Aber visit before OSCAR

The programme for Ffresh – the Student Moving Image Festival of Wales – was announced today by the Festivals Company, Friday, February 2^nd. The 2007 event will take place at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre on February 15^th & 16^th.

Oscar nominee Stephen Frears (Director, The Queen), Nik Powell (Director of the National Film and Television School, Executive Producer, Mrs Henderson Presents) and cult British animator Phil Mulloy (The Ten Commandments) are amongst the twenty one industry figures confirmed to attend the 2007 event.

"This is undoubtedly the strongest line up in Ffresh’s history" said Festival Coordinator James Nee. "We’re delighted that Stephen Frears could fit us in between attending the Baftas and the Oscars. I’m sure the Ffresh audience will be as excited as I am to hear him speak at the festival".

Other programme highlights include sessions on the Making of Torchwood, Film Distribution, Moving Image Festivals, Sound Design and the Rebranding of S4C. The festival will also include masterclasses hosted by Skillset Cymru and Skillset Screen Academy Wales including a unique pitching session where students can pitch an original idea that can be exploited across multiplatform to a distinguished panel of industry professionals.

As well as the programme of events, the shortlisted entries for the Ffresh Awards 2007 will be screened over the two day period of the festival. The winners will be announced during two lunch time award ceremonies and the closing night award ceremony. Other screenings taking place at the festival include showcases from Scotland and Canada and the UK Premiere of Neil Burger’s highly acclaimed film The Illusionist starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel and Paul Giamatti.

Ffresh is free to all students studying at Ffresh member colleges and universities (see ffresh.com for further details). Members of the general public can register for the festival by paying £10 for a one day pass or £20 for the entire event.