'The Future of Welsh Film..' What does this mean to you?

In this special edition of the Made in Wales podcast for Film Hub Wales, to mark 130 years of cinema in Wales, Dion Hughes (Pontio Bangor), Nia Edwards Behi (Screen and Sound Archive of the National Library of Wales) and Dr Kate Woodward (Aberystwyth University) discuss what Welsh film means to them. From identity and history, to culture and language, to commercial and contemporary – they discuss the ‘rare an embracing’ feeling of watching Welsh culture on a big screen and their hopes for the future of filmmaking and Wales’ screen industries.  
 
Listen to / watch the full conversation now.

#ThisisWelshFilm #130YearsOfCinemainWales #WelshFilm #Cinema #Wales  

‘Made in Wales' is a @filmhubwales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from @cymrugreadigol and @thenationallottery funding via the @britishfilminstitute. 

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‘Dyfodol Ffilmiau Cymru..’ Beth mae hyn yn ei olygu i chi? 

Yn y rhifyn arbennig hwn o bodlediad Gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru ar gyfer Canolfan Ffilm Cymru, i nodi 130 mlynedd o sinema yng Nghymru, mae Dion Hughes, Nia Edwards Behi a Dr Kate Woodward yn trafod beth mae ffilm Gymreig yn ei olygu iddyn nhw. O hunaniaeth a hanes, i ddiwylliant ac iaith, i fasnachol a chyfoes – maen nhw'n trafod y teimlad 'prin a chofleidiol' o wylio diwylliant Cymru ar sgrin fawr a'u gobeithion ar gyfer dyfodol gwneud ffilmiau a diwydiannau sgrin Cymru.  
  
Gwrandewch ar / gwyliwch y sgwrs lawn nawr. 

#DymaFfilmiauCymreig #130MlyneddOSinemaCymreig #FfilmGymreig #Sinema #Cymru 

Mae ‘Gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' yn brosiect @filmhubwales, sy’n dathlu ffilmiau sydd â chysylltiadau Cymreig.Fe’i cefnogir gyda chyllid gan @cymrugreadigol a @thenationallotterydrwy’r @britishfilminstitute.   

Welsh producers Alice Lusher and Catryn Ramasut from ieie Productions spoke with Wales-Somaliland Link community leader Ali Abdi and host Zaynab Ahmed about their new co-production Brides. 

They discussed how they brought Nadia Fall's feature debut to Wales, the importance of Wales' Somaliland community being seen on screen, and how unique it was to be part of Brides' all-female production team. 

Coming to cinemas on 26 September 2025, Brides is a coming-of-age story about two teenage girls in search of freedom, friendship and belonging, who run away from their lives in the UK with a dangerous plan to travel to Syria. It was partly filmed on location in Cardiff, Barry, Ogmore, Southerndown and Porthcawl. 

Brides was supported by the BFI and Ffilm Cymru Wales, both awarding National Lottery funding, and Welsh Government via Creative Wales.  

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! You'll also find audio podcasts about other films: Celebrating Films with Welsh Connections' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or directly on Buzzsprout.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this episode, artist and writer Aiman Rahim spoke with the director of India’s 1st Best Trans Model Agency, Ila Mehrotra, recorded on 21 October 2024. 

Releasing on 13 November 2024, at the start of Transgender Awareness Week, Ila's documentary is a nuanced exploration into the experiences of the transgender Hijra population in India, filmed over the course of seven years. Whilst traditional Hindu society recognises the ancient Hijra identity as a legal ‘third sex’ — a community of holy hermaphrodites — this does not mean acceptance. 

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! Find the video version of this Q&A, on our Youtube.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

We sat down to talk about Welsh westerns with screen writer Matt Redd and Director Ryan Andrew Hooper. Their darkly-comic thriller – The Toll, about a lone toll-booth operator with a past that is fast catching up with him, will be released in the UK on August 27th.

They’re joined by Lewis Carter and Kristian Kane who co-directed Showdown (written by Carter) which screened alongside The Toll in select cinemas. Showdown is a short film about a young autistic boy with a passion for western films who is faced with a showdown for the soul of his village, in the local corner shop.

Vist the 'Whole Story' for more content! 

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this episode, from the team at Cardiff animation studio, Bumpybox we're joined by Welsh Senior Concept Artist/Art Director, Michael Shorten and Lead Compositor Neil Martin to talk about their work on 'Kensuke's Kingdom' a gripping hand-drawn animated tale with its message of working together to protect nature, which has never felt more relevant.
 
'Kensuke's Kingdom' will be released in UK cinemas on the 2nd August 2024.

Visit the 'Whole Story' for more content! 

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this episode, director Janis Pugh discusses her new film 'Chuck Chuck Baby,' a film of love, loss, music, and female friendship, set in and around the falling feathers of a chicken processing plant in industrial north Wales.

