From anticipated Welsh language horror, Gwledd, set in the hills of Snowdonia, to the transgender community of New Delhi in documentary Hijra – eight eclectic films are set to bring Welsh talent and stories to the big screen in 2022.
The eight films offer audiences a chance to discover something new about Wales, from unknown local Welsh stories such as the fight to save The Lyric cinema in Carmarthen (Save the Cinema), through to global narratives of the African National Congress told through the eyes of Welsh storytellers like Gordon Main and John Giwa-Amu (London Recruits).
Through their Made in Wales strand, Film Hub Wales (FHW) are working with distributors, Welsh cinemas and film festivals to promote films to wider audiences.
Hana Lewis, Film Hub Wales’ Strategic Manager explains: “The upcoming films highlight that there is plenty to be discovered about life in Wales, beyond our rural landscape. Welsh filmmakers have globally significant stories to tell, which can inspire both new talent and local audiences. Through Made in Wales, we have a chance to consider how the films made in our Nation can give us a voice worldwide and build the film industry around us. Greater awareness of these films can only benefit our sense of community and cultural identity.”
Wales is an increasingly exciting place for film, with scripts attracting actors such as Rebel Wilson (The Almond and the Seahorse) and Samantha Morton (Save the Cinema) to leading roles and these are just a selection of titles anticipated in 2021. FHW tracked and supported 27 films with Welsh connections between 2019 and 2020 alone.
As venues work to recover from the pandemic, many filmmakers hope thataudiences go to see these films on the big screen as they were intended.
Roger Williams, writer of Gwledd explains: “If we were to be quite bold about telling our stories on this big, big, screen, we could start to build the kind of culture where it’s not unusual to see Welsh language film in cinemas…”
Delphine Lievens, Head of Distribution at Bohemia Media adds: “We’re really delighted to be bringing Donna to audiences across the UK later this year. Donna is such a unique and inspiring figure, and so authentically portrayed by the talented Welsh filmmaking team behind the film.”
Audiences can keep up to date with news of the upcoming releases on the Made in Wales section of Film Hub Wales’ website or by following @Filmhubwales on social media.
Made in Wales offers a host of year-round activities in partnership with Welsh exhibitors, which aim to promote Welsh films to audiences, including a film catalogue which hosts over 1000 shorts and features with Welsh connections.
Made in Wales is made possible thanks to funding from Creative Wales along with National Lottery funding through the UK-wide BFI Film Audience Network (FAN). As part of FAN, Film Hub Wales develops audiences for British independent and international film year-round, funds in Wales are administered by FHW via Chapter as the Film Hub Lead Organisation.
More than £30M is raised each week for good causes across the UK by the National Lottery.
For more information on when and where to see these films, click here.
