Excitement is building as Gaelic short-film competition FilmG has announced its nominees, with filmmakers from the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Barra and previous FilmG stalwarts all making strong impressions.

Faced with a record number of entries in the competition’s 15^th year, the panel of independent judges narrowed the field down ahead of the upcoming awards ceremony in Glasgow on Thursday 16 February.

In the FilmG Youth Competition, Portree High School in Skye received seven nominations, including six for this year’s most-nominated film ‘Òganaich an Òr Fhuilt Bhuidhe’ – a visual interpretation of the famous Gaelic song, as sung by acclaimed singer Kathleen MacInnes.

Castlebay School from the Isle of Barra also scored well with the judges, with six nominations coming from two separate films, including ‘An Rathad Breige Buidhe’ (The Yellow Brick Road) and ‘An Sgoth Phabach’, a documentary that tells the story of the May Day tragedy that shook the small island of Pabbay.

Recent FilmG success stories have also performed well, with previous winners Parker Dawes (Ardnamurchan High School) and Staffin Primary School in Skye picking up four nominations each.

Glasgow-based brothers Finlay and Calum Morrison wrote and produced their own comedy ‘Ò, Nuair a Bha Mise Òg, with the film nominated across three awards, and Finlay himself nominated for a further two for his filmmaking and acting skills.

The competition was just as fierce, and the quality just as high, in the Open Competition.

Previous FilmG winner Eilidh NicIain returned this year to create a drama, ‘Bochd’ about a young woman struck down by a mysterious illness after going on a date. The dark take on this year’s yellow theme, made in partnership with fellow Inverness-based filmmaker Allan Crook, has been nominated across five categories, including Best Film (Open).

Other films with multiple nominations in the Open Competition include ‘Priob’, a creative and heartfelt entry by Glasgow-based artist Choirstaidh NicArtair; and ‘Na Caileagan Gàidhealach’ a Kardashians-inspired comedy about young Gaelic influencers by filmmakers Kirsty McBain and Cara Turner.

FilmG’s Project Manager, Murdo MacSween, said: “The competition was so strong this year our judges had a very difficult time picking the nominees, even calling it the “best year ever”.

“FilmG is about developing great Gaelic storytellers and filmmakers, and if this year’s nominees are anything to go by, the future of Gaelic broadcasting looks to be in safe hands!”

FilmG Project Executive at MG ALBA, Alison Bruce, said:  “Each year we’re blown away by the creativity and high quality of the FilmG entries and this year is certainly no different.

“FilmG is a fantastic route to get noticed in Gaelic media and it’s encouraging to see so many talented individuals engaging with the competiton. We wish all nominees the very best of luck and look forward to seeing who picks up an award at this year’s awards ceremony in February.”

With 15 judged categories announced across the two competitions (Open and Youth) the public vote element of the FilmG Choice Awards will be live until the end of January.

The winning films will be announced at the FilmG Awards on Thursday 16 February 2023 at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow.

FilmG Youth Competition Nominees

Best Documentary

An Sgoth Phabach (Castlebay School, Barra)

Baile Prìseil (Gairloch High School)

Na Bòtannan Buidhe (CnaG & Sir E Scott School / Isle of Harris)

Tormod air a’ Ghearra Buidhe (Shawbost Primary School, Isle of Lewis)

Best Production Design

Eachdraidh Uabhasach: Òganaich an Òr Fhuilt Bhuidhe (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Gàidhlig sa Chiste (Parker Dawes, Ardnamurchan High School)

Bleigeard nam Bileagan Buidhe (Dingwall Academy)

Buidhe nach Maireann (Ullapool High School)

Award for Gaelic

Ò, Nuair a Bha Mise Òg (Finlay & Calum Morrison, Glasgow)

An Rathad Breige Buidhe (Castlebay School, Barra)

Teas aig Deas (Staffin Primary School, Isle of Skye)

Baile Prìseil (Gairloch High School)

Eachdraidh Uabhasach: Òganaich an Òr Fhuilt Bhuidhe (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Dath Falaichte (Millburn Academy, Inverness)

Best Youth Group

Dath Falaichte (Millburn Academy, Inverness)

Teas aig Deas (Staffin Primary School, Isle of Skye)

An Geama (Sgoil an Coille Nuaidh, Kilmarnock)

An Rathad Breige Buidhe (Castlebay School, Barra)

Rising Star Award

Parker Dawes (Ardnamurchan)

Finlay Morrison (Glasgow)

Fraser Allan (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Sorcha MacDougall (Castlebay School, Barra)

