Latest news with #MrBurton
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wales is 'powerhouse of young creative talent' with record film nominations
Young filmmakers are making their mark on the industry with a record number of nominations at this year's Into Film Awards. Wales has received seven nominations across 11 categories for the 2025 awards, the highest of any Celtic nation, with nominees from Cardiff, Conwy, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, and Swansea. The nominees will attend the ceremony in London's Leicester Square on June 24. Jack Sargeant, Welsh minister for culture, said: "Wales is showing itself to be a powerhouse of young creative talent, as can clearly be seen by the record-breaking number of Welsh nominees this year." The Into Film Awards celebrate the creativity of young people in film and are supported by the UK film industry. This year's nominations highlight the growing strength of Wales' film sector, following the recent success of productions like Netflix's Havoc and Mr Burton. The nominated films reflect a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Animated Voices, made by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds in Cardiff, explores their lives in the UK, while Mariupol tells the story of the war in Ukraine through the eyes of a displaced individual. Non Stevens, head of Into Film Cymru, said: "We're thrilled to see diverse young Welsh voices achieving record-breaking recognition at this year's Into Film Awards. "From Penygroes to Cardiff, from animation to documentary, these young creators are telling authentic stories with exceptional creativity and technical skill. "The record number of nominations this year not only reflects growing confidence and talent but also shows how film education can inspire the next generation of Welsh storytellers."
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Record number of Welsh nominees at Into Film Awards 2025
Wales has received seven nominations across 11 categories for the 2025 awards, the highest of any Celtic nation, with nominees from Cardiff, Conwy, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, and Swansea. The nominees will attend the ceremony in London's Leicester Square on June 24. Jack Sargeant, Welsh minister for culture, said: "Wales is showing itself to be a powerhouse of young creative talent, as can clearly be seen by the record-breaking number of Welsh nominees this year." The Into Film Awards celebrate the creativity of young people in film and are supported by the UK film industry. This year's nominations highlight the growing strength of Wales' film sector, following the recent success of productions like Netflix's Havoc and Mr Burton. The nominated films reflect a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Animated Voices, made by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds in Cardiff, explores their lives in the UK, while Mariupol tells the story of the war in Ukraine through the eyes of a displaced individual. Non Stevens, head of Into Film Cymru, said: "We're thrilled to see diverse young Welsh voices achieving record-breaking recognition at this year's Into Film Awards. "From Penygroes to Cardiff, from animation to documentary, these young creators are telling authentic stories with exceptional creativity and technical skill. "The record number of nominations this year not only reflects growing confidence and talent but also shows how film education can inspire the next generation of Welsh storytellers."
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Wales Leads UK Nations in Into Film Awards Nominations
Wales has received a record-breaking seven nominations for this year's Into Film Awards – the highest number of nominations of any Celtic nation across the UK. Nominees from Cardiff, Conwy, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, and Swansea will now attend a red-carpet event at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London on Tuesday 24 June, hosted by actor, presenter and author, Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE. Minister for Culture Jack Sargeant, said: 'Wales is showing itself to be a powerhouse of young creative talent, as can clearly be seen by the record-breaking number of Welsh nominees this year. 'Creative Wales is committed to building on the momentum of productions like Havoc or Mr Burton to secure a bright future for Welsh filmmaking, developing sustainable pathways from school projects to international productions. The exceptional stories these young people are telling today represent the next generation of talent who will continue to build Wales' growing influence in global creative industries. Pob lwc bawb.' This recognition comes at a pivotal moment for Wales' film industry, following the recent success of Havoc (the Netflix action thriller starring Tom Hardy and the largest feature film ever shot entirely within Wales) and Mr Burton, produced with financial support from BBC Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in partnership