S4C & NFTS Cymru Wales Team for Screenwriting Course

S4C and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) Cymru Wales have partnered for a new screenwriting course designed to help writers develop their voice in the Welsh language.

The six-month part-time O’r Sgript i’r Sinema course, funded by Creative Wales, will allow participants to hone their writing skills for the big screen—from the initial concept through to writing a complete screenplay. The course will be led by BAFTA Cymru-nominated filmmaker Catrin Cooper (Alfred and Jakobine, Honeytrap), while the course consultant and guest tutor is writer and director Catherine Linstrum (Nuclear, Nadger, California Dreamin’ and Dreaming of Joseph Lees). Six spots are available.

The course is intended to help reignite the Welsh-language film industry. During the 1990s, Welsh films such as Hedd Wyn, House of America, Twin Town, Human Traffic and Solomon and Gaenor found success internationally.

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said: “Creative Wales is committed to finding and nurturing Welsh creative talent and this is a key priority of our three year Creative Skills Action Plan. We are pleased to continue our partnership with NFTS Cymru Wales and S4C to develop Welsh-language talent by supporting this new Welsh language scriptwriting course. It is a fantastic example of our increased partnership working in Wales, to deliver our ambitions to grow the creative sector and to support the creative industries in Wales.”

Sian Doyle, chief executive for S4C, said: “It’s wonderful to have the support of NFTS Cymru Wales and Creative Wales to be able to offer this landmark course for Welsh writers, helping develop the talent of the future and giving people from all backgrounds the opportunity to bring their stories alive on screen. We share the same vision of wanting to see a thriving Welsh screen industry that is recognized and celebrated internationally and, with the huge global success of recent subtitled releases such as The Quiet Girl and All Quiet on the Western Front, we know that language won’t be a barrier.”

Judith Winnan, Head of NFTS Cymru Wales, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with S4C and Creative Wales to offer this brand-new course that has been specially designed to support the production of more feature films in the Welsh language. O’r Sgript i’r Sinema has been tailor-made to help Welsh writers find their own unique cinematic voice and is a fantastic opportunity for those who may never have written a screenplay before to learn the craft of screenwriting and how the film industry works.”