09 February 2018

 Three S4C programmes have once again received international praise by reaching the 2018 New York Festivals International Film and Television Awards final.

Nominated in the Community Portraits category is Hen Blant Bach, a production by Darlun production company. The series showed an innovative social experiment that was held in care centres across Wales as nursery children share their day care with pensioners – documenting and the potential transformational effects it can have.

S4C's first bilingual drama, Bang, has been nominated in the Crime Drama category. The production by Joio and Artists Studio is written by BAFTA award-winning author Roger Williams. It follows the story of a young man, Sam, whose life changes when he comes into possession of a gun.

And the documentary Colli Dad, Siarad am Hynna, a BBC Wales production, has been nominated in the Social Issues category. In the powerful and personal film, Stephen Hughes talks about his father's suicide in an attempt to understand why we find it so difficult to talk about mental health issues and suicide.

S4C's Creative Content Director, Amanda Rees, said: "Congratulations to all the nominees. Three nominations for an international award like this is another feather in S4C's hat and a credit to the talented production companies that we have in Wales.

"Although we focus on nurturing, celebrating and supporting the creative industries in Wales, having the opportunity to raise the profile of S4C, Wales and the Welsh language on an international stage is something very special and is of great pride to us.”

S4C has proven success at the New York International Film and Television awards in recent years. Last year, the evocative film Yr Ymadawiad - The Passing and the powerful documentary Philip Jones Griffiths: Ffotograffydd Rhyfel Fietnam about the world-famous Welsh photographer impressed an international jury panel by winning a silver medal each. And in 2016, detective crime series Y Gwyll/Hinterland won the top award - The Grand Award – that is given to a select group of the highest scoring programmes from among all the entries.

There's hope for even more success this year when the 2018 New York International Film and Television awards are held in Las Vegas on 10 April, 2018.

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