Mike Smith has been appointed media consultant for the following projects: 

Ffresh, The Student Moving Image Festival of Wales 

Forging new relationships is the theme of Ffresh, the student moving image festival of Wales, opening on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2008.

For this its sixth year, Ffresh will be an even stronger arena for communication and collaborative relationships between higher education establishments and the moving image sector in Wales.

The annual two-day event held at Aberystwyth Arts Centre brings together more than 700 students from around Wales with representatives from the media sector in Wales, the UK and abroad.

At its heart is the festival’s mission to search out, recognise and reward new talent and provide a gateway into the media sector in Wales.

The festival provides a unique platform to showcase the best work being created by up-and-coming talent in Wales by screening all the short listed entries from the Ffresh Awards in the Arts Centre cinema.

They will also be broadcast online to a global audience through the festival website www.ffresh.com.

Judged by a panel of industry professionals, the awards consist of nine categories of excellence.

There will also be online voting for the Audience Award for best short-listed film.

Ffresh will also showcase student work from around the world, making it a unique UK event that showcases a broad and eclectic selection of international student work.

The festival will also be working with the British Council Wales to achieve the festival’s aims in creating links between Welsh and foreign higher education institutions.

To compliment the programme of screenings there will be an eclectic and engaging selection of master classes, panel sessions and workshops that will focus on the business of the moving image sector.

Star name guests at previous festivals who have excited, interested an engaged with the students, professionals and audiences alike  have included Stephen Frears, Marc Evans, Sara Sugarman, Justin Kerrigan, Andrew Davies, and Oscar-winning editor Jim Clark and Steve Robinson.

Outside the festival programme, an exhibition area (for colleges and Welsh based media companies) will be set up in the main foyer of the arts centre, and there will be a number of lunches and receptions. These will provide students with an opportunity to meet potential employers and to encourage collaborations and debate. 

Visit: www.ffresh.com 
 

 

Welsh Singers Competition 2008 

The annual competition searches out the next generation of young singers. Singers have until January 25 to enter.

The winner will receive not only to win a cash prize of £2,000, a trophy given by Welsh Royal Crystal but also represent Wales in the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2009.

Other finalists will each receive a cash prize of £750.

The competition is open to singers at the early stages of their professional career, aged 18 to 32 on June 1, 2009.

They must be born or raised in Wales and should have received a significant proportion of their education in Wales.

Members of the jury will include internationally-known singers Rebecca Evans, Philip Langridge, Elaine Padmore and Julian Smith, Music Advisor to BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, freelance conductor and former Head of Music at Welsh National Opera.

BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite, will accompany the finalists at St David's Hall, Cardiff, on Monday, June 16, 2008.  Last year's competition was won by Sarah-Jane Davies, who went on to represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2007. 

Visit: www.welshsingerscompetition.com 

 

 

Welsh Curry House of the Year 2008 competition

More than 300 Indian restaurants in Wales are eligible to compete to become Welsh Curry House of the Year 2008.

In 2007 the title was won by Caernarfon base winner Sopna.

The 2008 competition will see the country divided into three regions: North, Mid & West, and South Wales. The winners of the three regional rounds will then go on to the national final and that prestigious title.

Between now and the end of January 2008 diners will be able to cast their votes to decide the top five from each of the three regions by visiting www.welshcurryhouse.co.uk.

Those 15 short listed restaurants will be announced on February 4th 2008.

Over the following three weeks the independent judges will then visit each of the successful restaurants before choosing one winner from each of the three regions. The three regional winners will be announced at the end of February.

The judges will spend a full day visiting all three of the restaurants competing in the final. During the visit each restaurant will be invited to impress the judges with one of their signature dishes, available from the public menu. The visit will also include a second challenge, with each restaurant being invited to create a new dish using the very best Welsh produce.

The all-Wales winner will be announced at the Senedd in Cardiff on March 12, 2008.

The competition is once again sponsored by Kingfisher and Meat Promotion Wales. 

Visit: www.welshcurryhouse.co.uk