Starring:

RHIANNON: Bethan Rose Young, (Knightfall) 

PWYLL: Rhys Downing (Helfa’r Heli, Awarded BAFTA)

HEFEYDD HEN: Boyd Clack (Keeping Faith, New Tricks)

THE MIDWIFE: Kirsten Jones (High Hopes)

THE MATRON: Rowan Alexandria

GWAWL: Wyn Hopkins 

PRYDERI: Charlie Thould

NARRATOR: Marion Fenner

Writer/Director: Sarah Mallabar

Producer/Actor: Rachel Hopkins

Executive Producer: Ross O’Hennessy (Game of Thrones)

Featuring traditional Welsh folk song 'Dacw Nghariad' performed by Dragonsfly https://dragonsfly.org

Cinematographer: Ollie Biggs

Sound: Graeme Willetts (‘The Silent Child’ Awarded Oscar) 

Sound Design: Alex Gregson, Audio 344 (BAFTA Crew)

MUA: Isabella Larter (The Haunting Of Margam Castle)

2nd Unit Camera: Tara Williams

3rd AD: Emmy Williams

Wardrobe/Art Dept: Vicky Humphris

Cover Photo by Samuel Rush

A study of infatuation: a faerie goddess and a mortal prince fall hopelessly in love.

The moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for.

The goal for this crowd fund campaign is to raise the remaining funds required in order to realise a high end production trailer to serve as proof of concept for a TV series proposal for ten Welsh folk tales and other Mabinogion stories. A variety of scenes for a trailer sequence will portray Rhiannon's first meeting with Pwyll on horseback as well as incidental scenes featured within a castle setting and surrounding woodlands.  

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT:

My intention as a filmmaker is to tell the untold story, to give a voice to those unheard. As a writer I’m inclined toward strong female protagonists, relating my own life experience into the character with a view to connect emotionally with a universal audience.

I am particularly fond of the Rhiannon story as it takes place in both the faerie otherworld and mortal realm but mostly in admiration of Rhiannon’s defiant dignity through suffering years of punishment for a crime she didn't commit. I’m sure many people who have endured any kind of abuse or gender/racial prejudice would be able to identify with this character.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

Our short film seeks to celebrate the Welsh language and literature to reawaken an almost forgotten world of heroes, strange creatures, mystical folk and faerie magic. So far there are very few film or TV productions adapted from The Mabinogion. Our mission is to bring these relatively unknown stories to the screen and raise awareness of this uniquely Welsh collection of tales. 

This short drama film flips the script in favour of a dynamic female protagonist, presenting a fresh perspective on the traditionally male oriented medieval fantasy genre. Our film is geared towards a universal audience keen to engage with unconventional narratives set within a medieval story world. 

We're so delighted to welcome on board a superbly talented group of Welsh and English cast and crew members, all very eager to create this magical tale of old retold amidst a stunning Welsh landscapes and medieval castles.  Rhiannon will be narrated in English with both Welsh and English speaking characters.

We are thrilled for an opportunity to work with the renowned Welsh actor and writer Boyd Clack, cast to play the role of Rhiannon's father, 'Hefeydd Hen'.  The immortal otherworldly fairy king inadvertently betroths his daughter to the wily trickster, Gwawl son of Clud. Boyd will of course make an appearance in our trailer.   

We're proposing to shoot the trailer at LLansteffan Castle near Carmarthen in South Wales. This location provides spectacular vistas with aspects to castle ruins, a beach and woodland paths. 

Pre-production planning has already begun with the support of our sponsors Penderyn Whisky, Dawson's Estate Agents and DWJ Wealth Management. We’ve conducted horse riding assessments for the actors with The Cavalry of Heroes based in Hereford and we've started to collate and design the costumes. 

The Welsh language is a crucial factor for this mostly English speaking production. The nature of the source material commands at least a smattering of the language to be heard. With eight hundred thousand people both inside and outside of Wales speaking Welsh, plus a forty-four percent increase of people learning Welsh during the 2020 lockdown a significant revival of the language seems to be well underway. 

We're aiming to shoot the trailer by the end of this summer, many elements are already in place. Please help us to reach our goal, every donation will be most gratefully received.

Diloch yn fawr!!