Sefydliad Ffilm o Gymru, literally
translated as the Welsh Film Institute is a non-profit organisation
formed as a limited company, founded with the intention to gain
exposure for Welsh feature films, encourage more feature films to be
made in Wales, and to train and create jobs for Welsh people in the
feature film industry.
Specific goals of the Institute are:
- Securing distribution and theatrical screenings for independent Welsh feature films.
- Encouraging more feature films to be made in Wales through grants, bursaries and loans.
- Providing in-depth, flexible training for people interested in working in feature films.
- Providing publicity and recognition for existing Welsh feature film makers.
- Producing independent feature films in Wales, creating jobs for Welsh film makers.
Regular planned activities of the
Institute are:
- Regular live training courses in a wide variety of film development, production, sales and distribution techniques. Production of corresponding online, print, audio and video courses.
- Regular theatrical screenings of independent feature films with Q&A sessions from their directors, producers, writers and actors.
- An annual film festival and market for Welsh feature films, to provide publicity and theatrical screenings for unreleased Welsh films, and offer sale to agents and distributors.
- An annual awards ceremony for Welsh feature films and people working in Welsh feature films, to gain publicity and recognition for Welsh film.
Income from activities and donations
will be spent on:
- Bursaries for developing, producing and completing Welsh feature films.
- Bursaries for bringing feature film production and post production into Wales.
- Bursaries for screenings, sales and distribution of completed Welsh feature films.
- Bursaries for translation, subtitling and dubbing of feature films into the Welsh language.
- Bursaries for full or part scholarships for training courses and materials.
- Funding at least one feature film each year to train and employ students of courses.
- Reasonable administration, wages and running costs.
Our definition of “Welsh feature
film” include one or more of the following criteria:
- The director, producer, executive producer or lead actor/actress is Welsh,
- (or) at least 25% of the film is shot in Wales,
- (or) at least 25% of post-production is completed in Wales,
- (or) the film is in the Welsh language
- (or) the film is translated into Welsh, and distributed or screened in Wales.
Our definition of a “Welsh” person
is anyone who is currently living in Wales (including university
students) or who was born in Wales, or who has one or more Welsh
parent or primary guardian. People not fitting the description as
Welsh are of course welcome to attend courses and events and are
still
Feature films will need to be at least
sixty minutes in length. Narrative feature films in all genres are
encouraged, as long as mature or complicated subject matter is
treated respectfully and in a non-inflammatory manner. Diversity and
originality is welcomed, as are “easy export” mass market
projects alike. Live action, CGI and traditional animation projects
are all eligible. Documentaries will only be accepted for development
or completion bursaries if they are specifically tailored to Welsh
subject matters, but all feature length documentaries are eligible
for translation, distribution, awards and screenings.
As a newly formed company, this
founding mission statement shall be expanded upon with further
documents as our services are developed, and the latest details shall
always be available from www.welshfilminstitute.org.
The services provided starting immediately are regular free to view
articles offering training and advice to Welsh film-makers, available
via our website. These are planned to be soon be supplemented with
videos and podcasts, and followed with live training courses in
Cardiff. Further services as detailed above are planned to follow
within 12 months of foundation.
Disclaimer: The term “Welsh Film
Institute” and derivatives thereof are used as the logical English
translation of the Welsh “Sefydliad Ffilm”, which is a limited
company set up intending to trade as a non-profit community resource.
Sefydliad Ffilm Ltd are not linked with or endorsed by the British,
American, Hollywood or any other “Film Institute”, nor any
British or Welsh government regulated body, and none of our
documents, websites or other communications are intended to implicate
otherwise.
