Talented pupils from Islay High School narrowly missed out on winning this year’s FilmG Gaelic Learners Award after beating off stiff competition and being shortlisted for the final.
FilmG is an annual competition organised by MG ALBA, which celebrates Gaelic screen talent and attracts hundreds of applications each year.
Islay pupils entered two short films, one for learners and one for fluent Gaelic speakers. This provided learners with the opportunity to see new words and phrases and gave fluent speakers the chance to use Gaelic outside the classroom. It was the young learners who really caught the judge’s attention though, with their production, Èirich.
Èirich tells the story of a social media trend that transports people into a dangerous new world, with some students caught in an infinite loop and others caught by the ‘person in the shadows’.
Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Robin Currie, said: “Every year this competition attracts a huge number of high quality entries from learners across Scotland, and it is an honour that our young people made it to the final.
“These talented filmmakers from Islay High School have created two exceptional productions and I’m very, very proud of them.
“Gaelic has played an important role in the history of Argyll and Bute for many, many years and we’re committed to continuing to promote the language and its culture to our communities.
“Gaelic education is offered in more than 24 of our primary schools and five secondary schools. There’s been an increase in interest in Gaelic Medium Education, which will have a positive impact on future generations of Gaelic speakers. Competitions such as FilmG definitely play a part in this.”
To watch Èirich visit: http://filmg.co.uk/en/films/2232/ or, to find out more about Gaelic in Argyll and Bute, visit: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/gaelic
Gaelic translation:
Thàinig sgoilearan tàlantach Àrd-sgoil Ìle glè fhaisg air Duais Ghàidhlig an Luchd-ionnsachaidh a chosnadh aig co-fharpais FilmG, às dèidh dhaibh an gnothach a dhèanamh air iomadh sgoil eile agus faighinn gu geàrr-liosta a’ chuairt-dheireannaich, leis am film aca.
’S e co-fharpais bhliadhnail a th’ann am FilmG, air a chuir air dòigh le MG ALBA, is a bhios a’ comharrachadh tàlant Gàidhlig air an sgrìn agus a bhios a’ tàladh ceudan de cho-fharpaisich gach bliadhna.
Chuir sgoilearan Ìle dà fhilm a-steach don fharpais, aon bho luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig agus aon bho na fileantaich. Thug seo cothrom don luchd-ionnsachaidh faclan is abairtean ùra ionnsachadh, agus cothrm do na fileantaich Gàidhlig a chleachdadh air taobh a-muigh an t-seòmar-teagaisg. B’ e an luchd-ionnsachaidh a ghlac aire na britheamhan ge-tà, leis an fhilm aca, Èirich.
’S ann mu dheidhinn treand anns na meadhanan sòisealta a tha Èirich, far a bheil sgoilearan air an toirt gu saoghal cunnartach, ùr, le cuid air an glacadh ann an suidheachadh neo-chrìochnach, is cuid eile glacte leis an ‘duine san dorchadas’.
Thuirt Ceann-Poileasaidh na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid, An Comhairliche Robin MacMhuirich: “Gach bliadhna, tha a’ cho-fharpais seo a’ tàladh àireamh mhòr de dh’fhilmichean aig sàr-ìre bho luchd-ionnsachaidh air feadh Alba, agus ’s e urram a th’ ann gun d’ fhuair ar n-òigridh chun a’ chuairt-dheireannaich.
“Tha na sgoilearan seo à Àrd-sgoil Ìle air dà fhilm air-leth a chruthachadh agus tha mise uabhasach fhèin moiteil asta.
“Tha pàirt chudromach air a bhith aig a’ Ghàidhlig ann an eachdraidh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid airson iomadh bliadhna agus tha sinn a’ gealltainn cumail oirnn’ a’ brosnachadh a’ chànain agus a’ chultar do na coimhearsnachdan againn.
“Tha foghlam Gàidhlig air a thabhainn ann an còrr is 24 de na bun-sgoiltean againn agus còig àrd-sgoiltean. Tha àrdachadh air tighinn air an ùidh ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig, a bhios na bhuannachd do ghinealaich luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig ‘s an àm ri teachd. Gu deimhinne, tha pàirt chudromach aig co-fharpaisean mar FilmG ann an seo.”
Gus Èirich fhaicinn tadhal air: http://filmg.co.uk/en/films/2232/