Glyndwr University To Host Major Welsh Film Festival

Pictured from left to right are Berwyn Rowlands (Ffresh Festival), James Nee (Ffresh Festival), Stuart Cunningham (Glyndŵr University), Chris Morris (University of Wales, Newport), Steven Davies (Glyndŵr University) at the 2012 Ffresh awards ceremony in Newport on Friday.

One of the biggest film festivals in Wales will be hosted by Glyndŵr University in 2013, it has been announced.

In the style of the Olympic torch handover, organisers of the Ffresh festival made the announcement in front of guests from the Wrexham university at the conclusion of this year’s event in Newport on Friday.

Ffresh, the student moving image festival of Wales, showcases work from students studying creative industries degrees across the world.

Previous guest speakers at the event have included screenwriter Tim Firth, creator of Calendar Girls, and representatives from Double Negative, a visual effects company which has provided special effects for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger.

“This is hugely exciting news for us,” said Stuart Cunningham, academic leader for creative industries, media and performance at Glyndŵr University.

“Being selected to host Ffresh 2013 is a direct result of the investment which we’ve made towards supporting the creative industries in Wales following the opening of the Centre for the Creative Industries last year.”

He added: “We hope to confirm more details about the event, including guest speakers, in the coming months.”

Venues are likely to include the William Aston Hall and Catrin Finch Centre, as well as the brand new Centre for the Creative Industries.

Established for 10 years, the festival features masterclasses, workshops and panel sessions with leading figures from the film and TV industry.

One of its highlights is the Ffresh awards, made in at least 14 categories covering outstanding work in fields including animation, factual and fiction films, short films, Welsh language productions and music for moving image productions.

Steven Davies, Glyndŵr’s lecturer in television and digital media broadcast, said the awards provide winners with a crucial edge when they’re looking to undertake a career in the creative industries.

He said: “In my final year at university, a film that I was involved with was recognised by Ffresh and won the Audience Award. That really was the spring-board to my career in film and television.”

For more information about Ffresh visit http://www.ffresh.com.