Carmarthen Bay Film Festival boss urges cinema-goers to support Welsh film.

THE organiser of a film festival aimed at highlighting Welsh language films made in Wales is calling on people in Carmarthenshire to come out and support it.

Kelvin Guy runs the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, which this year will run from April 8 to 12 at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.

He set up the event last year with the aim of encouraging independent filmmakers after discovering his ancestor, Gareth Hughes, was Wales's first silent Hollywood film star.

Mr Guy, a documentary maker himself, said: "So far this year the preparation is going very well.

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"We've got 50-plus films entered at the moment, from all over the world and closer to home."

Films come from France, Canada and Australia, as well as Scotland and Carmarthenshire itself.

"We'll have all kinds of films in the programme," he added.

"Nine of them are feature films this year, and we've got all kinds of genres — documentaries, comedies, horror, experimental. There's quite a good range of films."

The festival has this year attracted a number of sponsors from Swansea to Newport, who have been attracted because of one of its aims to promote Welsh language film.

"We're trying to give Welsh language film a platform to be seen in places apart from the Eisteddfod and Urdd," said Mr Guy. "Those festivals might have a section on film, but not a whole festival."

He said the entries received had risen from the 40 last year, and he expected to have in excess of 60 by the closing date of March 10.

The festival programme will then be available on the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival website.

"It's free for all those coming to watch the films," said Mr Guy. "It's about supporting independent film and filmmakers, and young, developing filmmakers in Wales and internationally."