Canolfan S4C Yr Egin is looking forward to its Adventure Conference that is being held as part of the Adventure Film Festival at the centre in Carmarthen in March.

Following the success of Yr Egin’s Adventure Conference 2022 and another successful bid to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Collaborative Grants Fund, this year’s conference for Wales’ University and Further Education College students will deal with the main theme of responding to environmental sustainability for film and television and the challenges of climate change.

The aim of this one-day conference is to hold discussions, give examples, and respond to climate challenges when creating sustainable and cost-effective content giving students across the country the opportunity to discuss and reflect on how to respond positively to the challenges in their college work and when they go into the world of work.

Ryan Chappell, S4C Diversity, Sustainability and Social Purposes Leader; Huw Erddyn from Cwmni Da and Elin Jones from Boom Cymru will be among those contributing their expertise; and there will be a special conversation with Mari Huws, a filmmaker now living and working as the Warden on Bardsey Island.

Llinos Jones, Canolfan S4C Yr Egin Project Engagement Officer, said:

“We’re really looking forward to bringing Higher Education students from a number of Welsh Universities together in person and on-line for the conference, which will be an opportunity for them learn from professionals from the sector as well as networking with each other. Nurturing talent and highlighting career pathways is at the core of what we do here at Yr Egin and ensuring that future makers are considering climate challenges and creating sustainable content is extremely important to us at the centre. We are delighted to be able to offer this one-day conference and collaborate with the University, thanks to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.”

The Adventure conference aim is to close the gap between the industry and students with the focus on content with environmental themes and/or films about the natural world. A backdrop to all this will be Yr Egin Adventure Film Festival, with film showings, a high percentage of which were shot in Wales, as well as talks, discussions and workshops. The film festival is an opportunity to celebrate films and to consider the environmental impacts of production as well as opportunities to lessen the impact of their production.

The conference was designed in collaboration between UWTSD, Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea Universities. Dr Geraint Ellis, Senior Lecturer in Media at Bangor University, said:

“Events like this conference are a wonderful opportunity for students to gain valuable advice from individuals working in the creative industries, and to make further contacts. It is also great to see education institutions across Wales collaborating like this, thanks to support from Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. As a former factual producer, I also believe that the documentary makers themselves benefit from the experience of reflecting on their work and sharing their experiences and ideas with a young audience.”

During the conference, a crucial element will be the networking among students with opportunities to talk, consider, investigate and question in Welsh and gaining confidence.
The conference responds to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Aims that call for action to deal with climate change and to protect our oceans and forests. Aim 13 – Climate Action emphasises the fundamental importance of environmental sustainability today. Environmental sustainability is still a challenging issue for an energy and travel intensive sector such as the film and television sector.

Ffion Hughes, Coleg Cymraeg Academic Manager, added:

“The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is delighted to support a cross-discipline event that combines the media and environmental sustainability. Innovative work is being undertaken in both fields in Wales and it’s wonderful that students from different universities can benefit from the event.”

Students, colleges and universities are welcome to get in touch if they wish to attend the conference in person or would like to receive the link to watch the livestream by e-mailing helo@yregin.cymru