Manx film at prestigious Celtic Media Festival

Manx film at prestigious Celtic Media Festival

Mon, 10 Mar 2025

A Manx film has won a place in one of the most important media festivals in the British and Irish Islands.

‘Teeval: Princess of the Ocean,’ a film creatively retelling a traditional Manx folktale of mermaids and a warrior prince, is amongst the official nominations for the Celtic Media Festival in June.

The film has a place at the prestigious event alongside productions from the national broadcasters of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Galicia and others, including BBC Alba, S4C, RTÉ and France 3 Bretagne, which makes it extra special to have been nominated.

The 3½ minute long film produced by Culture Vannin, in collaboration with the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee, and directed by Dario Leonetti of Alt Lodge Co. is in the Children’s Programme category of the festival which has been running for 45 years and is to take place in Newquay, Cornwall, this year.

The film is a brilliant and funny retelling a traditional Manx tale, of how an Irish hero won a kingdom thanks to meeting a beautiful mermaid in the Isle of Man.

The plot revolves around ‘a hero prince, a mermaid princess, magic, and the best fight scene you will ever see!’

Filmed early in 2024 and premiered in the autumn, the film is visually distinctive and joyful in part thanks to all the young actors wearing giant papier-mâché heads. These are used to great effect for some of the film’s funniest scenes, such as at the gruesome vision of Conchubar defeating his enemies in battle.

Teeval was made around the beautiful landscape of Niarbyl with two young actors, Olivia and Nora, playing all of the parts. Both are pupils at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, the Island’s (and world’s) only school teaching through the medium of Manx Gaelic. The actors are fluent Manx speakers which allowed two versions of the film to be produced – in English and in Manx.

James Franklin, Online & Educational Resources Officer at Culture Vannin, says:

“We couldn’t be prouder of this fun and playful film retelling a tale from of the Island’s rich folklore tradition. It presents a vision of the Isle of Man which is outward-looking and connected to the world around us in meaningful ways, offering a landscape full of wonder and amazement. Enriching to Manx audiences but equally enthralling to international audiences, we are incredibly proud to have it representing the Isle of Man at this year’s Celtic media Festival.”

The film was made with the help of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee, who support broadcasting in the Manx language.

Chris Williamson, Culture Vannin board member and Chair of Gaelic Broadcasting Committee says:

“We have been delighted to support the production of this wonderful film which brings a little-known piece of our rich folklore to new audiences in new ways – and through Manx and English. It’s great to think that Teeval sits alongside productions by the BBC and RTÉ.”

The film was first released at a series of events, including the Cooish Manx Language Festival last year and it is available in its English and Manx versions on the Culture Vannin website and YouTube.

The Celtic Media Festival is an annual three-day event that promotes the cultures of the Celtic nations and regions in media. It combines a major conference of seminars and master classes with presentation of the coveted prizes in an international competition across all the main content genres in TV, radio, film and digital media.

‘Teeval: Princess of the Ocean’ can be watched on the Culture Vannin website or YouTube.

Teeval
Teeval [English language, YouTube]
Teeval [Manx language, YouTube]