School pupils from Argyll have won top awards at FilmG, the National Gaelic Film Awards, which in its sixth year running, was held at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow on Friday evening, 14th March.
This year’s competition theme was ‘Rùn’ [Love/Secret/Intention] which inspired an array of ideas for filmmakers in both the 12-17 age-group and the adult category, with a total of 76 films submitted.
Alison MacVicar, an S6 pupil at Oban High School, won the Best Performance award for her role in the school’s entry, Thoir an Aire! [Watch out!]. Washed out after a stressful day, Catriona played by Alison, is looking forward to going home to her mum’s when a man approaches her to offer to help her check her car lights having seen some young people hanging around the car. But is he really as helpful as he seems..?
This is the second year running that a pupil from Oban High School has won the title of Best Performance. Gillian Mackechnie, a senior pupil at Oban High School scooped the Best Performance Award at FilmG 2013 for her role as Mairi in the film ‘An Làmh a bheir, ‘s i a gheibh’ (What Goes Around Comes Around).
S4 pupil from Dunoon Grammar School, Alison Johnson won a Best Performance commendation for her role in A’ Chailleach Tollair’ [The Old Woman from Tollard]. Ostracised from her family for being pregnant, Mollaidh, played by Alison is forced to go to a derelict building for shelter. Little does she know what or who may lay in wait for her there.
Stars of the big screen turned out to present a number of awards at MG ALBA’s prestigious Gaelic screen talent ceremony which was hosted by Fiona MacKenzie, face of BBC ALBA, and Niall Iain Macdonald, TV & radio presenter.
Guest presenters at the event included renowned Scottish actor and comedian Greg Hemphill, best known as Victor in the much loved Still Game sitcom; and Glasgow born actor Gary Lewis who has starred on the big screen in films such as Billy Elliot and Gangs of New York as well as TV programmes including Silent Witness and the forthcoming HBO series, Outlander.
Maggie Cunningham, chair of MG ALBA, said: ‘We are delighted that FilmG’s success has continued to grow from strength to strength since the inaugural awards in 2009. The competition received 76 films this year and we have been greatly impressed once again by the level of film-making from grassroots level with many repeat entries having greatly improved on previous years as a result of the workshop training and resources provided by industry professionals as part of the FilmG competition. In addition, some hopeful newcomers were encouraged to take part this year.’
Also presenting awards were much loved Scottish broadcaster Cathy MacDonald, BBC Scotland news reporter, Catriona Shearer, Dè a-nis? presenters Derek MacIntosh and Megan McLellan, director Michael Hines, producer and director Don Coutts, Debbie MacKay star of BBC ALBA’s new drama Bannan, award winning Gaelic band Mànran and Dr Alasdair Allan who presented the People’s Choice award.
FilmG has unearthed a wealth of creative talent within the Gaelic community since it was established six years ago, and was named Best Cultural Event at the 2012 Scottish Event Awards.
Note: The top photograph shows Alison MacVicar from Oban High School, winner of the Best Performance award; and the photograph above shows Cathy MacDonald, Greg Hemphill, Mari Morrison, Michael Hines & Catriona Shearer, guest presenters on the night at FilmG 2014.
The awards
People’s Choice Award:
- ‘Bean a’ Chotain Ruaidh’ – Dariwsz Sipowski
12-17 year old category winners:
- Best Performance: Alison MacVicar, Oban High School, who plays Morag in Thoir an Aire! [Watch out!]
- Best Film: Ulapool High School for ‘Droch-rùn (Bad Intent]
- Best Production: Sgoil Lionacleit for An Tòimhseachan [The Riddle]
- FilmG Theme Award: Castlebay High School, Isle of Barra for An Càirdeas Carach [The Fickle Friendship]
- FilmG Award for Gaelic: Castlebay High School, Isle of Barra for An Càirdeas Carach [The Fickle Friendship]
- Besr Music Video: Dingwall Academy for Ailean Dubh às Lòchaidh [Dark-haired Allan of Lochy]
Best Performance Commendations:
- Calum Doherty of Greenfaulds High School for his role in An Liof’ [The Lift]
- Donald J MacAulay from Acharacle for his role in Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Drama Summer School film, An Co-choisiche [The Doppelganger]
- Alison Johnson, of Dunoon Grammar School for her role in A’ Chailleach Tollaird [The Old Woman from Tollard]
- Ella Fraser, of Dingwall Academy for her role in Ailean Dubh às Lòchaidh [Dark-haired Allan of Lochy]
Adult category winners:
- Best Community Film: Youth group, Tàirneanaich & Comunn na Gàidhlig’s Gaelic Initiative for North West Lewis for their comedy, Suirghe leis na Siaraich: Pàirt 2 [Courting on the Westside: Part 2]
- Best Student Film: Fiona McAndrew, a student at Lews Castle College in Benbecula for her music video, Gàidhlig mo Rùn [Gaelic my Love]
- Best Drama: Paul Moran from Falkirk for Latha Eile, Saoghal Eile [Another Day, Another Life]
- Best Music Video: Phil Todd from Caithness, who now lives in Glasgow for Còmhla Riut-sa [Along with you]
- Best Performance: Will Murray from Glasgow for his role in Coileach-Peucaig [Peacock]
- FilmG Theme Award: Alberto Iondanov, Laura Shand & Michael McIlroy – all students at Edinburgh College of Art for Chaidh mo Bhràthair airson Suiteis [My Brother Went for Sweets]
- Best Documentary: Dòmhnall Eòghainn MacKinnon from Harris for An Sgoil Bheag mu Dheireadh [The Last Little School]
Special Mentions:
- Keith Patrick Stringer & Eric MacDonald from the Isle of Lewis for their drama film Taigh a’ Mhuirt Home Kill
- Cameron Ross, from Ellishadder on the Isle Of Skye for his documentary Dìneasaran air an Eilean Sgitheanach [Dinosaurs on the Isle of Skye]
- Jill McCubbin and students of Glasgow Kelvin College for their comedy An Luchd-Ionnsachaidh [The Learners]
- Karen Mackenzie, a student at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig for her drama short, Seachd Là den Ghaol Òg [Seven Days of Young Love]
All winning films can be viewed online at the FilmG website here.
