Students’ films premiered before being televised to the nation

Films made by Coleg Menai students were premiered in a special screening at the Bangor campus, before being televised by BBC and S4C.

The red carpet was rolled out at Parc Menai for It’s My Shout 2025 - featuring eight unique dramas produced by up-and-coming talent from across Wales.

It’s My Shout is an independent production company providing training for anyone in Wales looking to gain experience in the film industry.

Each year it produces short dramas for BBC Cymru Wales and S4C, offering opportunities for emerging writers and directors, and for young people who want to work in the industry.

Coleg Menai has been working with It’s My Shout for more than a decade, with students creating one film in Welsh and one in English every year.

Performing Arts students star in the films, while Creative Media and Art and Design learners are involved in filming, set design, make-up and other vital behind-the-scenes roles.

This year’s cohort got to see their finished films Pants and Esblygiad for the first time at Wednesday’s premiere.

Pants, directed by Elin Gwyn and written by Neil Williams, is a time-loop comedy horror in which a hungover teen repeatedly travels through time to stop her best friend being murdered at a party.

Pictures: Wisdom Okeyan and Jac Birch

The film was a first step into directing for Elin, a freelance writer and producer who has regularly worked on Pobol y Cwm, Rownd a Rownd and Deian a Loli.

Elin said: “The Coleg Menai students were fantastic - so enthusiastic, professional and committed throughout the shoot. They threw themselves into every part of the process. I hope they took as much from the experience as I did, because it was genuinely inspiring to see their energy and passion in action.

“It’s My Shout does incredible work in helping people break into and progress within the screen industry. For me, it was the perfect opportunity to try my hand at directing for the first time, surrounded by such a supportive production team and crew.

“Working with the Coleg Menai students made me wish I’d had an opportunity like that when I was starting out!”

Esblygiad was written and directed by Hedydd Ioan, who began his career in 2019 with an apprenticeship in Technical Theatre Sound, Light and Stage through Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Cwmni’r Frân Wen.

The film tells the story of a sixth-form pupil who faces a difficult choice about her future after receiving a mysterious letter inviting her to a party.

Pictures: Wisdom Okeyan and Kyle Owen

For Hedydd, it was the second time working with It’s My Shout, after he produced both Coleg Menai films last year.

He said: “I have a real passion for film, writing and directing, so to get to do it locally in the Welsh language, with It’s My Shout and Coleg Menai, it was the perfect opportunity.

“For some of the students it was their first time performing for TV or film, and they really took to it. Also, the students working behind the cameras - the sound trainees, the art department - everybody was really passionate and hard-working. It was brilliant.

“I’m really happy with the finished product. We’ve been working on it in the editing room and this is the exciting part now - showing it to the students and sharing it with the wider world.”

Lisa Jones, Programme Leader for Level 3 Performing Arts at Coleg Menai, said: “We are really grateful for the partnership with It’s My Shout and the valuable experiences it presents to our students year after year.”

Roger Burnell MBE, founder and creative director of It's My Shout, said: “We are proud of our long and hugely successful partnership with Coleg Menai.

“The films we make with Coleg Menai for BBC Wales and S4C reflect the quality of the talent at the college and the creativity available in North Wales. Both It's My Shout and the broadcasters look to continue developing the relationship in future years.”

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Performing Arts courses develop a variety of skills, including acting, directing, scripting, performing physical theatre, and preparing for auditions. Learn more here.