Emma Millar (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Iris O’Connell (Glasgow)

Best Performance (Youth)

Finlay Morrison – Ò, Nuair a Bha Mise Òg (Glasgow)

Ruby MacDonald – Eachdraidh Uabhasach: Òganaich an Òr Fhuilt Bhuidhe (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Lewis MacLeod – Eachdraidh Uabhasach: Òganaich an Òr Fhuilt Bhuidhe (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Diùra Paterson – Uisge Bàs (Islay High School)

Jonathan MacDonald – Teas aig Deas (Staffin Primary School, Isle of Skye)

Eilidh MacLeod – An Rathad Breige Buidhe (Castlebay School, Barra)

Best Film (Youth)

Ò, Nuair a Bha Mise Òg (Finlay & Calum Morrison, Glasgow)

Gàidhlig sa Chiste (Parker Dawes, Ardnamurchan High School)

Eachdraidh Uabhasach: Òganaich an Òr Fhuilt Bhuidhe (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)

Teas aig Deas (Staffin Primary School, Isle of Skye)

FilmG Open Competition Shortlists

Culture Award

Na Cullaigearan (Na h-Èirisgeich, Isle of Eriskay)

Na Balaich (Hebridean Men’s Cancer Support Group & Nicolson Institute, Isle of Lewis)

Ùisdean Mac Ghilleasbaig Chlèirich (Uist Unearthed and Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath)

Eileanaich Ghlaschu (Eilidh MacAulay and Glasgow Island FC)

Creativity Award

Bochd (Eilidh Johnson & Allan Crook, Inverness)

Snàmh, le Wes Anderson (Calum MacLean, Aberfeldy)

Priob (Choirstaidh NicArtair, Glasgow)

Maighdean-ròin (Marcas Mac an Tuairneir & Alex Nicholl, Edinburgh/Glasgow)

Best Director

Eilidh Johnson & Allan Crook – Bochd (Inverness)

Kirsty McBain & Cara Turner – Na Caileagan Gàidhealach (Glasgow)

Sorley Johnston – Beinn Shònraichte (Glasgow)

Kayleigh Bell & Giovanni Crolla – Am Baidhsagal Buidhe (East Kilbride / Glasgow)

Best Performance (Open)

Shona Thomson – Na Caileagan Gàidhealach (Glasgow)

Eilidh Johnson – Bochd (Inverness)

David MacKenzie – Am Baidhsagal Buidhe (Glasgow)

Ross Young – Am Monadh Ruadh (Aberdeen)

Choirstaidh NicArtair – Priob (Glasgow)

Sadie Drye – Nach Buidhe Dhut? (Edinburgh)

Industry Award

Innes MacLeod – Gàidheil Ùra (Isle of Lewis)

Giovanni Crolla – Am Baidhsagal Buidhe (Glasgow)

Cat Bruce – Dùsgadh (Edinburgh)

Choirstaidh NicArtair – Priob (Glasgow)

Calum MacLean – Snàmh, le Wes Anderson (Aberfeldy)

Rob MacNeacail – Chunnaic Mi Measg Nan Ubhal Thu (Glasgow)

Best Film (Open)

Bochd (Eilidh Johnson & Allan Crook, Inverness)

Priob (Choirstaidh NicArtair, Glasgow)

Na Caileagan Gàidhealach (Kirsty McBain & Cara Turner, Glasgow)

Na Cullaigearan (Na h-Èirisgeich, Isle of Eriskay)

Below are the nominees for the awards to be presented at the reception event ahead of the FilmG Awards. These categories were open to entrants from across the Youth and Open competitions:

Best Script

Sùilean (Iain Cumming, Gairloch)

Bochd (Eilidh Johnson & Allan Crook, Inverness)

Gàidhlig sa Chiste (Parker Dawes, Ardnamurchan High School)

Na Caileagan Gàidhealach (Kirsty McBain & Cara Turner, Glasgow)

Ò, Nuair a Bha Mise Òg (Finlay & Calum Morrison, Glasgow)

An Rathad Breige Buidhe (Castlebay School, Barra)

Best Student Film

Buidheagan (Gaelic Media Course, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig)

Sliseagan (Stirling University Gaelic Society)

Air an Rathad (Sorley Johnston, Glasgow)

Soilleireachd (Gaelic Media Course, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig)

Am Baidhsagal Buidhe (Kayleigh Bell & Giovanni Crolla, East Kilbride/Glasgow)

Chunnaic Mi Measg Nan Ubhal Thu (Rob MacNeacail, Glasgow)