Preview: Gold in the valleys

Ninth Welsh International Film Festival

The world can't get enough of the Welsh. Not content with success in Britain, native rockers Super Furry Animals are apparently touring South America next year - a feat their Creation stable mates Oasis have yet to equal. And, with the recent success of Twin Town and House of America, the international film industry is waking up to the fact that there's gold in them thar valleys.

Besides a gay and lesbian film weekend, a horror season and a Scorsese retrospective, the 9th Welsh International Film Festival in Aberystwyth will reflect the new interest in homegrown cinema. This year the DM Davies Award (at pounds 25,000 the richest prize in European short film) attracted 28 more entries than the six films submitted at its inauguration in 1993. The work of the 15 young Welsh or Welsh-based winners will be shown twice over the course of the festival. And as well as featuring a range of international work, including the acclaimed US indie Lawn Dogs (above), five new Welsh language films will be shown.

"People are definitely growing more confident about being creative in Wales," says Grant Vidgen, festival director. "Film-makers have better access to funding now, benefiting from S4C and the Lottery." Vidgen is closing the festival with Resurrection Man, the latest film from Marc (House of America) Evans.

Mike Higgins

To Nov 23, Aberystwyth, various venues, info: 01970-617995.