programme wholly or substantially in the Celtic language.



Applicants can apply online at www.celticmediafestival.co.uk or by post, by downloading an application form at:

www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/call-for-entries/

The Closing date for entries is Friday 2nd November 2007.




Galway city is unique among Irish cities because of the strength of its Irish language, music, song and traditions - it is often referred to as the 'Bilingual Capital of Ireland'.

The city is well known for its ‘Irishness', and mainly due to the fact that it has on its doorstep the Galway Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area).

The language is visible on the city streets, with bilingual signage on display on shops and road signs, and can be heard by locals around the city.



Irish theatre, TV production and Irish music are an integral part of Galway city life, with both An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, and TG4 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta headquarters in Galway.



This has brought an Irish-speaking young professional population to the city and county, and has generated a renewal of interest in the language and in language-related activities.

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Scottish Parliament Poised to Debate BAFTA Oscar Controversy Over Alleged Snub of Gaelic Language Feature Film

{Pictured above: publicity still from the Gaelic Language feature film, Searchd: The Impossible Pinnacle (2007).]

Scottish film director Simon Miller has put out an appeal for help, as it's been reported to Celtic Cult Cinema that the Scottish Parliament is poised to debate BAFTA Oscar Controversy over the alleged snub of the Gaelic Feature Film 'serachd: The Impossible Pinnacle (2007).

Simon Miller's Gaelic language feature film opens across Scotland this week, just as the BAFTA Oscar nomination controversy has caught fire.



It’s a film specifically about storytelling, and about the firm location of old stories in particular landscapes."

"A fitting theme for the first ever feature film in Scottish Gaelic."

[Quoted above from the programme book of the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2007]

What the critics are saying:

"Gorgeously-realised blend of magic realism and family drama" THE HERALD
"Dramatic, funny, spectacular and steeped in Gaelic mythology" THE LIST
"Glows with warmth and humanity" THE OBSERVER
"Visually breathtaking" BBC



Simon Miller writes:

"As you may have seen in the Seachd group blurb on facebook BAFTA (The UK's film academy) has failed to put forward any non-English language films for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year's Oscars - which includes Seachd."



"THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF YOU FROM OUTSIDE THE UK..."

"Of 18 Western European countries invited by the Academy to put non-English language films forward for the Oscars, the UK is the only one to fail to do so."



"BAFTAs decision is sensless and really could not have been made on some measure of the "quality" of the film, given the strong early reviews we have had (“excellent” The Sunday Times, “breathtaking” BBC, “tender, graceful…gorgeously-realised” The Herald, “worth shouting about” The Scotsman, “dramatic, funny and spectacular” The List, and “an astonishing production” Eye For Film). And surely they wouldn't have put forward such obviously English language turkeys as they have in recent years if quality really was the issue?"





"BAFTA is an institution designed to promote British film - in whatever language - and their decision feels dangerously close to censorship and it will mean - ultimately - that less people will get to see the film in the UK internationally."

"YOU CAN HELP CHANGE THAT..."

"We have been able to gather a great deal of support to help overturn their decision within the film industry in the UK, and also from the Academy who have written to BAFTA asking for an explanation. And we have just learned that this issue is on the agenda to be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday this week."

"HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP..."

Read the entire story here:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2177934,00.html

Searchd: The official Website

Read more here:

A CALL FOR HELP TO OVERTURN OUR GAELIC FILM'S OSCAR SNUB!

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Continuing Controversy Blusters About Gaelic Language Feature Film 'Searchd: The Impossible Pinnacle' (2007) while Audiences and Movie Critics Rave

Pictured above: publicity still from the Gaelic Language feature film, Searchd: The Impossible Pinnacle (2007).]

A major controversy surrounding the Gaelic Language Film Searchd: The Impossible Pinnacle (2007) --

“No one can tell the truth – just stories.”

So concludes Aonghas’ enigmatic grandfather (played by renowned poet and storyteller Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul) as he approaches the end of his life in this Scottish Gaelic tale about a childhood on the Islands.

It’s a film specifically about storytelling, and about the firm location of old stories in particular landscapes."

"A fitting theme for the first ever feature film in Scottish Gaelic."

[Quoted above from the programme book of the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2007]

What the critics are saying:

"Gorgeously-realised blend of magic realism and family drama" THE HERALD
"Dramatic, funny, spectacular and steeped in Gaelic mythology" THE LIST
"Glows with warmth and humanity" THE OBSERVER
"Visually breathtaking" BBC



And now, according to the Guardian:

"He knew some people would think he was taking a risk in making his film in Gaelic. According to the 2001 census, only 1.2% of the population of Scotland speaks the language, some 58,600 people; and that's a 15% decline over the previous decade."

