Latest news with #Welsh-language
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Llandovery cinema to screen environmental film Woman at War
Llandovery Community Cinema will show the 2018 Icelandic drama Woman at War on Saturday, July 19, as part of its 2025 Environmental Film Series. The film tells the story of Halla, a quiet choir conductor who leads a double life as an eco-activist, taking bold action to protect her homeland from industrial harm. The screening will take place at Rhys Prichard Memorial Hall, with doors opening at 5.30pm. A community meal will be shared at 6pm, followed by the film at 7pm. Ella Peel, film coordinator at Llandovery Cinema, said: "This film empowers us to act. "It shows how one voice, when joined with others, can shape the future of a community. "We hope it inspires more people to join the fight for our landscape." The screening has been chosen for its strong connections to the ongoing Cofiwch Dyffryn Tywi campaign, a community-led protest against the proposed construction of large electricity pylons through the Tywi Valley. The film is one of three environmental-themed features included in the cinema's 2025 programme, supported by funding from Ffilm Cymru. The programme also includes seven Welsh-language films and is designed to spark discussion and action around key issues facing the community. Following the screening, the Llandovery Pylon Community Action Group will host a Q&A session and lead a discussion on the current state of the protest, potential next steps, and ways for residents to get involved. Organisers describe the evening as more than just a film screening, calling it 'a rallying call' for collective action. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share, invite friends and neighbours, and add their voices to the conversation. Tickets are priced at £5 and can be purchased from LYCC on Market Square, online via Ticket Source, or at the door subject to availability.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Welsh TV production company plans to expand into new markets
Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da, which is employee-owned and mainly produces content for Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, is now targeting a wider audience under the leadership of newly-appointed chief executive Bethan Griffiths. The company is currently seeking to recruit a content director and an operations director as part of its growth strategy. Ms Griffiths said: "The new content director and operations director will be key appointments because they are going to be fundamentally important in shaping our future strategy. "It's a really exciting development." Cwmni Da, which means "good company" in Welsh, has already launched a scripted content division led by award-winning actor, director and producer Martin Thomas. The company is also exploring international opportunities and has established connections with broadcasters in other Celtic nations, as well as in Korea and China. Ms Griffiths said: "We are also looking to international horizons because we have the ability and talent to cater for audiences outside Wales. "With that in mind, we have built up and retained relationships with broadcast partners in the Celtic countries as well as Korea and China." A key part of Cwmni Da's evolution involves the careful integration of artificial intelligence into its production processes. Ms Griffiths said: "As part of our evolution, we are looking at the responsible use of artificial intelligence – done sensibly with proper safeguards it can add real value to our programme making. "We are already using AI in at least two programmes which are due to be broadcast later this year. "We are using different kinds of AI to enable dramatic reconstruction by using an image or archive material to create footage from it as well as forensic analysis of evidence. "AI is also a very useful tool in conducting audience research to find out definitively what people actually want to watch – but we are very clear that all findings need to be properly checked and verified by the team." Cwmni Da was named one of the best places to work in the UK broadcast industry for the second consecutive year, a recognition Ms Griffiths attributes to its employee-owned model. She said: "One of the main reasons for the change was to safeguard the ethos of Cwmni Da and make sure it stayed rooted here in Caernarfon rather than being bought out by a larger company. "We feel it's worked really well because we've retained our identity and the people who work here feel a real sense of ownership and commitment. "Happy staff create great content and that's what we're all about."
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Welsh singer Iris Williams who sang for a US president dies aged 79
Welsh singer Iris Williams who sang for a US president dies aged 79 Iris received an OBE for services to music 21 years ago The Welsh singer performed for US President Gerald Ford on several occasions (Image: Don Smith/) Iris Williams OBE has died aged 79 in the US, where she was living. The renowned Pontypridd-born singer was best known for her hits which included He Was Beautiful and Pererin Wyf, the Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. The singer was a product of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama where she received a scholarship before going on to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Queen, as well as also performing for US President Gerald Ford on several occasions. She rose to fame in the 1980s and in 2004 was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Iris performing on her own BBC show in 1979 (Image: Don Smith/) The 79-year-old performed on the Welsh BBC pop show, Disc A Dawn, and later featured in her own BBC TV show. She then went on to win Cân i Gymru, a Welsh-language talent competition, having performed the song I gael Cymru'n Gymru Rydd, which translates to For a Free Wales. Article continues below In 1999, Iris also took part in a concert which celebrated the opening of the National Assembly of Wales. Her brother Ashley paid tribute to her to the BBC. He said: "I never met her until we were adults and it was wonderful to meet up with her. In my opinion she was one of Wales' most underrated singers. "She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up." Iris was brought up in a children's home in Tonyrefail (Image: Getty Images ) The St David's Society of the State of New York said Iris had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share". They continued: "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake." Article continues below Opera singer Beverley Humphreys also paid tribute to the singer. She said: "Iris had her own unique jazz style - vivacious and elegant - with a twinkle in her eye, she had a way of inhabiting each song she sang. "Iris was a story teller whose voice could set your feet tapping or touch your heart."
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
The star was awarded an OBE for her contributions to music STAR LOST Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A RENOWNED Welsh singer who performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall has passed away. Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Iris was awarded an OBE for her contributions to music Credit: AFP The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions. Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI. Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show. Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. Williams' brother Ashley told the BBC: "I never met her until we were adults and it was wonderful to meet up with her," he said. "In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up. "When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail. "She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys." In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share." "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake."
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
A RENOWNED Welsh singer who performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall has passed away. Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11. 2 Iris was awarded an OBE for her contributions to music Credit: AFP The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions. Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI. Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show. Read more in Showbiz Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. Williams' brother Ashley told the "In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up. "When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail. Most read in Showbiz "She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys." In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share." "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake." 2 She passed away in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where she was born Credit: Getty
