Short film is commissioned by the BBC as part of scheme to nurture new talent
A MANAGER at Cardiff Castle has written and directed a short film that has been picked up by the BBC.
As part of the Ffolio scheme, Cardiff: I Love You was shortlisted from 100 entrants and commissioned along with15 other finalists.
““I had this idea of wanting to say something about Cardiff and modern Wales that I didn’t feel was represented on screen,” said Lloyd Glanville, writer and director of the film.
In the five-minute film, a waiter, played by Seb Lewis, describes the setting in a bleak way to a blind woman. Played by Mared Jarman, she then describes how she imagines the bar to look and changes the waiter’s outlook.
“It’s about perspective which seemed pertinent in 2020. I wanted to do something positive after the year everyone was living through. It seemed right to tell a story that had a positive, hopeful message,” said Lloyd.
Covid-19 presented some challenges for filming. After being commissioned last April, filming was delayed until September 21.
The set had a Covid co-ordinator who arranged temperature checks, face masks and social distancing at Society Standard, the film’s location.
The Ffolio scheme is a partnership between Ffilm Cymru, BBC Wales, BBC Arts and the Arts Council of Wales. It is a training development programme for creative talent living in Wales which can result in BBC commissioning.
Before working at Cardiff Castle, Lloyd worked in film and television production and often used Cardiff as a location.
The title links to the ‘Cities of Love’ film trilogy which has focussed on Paris, Berlin and New York but Lloyd wanted to give Cardiff a moment in the spotlight.
“It seemed fun to romanticise Cardiff in a way that other cities are romanticised on screen. Whereas, in this country, we do cynicism very well but we don’t often champion ourselves,” said Lloyd.
- The film aired on February 8 and is available now on iPlayer.
