Support our Nation today - please donate here
Culture

Emerging filmmaker celebrates Newport’s community & creativity

19 Aug 2024 3 minute read
Keefa Chan. Image: Noah Barkour

An emerging filmmaker has been chosen to make a short documentary about how Newport’s Chartist mural has inspired the city’s creative community

Keefa Chan, who grew up in Newport, was chosen by Ffilm Cymru to work on Rebels and Renaissance – a cinematic exploration of Newport’s artists and the working-class history of the chartists’ rebellion.

Produced by Rewired Life, the film will capture the essence of Newport’s eclectic and diverse community of talented local creatives, and sets out to ask what are the responsibilities of the artists, and how valuable is art to the people of Newport?

Keefa was selected after responding to Ffilm Cymru Wales’ open call for a filmmaker to create a work that captures Newport’s creative spirit.

Home and inspiration

Fleeing conflict in Vietnam and Cambodia, Keefa’s family moved to Newport in the 1980s, where the local Bettws community became his home and inspiration for storytelling.

The self-taught cinematographer has since worked on film and TV productions including Casualty, sci-fi feature The Machine, and short films for BBC Cymru Wales, S4C and It’s My Shout. In 2015, he won a BAFTA Cymru award for Best Factual Photography on Fog of Sex. 

Keefa said: “Returning to Newport in 2008 after a decade in London’s film industry, I found inspiration in unexpected places, like the popular little secret cinema operated by the beloved ‘Dai the Pie,’ which was frequented and much loved by local artists, musicians and filmmakers.

“There I discovered a delightful, vibrant creative community that fuelled my passion for storytelling.”

Discussing the creative vision for his new film, Keefa added: “From the echoes of past struggles to the present-day expressions of artistic resistance, we’ll uncover how Newport’s artists continue to draw inspiration from their city’s history of dissidence, infusing their work with a rebellious energy that challenges the status quo and pushes boundaries.

“Through their insights, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of how art serves as a vehicle for social commentary and transformation, echoing the rebellious spirit of Newport’s past while charting a path toward a more inclusive and empowered future.”

Placements

Ffilm Cymru Wales has also recruited five local people for paid training placements on the set of the short film. In addition to valuable hands-on experience of a working film production, including in the camera, sound and locations departments, trainees spent a day learning all about roles and responsibilities, health and safety, and on-set etiquette. 

The finished film will premiere at Foot In The Door’s Film Skills Fest at The Place in Newport this Autumn. Explore all the free activities, including hands-on filmmaking workshops and a family fun day, here.

This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in partnership with Newport City Council, with additional funding made possible with the support of Ffilm Cymru Wales and BFI NETWORK with funding from the National Lottery.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.