with Creative Wales. Animated Voices, created by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds in Cardiff, explores their personal experiences of life in the UK, while Mariupol offers a powerful perspective on the war in Ukraine through the eyes of a displaced individual. Non Stevens, Head of Into Film Cymru, who wants to work more with Creative Wales to support a thriving film ecosystem extended from major international productions to nurturing young grassroots talent, said: 'We're thrilled to see diverse young Welsh voices achieving record-breaking recognition at this year's Into Film Awards. These nominations represent communities across Wales and tell stories that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of our nation. At Into Film Cymru, we believe in creating opportunities for all young people, regardless of background, and these nominations demonstrate the power of inclusive filmmaking. 'From Penygroes to Cardiff, from animation to documentary, these young creators are telling authentic stories with exceptional creativity and technical skill. The record number of nominations this year not only reflects growing confidence and talent but also shows how film education can inspire the next generation of Welsh storytellers who will build on our current industry success.' Best Animation – 5 to 11 years – (Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK) Cae yr Arth (Cae the Bear) – Made by a class of 30 young people aged 9-10 from Caedraw Primary School, Merthyr Tydfil Best Animation – 12 to 19 years – (Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK) Animated Voices – Made by 10 young people aged 13-14 from Cardiff, working with Gritty Realism Productions, Diverse Cymru and EYST. Best Documentary – (Sponsored by IMDb) Mariupol – Made by Daria Savchenko, aged 18, from Gower College – Swansea Time for Action- (Sponsored by Swatch) Tipping Point – Made by Araminta, aged 16 – Conwy Best Film – 5 to 11 years – (Sponsored by Working Title Films) Ynyr yr Ysbryd (Ynyr the Ghost) – Made by Briall (aged 10), Celt (10), Elai (9) and Fflur (10), from Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle – Penygroes, Gwynedd Best Film – 16 to 19 years – (Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery) Beware the Zoomies – Made by Araminta, Cole, Micah, and Ethan – Conwy Filmmaking Champion – (Sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd.) Steve Swindon from TAPE Community Music and Film – Llandudno Working with 16- to 19-year-olds with a wide range of additional needs, Steve strives to be a creative advocate. He has supported pupils to set up their own production company, Hope Productions, with their film Battery – a perfect example of Steve's work in action (nominated for Best Film – 16-19 at the Into Film Awards 2024). The Awards, sponsored by the UK film industry celebrate young people's creativity in film, showcasing and highlighting the wealth of tomorrow's creative talent. Other categories include Best Film – 12 to 15 years (Sponsored by Paramount Pictures); Best Story (Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios); the Audience Choice Award (Sponsored by Universal Pictures International); and Ones to Watch – (Sponsored by EON Productions). This year's Awards received an unprecedented number of film entries from every corner of the UK, with compelling and timely stories for young people including mental health, the war in Ukraine, gender identity, neurodivergence, multiculturism, the potential harms of AI, feeling disconnected and isolated in modern society, nature conservation, immigration and identity, looking after an unwell parent, the need to stop scrolling on social media, and much more.
Telegraph
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The South Wales mining village that made Richard Burton a global icon
The writing is on the wall: 'There is one place you belong to, and in my case it's Pontrhydyfen.' The quote sings out from a mural on the façade of the Miners Arms pub in the former South Wales mining village. The words are those of the local lad made good; the miner's son who became a Shakespearean actor; the Hollywood star who never forgot his Welsh roots. This year Pontrhydyfen remembers the centenary of the birth of Richard Burton, who was born Richard Walter Jenkins in the village near Port Talbot in November 1925. The Centenary festival features a programme of events, plus the new tour I've joined to walk in Burton's footsteps. The launch coincides with the April 4 release of a new film, Mr Burton, which focusses on his lesser-known early life before the Hollywood headlines. Also starring Toby Jones and Lesley Manville, Harry Lawtey plays the young Richard, who was taken under the wing of his schoolteacher, Philip, the eponymous Mr Burton, played by Jones. Teenage Richard took his teacher's surname after he became his legal guardian. 'Richard was the North Star of Welsh cinema,' says the Cardiff-born film's producer Ed Talfan. 