International stars anchor new Welsh film productions in regional hubs
Upcoming film adaptations shot in Dolgellau and Anglesey highlight the growing capacity of the Welsh creative sector to attract major talent and drive local engagement.
Two upcoming film productions are currently underscoring the vitality of the Welsh creative economy. They are drawing international stars to regional locations and generating significant public engagement.
The film adaptation of Dylan Thomas’s short story, A Visit to Grampa’s, recently filmed in Dolgellau, Gwynedd. The production attracted hundreds of onlookers in April, demonstrating a strong local appetite for regional storytelling.
Actor Celyn Jones, who stars alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones, described the experience as a cultural homecoming. He noted that he reached "peak Welshness" singing Myfanwy while Hopkins played the piano and Zeta-Jones served drinks.
Jones emphasized the collaborative atmosphere on set, describing his time with Hopkins as a "total egoless experience." The veteran actor reportedly spent considerable time engaging with the Dolgellau community, stopping frequently to take photographs with residents.
Regional narratives on screen
Contemporary Welsh life is also the focus of new cinematic projects, expanding the scope of local productions. The upcoming film On the Sea was recently shot on Anglesey, centering on a remote north Wales fishing community.
The story follows Jack, played by Barry Ward, a middle-aged man whose traditional life revolving around fishing and the church is disrupted by the arrival of Daniel, portrayed by Lorne MacFadyen. This prompts Jack to question his sexuality.
MacFadyen described the project as a fascinating character study. He noted that while such narratives are common, they are rarely depicted on screen, highlighting the developing relationship between his comfortable character and Ward’s conflicted protagonist.
Jones also appears in On the Sea as Jack’s brother Dyfan, with whom he runs a family mussel business. The actor learned to hand rake mussels for the role, though he admitted the catch was unusable by the end of the filming day.
These productions collectively signal a robust period for the regional film industry. By leveraging the legacy of celebrated figures like Dylan Thomas and showcasing authentic local industries, Welsh productions are successfully attracting high-profile talent and reinforcing the economic value of regional cultural assets.
