8 nominations for BBC ALBA in Celtic Media Festival

The 31st Celtic Media Festival, from 21st–23rd April 2010, will see the Celtic broadcasting and media world come together, in Newry in Northern Ireland, to celebrate the languages and cultures of the Celtic countries on screen and in broadcasting.

Scotland;s Gaelic television channel, BBC ALBA, will be there expectantly, with eight of the channel’s programmes nominated for a range of awards.

Among the BBC ALBA programmes nominated is Rapal TV, the youth music show from the BBC which will also be broadcasting live from the festival on Radio nan Gàidheal from 7.30pm on Thursday 22 April.  Rapal will feature live entertainment from the popular Skye based band, Niteworks as well interviews and performances from other guests at the festival.

Alan Esslemont, Head of Content for BBC ALBA, said: ‘Having only been on air since September 2008 and receiving a number of nominations both last year and this year, as well as Dè a-nis? from BBC Gàidhlig winning last year’s children’s category, we have been absolutely delighted at the success of the channel to date.

‘Being recognised in such a prestigious international media festival is testament to the high calibre of productions by some of the best Gaelic talent in the country and we would like to congratulate all those who have been shortlisted as we look forward with great anticipation to the festival in Newry.”

Over 400 nominations were received for awards in 19 categories.  BBC ALBA has eight programme nominations shortlisted in a range of award categories. They are:

• Tormod: A Life – (nominated in the Best Arts category). This is a hard-hitting documentary about the life and times of Norman Maclean, produced by Robbie Fraser, Pure Magic Films and Karen Smyth of La Belle Allée Productions. (For Argyll found this programme utterly memorable, unforgettably marrying the ugliness and the beauty of a human soul.)
• Balaich Eileen (Eileen’s Boys) – (nominated in the Best Factual Single category). This is a factual documentary highlighting the story of well-known actress Eileen MacCallum and her struggle to improve the lives of her two grandchildren as they battle Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – produced by Tony Kearney of Solus Productions.
• An Iolaire: (nominated in the Best Factual Single category). This is a moving documentary which tells the story of the UK’s worst peacetime maritime disaster, claiming the lives of 201 soldiers – produced by BBC Gàidhlig.
• Lean gu Dlùth (Follow Faithfully): (nominated in the Sport category). This is a documentary looking at the history of shinty through the eyes of shinty expert Hugh Dan MacLennan and his links to the game – produced by BBC Gàidhlig.
• Rapal Tbh: (nominated in the Young People category). This is BBC ALBA’s popular Gaelic music show – produced by BBC Gàidhlig.
• Grinn: (nominated in the Best Factual Entertainment category) This is a fashion make-over show – produced by Bees Nees.
• Roghainn a’ Bhàis (The Right to Die?): (nominated in the Best Factual Series) This is a drama documentary about notorious ‘Moors Murderer’, Ian Brady – produced by STV Productions.
• Cùl nan Dorsan: nominated in the Best Factual Entertainment category) This is a comedy – produced by BBC Gàidhlig.

BBC Radio nan Gaidheal, in addition to being nominated in the Radio Station of the Year category, has received a nomination for Logarbaigh, in the Best Radio Documentary category. Its popular presenter, John Carmichael, has been nominated in the Radio Presenter/Personality category where the competition includes Fred MacAulay of BBC Scotland.

Marion MacKinnon, Managing Editor of BBC Gàidhlig, said: ‘We are really proud to be part of the Celtic Media Festival as it marks its thirty-first anniversary and we are delighted to have such a strong range of nominations from the BBC across radio, TV and online and wish all the programme teams and individuals the very best of luck as they compete in this week’s Festival in Newry’.