'Making the film made me realise how incredibly hard it must have been to be brought up in poverty yet still find a route out.' The three-hour tour links two existing walking trails, shuttling between the village of Pontrhydyfen and the Port Talbot suburb of Taibach by coach. A new interpretation has been added along the route with QR codes to download audio content for self-guided explorers. The starting point, the Miners Arms, is where Richard's parents first met, and the actress Sian Owen, his niece, has a poem to 'Uncle Rich' framed on the wall amongst old family photographs. Nearby is the Bethel Chapel, now a community café, where thousands gathered after his death for a memorial service, and the terraced house on Penhydd Street where Sian still lives. It's here, according to popular folklore, that Richard and second wife, Elizabeth Taylor, turned up in a Rolls Royce, the Hollywood starlet asking the family in her newly perfect Welsh, to use the toilet. At the time, they were amongst the highest paid actors in Hollywood and the original 'It' couple. Later we headed onto Port Talbot, stopping at the Plaza Cinema community centre, where Richard came to see George Formby films as a young man. Amongst the memorabilia of Port Talbot's acting talent – Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Sheen – tourist guide Griff Harries shared his own memories over coffee in the community cafe. 'I remember stories about him as a child in the Sixties,' he said. 'My parents revered him as a screen idol and now, through my labour-of-love research for these tours, I've come to know the young man.' The next day, I visited the Richard Burton Archives at Swansea University. The reading room was laid out with a series of family photographs, hand-written diary entries and old film posters, all donated to the university by Richard's widow, Sally Burton. 'Curating his personal effects has shown me his real passion for words and writing. Like his hero, Dylan Thomas, he could also have been a writer,' says Head of Cultural Collections, Sîan Williams. The university is working on an exhibition of memorabilia to open at a Port Talbot shopping centre later this summer and there are plans for a birthday gala event to mark Richard's birthday in November. The latter is to be staged at The Orangery at Margam Country Park, the historic estate just outside of Port Talbot, that makes for a fine rural escape from the industrial landscape with walking trails and family activities. Back in Port Talbot, I visited the school where Richard was taught by Philip Burton, the house where he lived with his elder sister after his mother died, and the public library where he devoured the literary greats – low-key landmarks all overshadowed by the town's looming steelworks. We finished at Taibach Memorial Park, where the young Richard would have played rugby and climbed trees. 'I've watched the old interviews with Richard and, when you look at the eyes,' adds Griff, 'there's no hint of arrogance. He was one of us.' Richard Burton died in Switzerland after a brain hemorrhage in 1984, aged 58, the same year as John Lennon. The diet of three bottles of spirits and 60-odd cigarettes a day finally caught up with the actor who never won an Oscar but was nominated seven times. He was buried locally, said to have been laid to rest in a red suit with a copy of Dylan Thomas' poems. The memorial at Taibach Memorial Park features one of Richard's own poems which, like the quote from the mural at Miners Arms, suggests you can take the boy out of Wales, but you can't take Wales out of the boy. 'And there were things that made me; Grew round the core of my young soul, But I have other worlds for whom to weep; I shall return no more.' How to do it For more information, and to book a tour, see The monthly tours are free but are first-come, first-served. There are options too for accessible, signed and Welsh-language tours. The Richard Burton Archives at Swansea University are open to visitors Tue-Thu; Stay in Swansea at the Grand Hotel.
The Guardian
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mr Burton review – Toby Jones excels as Richard Burton's inspirational teacher in drab biopic
Inspiring teacher cliches abound in Mr Burton, a drab, slag-heap-grey drama about the early life of the actor Richard Burton (Harry Lawtey), born Richard Jenkins in industrial south Wales in 1925. The Burton of the title is not the hot-headed teenage aspiring actor who we meet bunking with his sister's family in Port Talbot, but rather the sympathetic teacher Philip Burton (Toby Jones), who spotted the schoolboy's potential and coached him to extract the full value from his vowel sounds. The always impressive Jones gives a satisfyingly fleshed-out turn as a closeted gay man forced to contend with whispers, rumours and outright hostility. And Lawtey, while way too old to convincingly pass as a schoolboy, has occasional flashes of Burton's dangerous charisma. It's a pity, then, that this sluggishly paced film, which leans heavily on a fussy, twinkling piano score, is so meandering and listless. In UK and Irish cinemas
