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TG4 receives 10 nominations is this year’s Celtic Media Festival Torc Awards including a 'Spirit of the Festival' nomination

15.06.21

TG4 has been nominated for a total of nine awards in the Torc Awards of Excellence and Treibh na nDéithe is also nominated for the ‘Spirit of the Festival’ award. The nominees were announced yesterday on Facebook.
 

 
The Celtic Media Festival, the longest-established and most prestigious media festival in the Celtic nations, has revealed the names for its esteemed Torc Awards For Excellence. The nominee announcement was presented by Scottish actor, comedian and writer Sanjeev Kohli and Festival Director Catriona Logan. The winners will be announced at this year’s debut digital festival, hosted on a bespoke platform and taking place 7-9 September and for the first time in its history, Celtic Media Festival will be free of charge to all delegates. Nominees from across the UK, Ireland and Europe will compete across 26 award categories including Current Affairs, Comedy, Radio, Arts, Factual and Sport. Celtic Media Festival are proud to announce two new awards categories this year: Feature Documentary and Live Music Programme which will showcase the rich talent on offer in those areas.
 
For the first time ever, nominees have been announced for the Gold Torc for Spirit of the Festival. In previous years, International Juries would choose the award from the list of all nominees, but for the first time, National Screen Juries have picked their choice for the award, the winner of which embodies the spirit and ethos of the Celtic Media Festival, and the only award specifically in a Celtic language.
 

The nominations received are:
 
Arts – Liam O’Flynn – Píobaire
This feature documentary tells the story of master piper, Liam O’Flynn, from his membership with iconic Irish supergroup, Planxty, through to his ground-breaking orchestral work in The Brendan Voyage. Produced by Doubleband Films.
 

Children’s Programmes – Is Eolaí Mé
An entertaining science series that offers an enjoyable, visual & funny insight into science & the environment. Each episode explores a different science theme, drawing on the national Primary School Curriculum, in an exciting and innovative way. Presenter Peadar Ó Goill introduces each episode with the question of the day. Assisted by our reporter Caitríona Ní Chualáin and young guests in the studio, by visiting venues, setting up science experiments and getting to know the Scientist of the Day, we arrive at an answer to the question. Produced by Fíbín Media.
 

Factual Entertainment – Slí na mBeaglaoich
Father and Son, musicians Cormac and Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich journey up the West coast of Ireland, from Kerry to Donegal in their 40 year old campervan, Beauty. They celebrate each county’s music, meeting with friends, artists and local musicians along the way. Produced by Tyrone Productions.
 

Factual Series – An Bhoirinn
The Burren lies in the west of Ireland, where the sea & the land meet and skies are huge and open. It is known all over the world for its extraordinary landscape, its flora and the power of the limestone that covers so much of the land. Over the next year, an adventure unfolds as we explore this landscape with its true custodians, the Burren community of local people & visitors who came for a while & ended up living here, drawn by some indefinable magic. They will be our guides throughout the series, & the Burren itself our main character in this visually stunning & atmospheric journey. Produced by Phoenix Films.
 

Feature Documentary & Spirit of the Festival – Treibh na nDéithe
It’s more than just the sea that can separate island life from the mainland. Tory Island is a unique location, a few hundred strong Irish speaking community on Ireland’s most remote inhabited island. This island community feels isolated and vulnerable, and very distant from the decision makers in Dublin. How can this community, on the very margins of Ireland and Europe, preserve its unique way of life? Produced by Lugh Films.
 

History – Cogadh ar Mhná
For years, the Irish Revolution has been seen as exceptional in that acts of sexual violence weren’t seen as part of it, even though they happen as part of many other wars. But was Ireland really so special? Was the nature of war here so very different from war everywhere else? This documentary argues that the answer is no by presenting for the first time the witness testimony of some of the women who were victims of it, in their own words. It shows that sexual violence was perpetrated by all sides and highlights the repeated silencing of women and their stories in Irish history. Produced by Forefront Productions.
 

Short Form – Le Ceangal
Tinder brought Aoife and Declan together. But how will they get on during lockdown? Le Ceangal is an 8 part web series set during the lockdown. Each episode is 5 minutes long and follows the characters as they are forced to take their relationship online. Produced by Tua Films for TG4’s under 35’s online platform BLOC.
 

Single Documentary – Ciara Ní É – Saol trí Ghaeilge
Up until the 1970’s the relationship between the state and the Irish language speaker outside the Gaeltacht had always been strange one, a relationship of mere acceptance rather than devotion. However the development of the Gaelscoil movement helped rehabilitate the language and indeed its communities across the country. In this documentary poet and writer Ciara Ní É looks at the transformation of the Irish language community outside the Gaeltacht, a community losing the shackles of the past as they strive to create a modern role and identity for themselves on the island of Ireland 2020. Produced by Aniar TV.
 

Sports Documentary – Laochra Gael – Kieran Donaghy
The story of Kerry footballer, Kieran Donaghy. In his career, Kieran won 4 All Ireland medals, 3 All Stars and Footballer of the Year. The man called Star has an extraordinary story: breaking through with the Underdogs, the experiment that made a full forward out of him, the basketball hands, the decline and the revival, and of course, Joe Brolly. And in the background, the complex and difficult relationship with his father that was tied up in everything he did on the field of play. Produced by Nemeton.
 

Alan Esslemont Director General of TG4 said, “TG4 are delighted to receive ten nominations today from the Celtic Media Festival. These nominations show the range of quality, original home-produced content offered by TG4 to its audience. We look forward to this year’s digital festival which will be free of charge and joining our colleagues from Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland to celebrate the best of the Celtic Media.”
 
The full list of nominations here: www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/nominees