46th Celtic Media Festival Opens in Cornwall with Major Backing and First Winners Announced
Date Posted: June 4, 2025
A landmark event in the European media calendar, the 46th Celtic Media Festival officially opened today in the vibrant coastal town of Newquay, Cornwall. Renowned as a crucial meeting point for industry professionals from the Celtic Nations and Regions, as well as from across the wider European continent, and notably supported by leading screen agencies and public service broadcasters, the 2025 festival’s opening day culminated this evening with the presentation of the first set of coveted Torc
Awards for Excellence. Presented at the Lighthouse Cinema, these prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievements in the Celtic nations and regions.
The festival is drawing leading figures from the worlds of film, television, radio, and digital media – a diverse cohort from Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales, are joined by peers from across Europe. All are eager to engage with the distinctive creative output of the Celtic lands and explore new collaborations. Tonight’s ceremony underscored the high calibre of work being celebrated, honouring exceptional productions that captivate audiences both domestically and internationally.
The Torc Awards for Excellence presented on this first day of the festival were:
- Current Affairs (Screen): Spotlight – I Am Not Okay – BBC Northern Ireland
- Animation (Screen): A Wind and the Shadow – Out of Orbit , Enter Yes
- Comedy (Sound): Sniper Joe & Sister Jim – Maccana Teoranta/Newstalk 106
- Sports Documentary (Screen): One Night in Millstreet – Fastnet Films, Proposition Films for RTÉ
- Entertainment (Screen): Gogglebocs Cymru – Cwmni Da, Chwarel/S4C
- Short Drama (Screen): Calf – Carbonated Comet Productions Ltd/Virgin Media
- Drama (Sound): O Farw’n Fyw – BBC Cymru Wales/BBC Radio Cymru
- History (Sound): Assume Nothing: How to Kill a Government in 14 Days – BBC Northern Ireland/BBC Radio Ulster/ BBC Sounds
Festival Director Catriona Logan said: “What a spectacular start to the 46th Celtic Media
Festival here in Newquay! The buzz is palpable, with creative leaders gathered from all the Celtic nations and regions, alongside many from wider Europe. Tonight’s awards showcase storytelling of exceptional quality and universal appeal, demonstrating why this festival, with the vital backing of our screen agencies and public service media, is such an important fixture. These initial winners exemplify the innovative spirit that Celtic media brings to the international stage. We congratulate them all and anticipate a rich exchange of ideas in the coming days.”
The Celtic Media Festival continues until June 5th, offering a dynamic programme of further awards, high-level panel discussions, masterclasses, and unparalleled networking opportunities. It stands as a vital platform for fostering international collaboration, providing unique insights into diverse cultural storytelling that informs and inspires the broader European media landscape.
About the Celtic Media Festival
- The Celtic Media Festival is an annual three-day event that promotes the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations and regions – Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales – in film, television, radio, and new It attracts a vibrant mix of industry professionals from these heartlands alongside many from across wider Europe. Increasingly recognized as a significant date for media professionals continent- wide, the festival offers a unique lens on innovative storytelling and provides a key platform for international networking and co-production discussions. The event is proudly supported by a consortium of key screen agencies and public service broadcasters from the participating Celtic areas, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering media talent, cultural expression, and the celebration of excellence.
- The festival is supported by leading broadcasters and cultural organisations, including BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, RTÉ, TG4, MG ALBA, BBC Scotland, S4C, Televisión de Galicia, Northern Ireland Screen (ILBF and USBF), BBC Radio Cornwall, Virgin Media Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, Screen Scotland, Screen Ireland and Screen.
- For more details, visit celticmediafestival.co.uk