'Chuck Chuck Baby' will be released in UK cinemas on the 19th July 2024.

Visit the 'Whole Story' for more content!

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this episode, directors Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd discuss their new film 'Unicorns,' a “visually daring and heartfelt portrayal of modern masculinity” following a queer South Asian club performer living a double life who meets a straight, single-father mechanic, in a chance encounter.

Vist the 'Whole Story' for more content!

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this episode, director and star Celyn Jones discussing his new film 'The Almond and the Seahorse,' including casting Rebel Wilson in her first dramatic role.

'The Almond and the Seahorse' will be released in UK cinemas on the 10th May 2024.

Vist the 'Whole Story' for more content!

Welsh producer and director John Giwa-Amu spoke with actor/writer Kieron Self about his latest production role on The Man in My Basement, as well as his career journey from professional fruit machine player, to falling in love with film on his first Welsh language film set and winning talent awards.

Coming to cinemas on 12 September 2025, The man in My Basement is an thriller adapted from the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley. It was filmed on location in Carmarthenshire.

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! You'll also find audio podcasts about other films: Celebrating Films with Welsh Connections' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or directly on Buzzsprout.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Mathew Pritchard spoke with Rob Corcoran about his life growing up in Wales, the Dirty Sanchez years, the making of The Road of Excess, and his mental health, addiction, fame and what happens when it’s gone. 

Coming to cinemas on World Mental Health Day, 10th October, The Road of Excess is a film that talks about toxic masculinity, mental health, addiction, fame and what happens when it’s gone.

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! You'll also find audio podcasts about other films: Celebrating Films with Welsh Connections' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or directly on Buzzsprout.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Director Gareth Evans (The Raid) spoke with filmmaker and interviewer Tom Betts at Chapter in April 2025, about his latest release HAVOC, where Evans talks about the making of the film, how those incredible stunt sequences were achieved, and building an international city in Wales.

Released on Netflix on 25 April 2025, the film follows a drug deal gone wrong, when a bruised detective must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s estranged son, while unravelling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! You'll also find audio podcasts about other films: Celebrating Films with Welsh Connections' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or directly on Buzzsprout.

Writer and presenter Danielle Fahiya chaired a discussion with Severn Screen producers Hannah Thomas and Ed Talfan, and director Marc Evans. This audio podcast explores Mr Burton’s Welsh connections, how the filmmakers maintained authenticity to the true story of Richard and Phillip Burton, working with Kate Burton, Richard’s daughter, and how the film spotlights Welsh storytelling and history.

Released on 4 April 2025, the film charts Richard Burton’s school years and his lasting relationship with tutor and ‘chosen father’ Phillip Burton who helped him to discover acting. This moving drama explores love and loss, ambition and addiction, all set in the beautiful valleys of South Wales.

Find a screening near you: mrburtonfilm.co.uk

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Subscribe for more conversations about Welsh-connected film! Check out our other content on The Whole Story.

Director Joshua Trigg spoke with filmmaker and interviewer Ash Kriengsak about Satu - Year of the Rabbit, discussing the challenges of making a film outside your own language, the beautiful landscape and cultural of Laos, geeking out on 16mm, and working with non-actors, as well as the reception from industry in Wales.

Released on 21 March 2025, the film follows ‘Satu’ an orphan child laborer on a journey to find his long lost mother. On the way, he forms a deep friendship with a young photojournalist called 'Bo.'

Nominated for Discovery Award for Best Debut Feature, Best Debut Director and Best Performance in a Debut at Raindance Film festival, and at the British Independent Film Awards, and won the Golden Shika Award at the Nara International Film Festival.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Subscribe for more conversations about Welsh-connected film! Find the shorter video version of this Q&A, on our Youtube.

In this discussion, documentary filmmaker  Liana Stewart, and programmer/curator Yvonne Connikie, discuss Black Welsh film talent, including established and emerging talent to watch out for, the challenges and barriers created by structural inequality, and their impressions of BAFTA-winning director Rungano Nyoni’s second feature film, ‘On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.’

Released on 6 December, 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' is a compelling drama about community and sisterhood. Driving home from a party one night, Shula seems unfazed by the sight of her uncle’s dead body on the deserted road. While preparations are made for his funeral, she finds herself plunged into the hidden secrets of her family. As tensions rise, Shula and her cousin Nsansa join forces to reconcile the past for a more hopeful future. A fierce and darkly funny portrait of one woman’s strength in the face of crisis, Nyoni’s award-winning second feature proves her to be a distinctive filmmaker blazing a unique trail.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Subscribe for more conversations about Welsh-connected film! Find the shorter video version of this Q&A, on our Youtube.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this second part of a two-part episode, director of the film Gordon Main, Wales' first black female councillor and powerful advocate for ethnic minority women in Wales, Gaynor Legal, and award-winning documentary filmmaker Prof Florence Ayisi, discuss racism, apartheid, community and freedom. This podcast was recorded on 31 October 2024.