"Most are in the Western Isles. That said, the language is enjoying a status it has not been afforded for many years, with concerted efforts at a political level to sustain this ancient tongue, first introduced to Scotland from Ireland in the fifth century."



"Less than 100 years ago, children were beaten into speaking English at school. Now, Gaelic-medium education is championed. A national plan has been launched, aiming to stabilise the number of speakers over the next few years, and increase them to 100,000 by 2041."

"There has been an increase in funding for education, media and development, and moves to create the first dedicated Gaelic TV channel."



"'For me, the question is not why make a film in Gaelic but why not make a film in Gaelic?' says Young, who is self-taught in the tongue and whose children are fluent. 'It seemed strange that a culture so full of storytelling didn't particularly have a tradition of cinema. I have never been to a cinema to see a film in Gaelic.'"



"'There is plenty of Gaelic drama but it does seem to have suffered from stereotype. It tends to have been period works. There is a feeling that Gaelic is old-fashioned. I wanted to tackle that head-on.'"

"'Film is the kind of thing that, if you get it right, it does not matter what language it is in,'" says Miller. 'Mel Gibson has proved that more than anyone in recent years. You don't have to know the language to experience the film.'"



"For both men, authenticity was the key. So they collaborated with Gaelic writers, co-directors and a local Gaelic amateur crew and actors. The soundtrack features noted Gaelic musicians, and the whole thing was shot on the island of Skye for £650,000."



[-- Quoted from The Guardian --The movie at the edge of the world -- They found their lead actor up a tree and they held the premiere in a cinema on wheels. Kirsty Scott travels to the Western Isles to catch a little piece of film-making history; Thursday September 27, 2007; The Guardian]





Read the entire story here:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2177934,00.html

Searchd: The official Website

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

'It's a Wrap' for Welsh Winners at Celtic Media Festival 2007

CELTIC MEDIA FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS 2007

First Time Director Award
The Unusual Inventions Of Henry Cavendish Ireland RESTORATION FILMS

Spirit of the Festival Award
Fear Na Noileán
(Man Of The Islands) Ireland LUGH FILMS

Jury Award Winner
Le Pain Dur
(Hard Bread) France VO PRODUCTIONS

Animation
Map Yr Underground
(Map Of The Underground) Wales GRIFFILMS LTD

Interactive
Tanni Yn Ymladd Tan
(Tanni Fights Fire) Wales GRIFFILMS LTD

Presenter Personality
Mary Ann Kennedy Scotland WATERCOLOUR MUSIC

Radio Documentary
Wales' Last Brigader Wales BBC RADIO WALES

Short Drama
The Unusual Inventions Of Henry Cavendish Ireland RESTORATION FILMS

Sport Profile
Haston - A Life In The Mountains Scotland PELICULA

Arts Documentary
Máirtín Ó Cadhain: Rí An Fhocail
(Mairtín Ó Cadhain: King Of Words) Ireland SÓNTA & MACDARA Ó CURRAIDHÍN FOR RTÉ

Station of the year
Radio Nan Gaidheal Scotland BBC

Website
Tribe Website Wales BBC CYMRU WALES

Young People
Púca Agus Péist / Cailleach
(Celtic Monsters / Witches) Ireland MIDAS PRODUCTIONS / CWMNI DA

Current Affairs
Prime Time Investigates: Sex Traffic Ireland RTE TELEVISION

Documentary Feature
Downhill Racer Scotland MACTV

Drama Series
Cowbois Ac Injans - Pennod 4
(Cowboys And Engines - Episode 4 ) Wales TELEDU OPUS

Entertainment
Y Piannydd Llyr Williams
(Llyr Williams - The Pianist) Wales OPUS TF

Factual Documentary
An American In Aberfan Wales BBC WALES

Feature Length Drama
True North Scotland MAKAR PRODUCTIONS LTD

Welsh Filmmakers Compete at Celtic Media Festival Isle of Skye 2007

The Celtic Media Festival's aim is to promote the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries on screen and in broadcasting. Its primary activity is organising the Celtic Media Festival.

The Festival is an annual three-day celebration of broadcasting, film talent and excellence from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. If you'd like to watch the Celtic Media Festival LIVE from any location worldwide, it will be available to view live via webstream - just click on

http://streamingportal.multistream.co.uk/celticmediafestival/live.htm

Celtic Media Festival, Skye 2007 is supported by Highland 2007, The Events Company, Highland Council, HIE Skye and Wester Ross, Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gaidhlig, Bord na Gaidhlig, Scottish Screen, the National Lottery and BBC Scotland. © 2007 Celtic Media Festival Please see: http://www.celticfilm.co.uk/?node_id=1.1

Pob luc i bawb cystadleuydd celtaidd / Good luck to every Celtic contestant!