The panel for Ffermio: Aled Elidyr, Richard Rees, Emyr Roberts, Aled Jones, Ffion Rees & Heledd Hardy
Following its success last year, RTS Wales again partnered with a number of Wales-based film and TV organisations in August to hold events at ‘Sinemaes’, a pop-up cinema held at the National Eisteddfod in Bodedern, Anglesey.
RTS Wales screened a special edition of the iconic S4C agricultural series, Ffermio, produced by Swansea-based independent company, Telesgop, which had been edited by Ffion Rees, a postgraduate student at the University of South Wales (USW). Rees studied with USW lecturer and RTS Wales committee member, Heledd Hardy, who chaired a discussion following the screening, which reflected on how the series had reported on agricultural life in Wales over its 20 year run. The panel consisted of Emyr Roberts, President of the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW), Aled Jones, Chair of the National Farmers Union Milk Board, one of the series presenters, Aled Elidyr and series producer, Richard Rees. According to Hardy, “the archive footage shows how the series effectively covered some major stories in recent years, including the 2001 Foot and Mouth crisis, the severe weather in 2010, and the current heated debates over Brexit”.
A group of shops, including a hairdressers, a café and a wine bar on the main street in Menai Bridge, Anglesey, form part of the set for Rownd a Rownd, S4C’s youth soap drama. RTS Members were given an impressive tour of the site before attending a discussion event, held at Sinemaes, chaired by Iestyn Garlick, himself a former actor and one of the longest running cast members, now Chair of the Welsh Independent Producers Association (TAC). Producer, Bedwyr Rees and script editor, Tony Llewelyn, explained how, “being based in the town, the set feels credible, and people often come into the store thinking it’s a real shop”. Rownd a Rownd celebrated its 21st anniversary last year. It is screened twice a week on S4C, and according to producers Rondo Media, independent estimates suggest the series has contributed over £70 million to the local economy.
Later in the week a short documentary was shown at Sinemaes to honour drama producer, Peter Edwards (right), who died last year. The film included a brief interview with Hywel Wiliam, Wales Centre Administrator, and it was followed by a screening of the Second World War drama, Pum Cynnig i Gymro, produced and directed by Edwards.
Rounding off a busy week, a review of S4C by the Department of Culture Media and Sport was announced on the Eisteddfod field by Guto Bebb MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Wales Office.
Read More in the official press release.