Released on 22 November 2024, as a People's Release, London Recruits tells the story of Oliver Tambo’s daring, non-violent strategy to bring hope to his embattled people in South Africa. At the height of apartheid, late sixties/early ‘70s, an international group of working-class students and workers living in London answered Tambo’s secret call for undercover agents.

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! Find the video version of this Q&A, on our Youtube very soon.

'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

In this first part of a two-part episode, director of the film Gordon Main, Wales' first black female councillor and powerful advocate for ethnic minority women in Wales, Gaynor Legal, and award-winning documentary filmmaker Prof Florence Ayisi, discuss  racism, apartheid, community and freedom. This podcast was recorded on 31 October 2024.

Released on 22 November 2024, as a People's Release, London Recruits tells the story of Oliver Tambo’s daring, non-violent strategy to bring hope to his embattled people in South Africa. At the height of apartheid, late sixties/early ‘70s, an international group of working-class students and workers living in London answered Tambo’s secret call for undercover agents.

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations! Find the video version of this Q&A, on our Youtube very soon.

In the latest Made in Wales podcast for Film Hub Wales Welsh Director Marc Evans and actor Leisa Gwenllian discuss new release Effi o Blaenau with author and broadcaster Lowri Haf Cooke. 

Set in the industrial slate mountains of Blaenau Ffestiniog, don't miss this searing modern portrayal of Wales on screen. In the words of Marc Evans a film "that speaks and dreams and sings and loves and fights in Welsh..”

 The podcast is available in English and Welsh. 

 In cinemas from June 19 2026 via MetFilm, the story follows Effi, a young woman desperate to escape a town where the pubs are closed, the jobs have vanished and her grandmother works night shifts in the local chip shop just to get by. A chance encounter in a Llandudno nightclub with injured soldier Lee, played by Tom Rhys Harries, briefly opens a door to something better. For a moment, Effi glimpses a life she never imagined. The reality that follows is far tougher.

 Filmed in Wales, with a host of Welsh connections and funding from Creative Wales and S4C.
 
 Subscribe for more conversations about Welsh film, including audio podcasts and video interviews on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or directly, Buzzsprout and Youtube.

 'Made in Wales' is a Film Hub Wales project, celebrating films with Welsh connections. It is supported by funding from Creative Wales and National Lottery funding via the BFI.

Yn y podlediad Gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru diweddaraf, mae'r Cyfarwyddwr Marc Evans a'r actor Leisa Gwenllïan yn trafod rhyddhau Effi o Blaenau gyda'r awdur a'r darlledwr Lowri Haf Cooke.

 
Wedi'i osod ar lechweddau diwydiannol Blaenau Ffestiniog, peidiwch â cholli'r portread cyfoes beiddgar yma o Gymru ar sgrin. Yng ngeiriau Marc Evans, dyma ffilm sy'n "siarad, yn breuddwydio, yn canu, yn caru ac yn ymladd yn Gymraeg..”
  
 Mae'r podlediad ar gael yn y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg.

Gwyliwch y cyfweliad 
 
Mewn sinemâu o 19 Mehefin 2026 ymlaen, mae'r stori yn dilyn hanes Effi, menyw ifanc sy'n dyheu am ddianc o dref lle mae'r tafarndai wedi cau, mae'r swyddi wedi diflannu ac mae ei nain yn gweithio sifftiau gyda'r nos mewn siop sglodion er mwyn goroesi. Pan fydd Effi'n cwrdd â Lee, milwr sydd wedi'i anafu (Tom Rhys Harries), ar hap mewn clwb nos yn Llandudno, mae drws yn agor am ennyd, ac yn cynnig rhywbeth gwell. Am eiliad, mae Effi'n gweld bywyd y tu hwnt i'w gobeithion. Ond mae'r realiti sy'n dilyn llawer anoddach.
  
 Wedi'i ffilmio yng Nghymru, gyda llu o gysylltiadau Cymreig a chyllid gan Gymru Greadigol a S4C. 
 
 Tanysgrifiwch i fwynhau rhagor o sgyrsiau am ffilmiau Cymreig, gan gynnwys podlediadau sain a chyfweliadau fideo ar Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music neu'n uniongyrchol drwy Buzzsprout ac Youtube.
  
 Mae 'Gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru' yn brosiect Canolfan Ffilm Cymru, sy'n dathlu ffilmiau sydd â chysylltiadau Cymreig. Cefnogir y prosiect drwy gyllid gan Gymru Greadigol a chyllid y Loteri Genedlaethol drwy'r BFI.