We're popping the champagne (okay, maybe just the sparkling water for now) because EatSleep Media was nominated for the killer documentary The Forgotten Team which was the brainchild and passion project of our very own Head of Film, Dave Williams at the Royal Television Society Cymru Awards 2024! 🎉

Dave is our filmmaking wizard. He pitched the idea of the The Forgotten Team back in 2022 and we knew instantly that it was a story that had to be shared.   

Dave explains, “it was a project I’d wanted to work on since about 2010. I’d met former Wales international Dave Roberts while working on a weekly newspaper. 

As I got to know him, I’d ask him about his career and he mentioned the European Championships in 1976. After having the conversation with him, I went and read a little bit about the campaign and worked on a short documentary for a university project. 

Fast forward to the start of 2023 and an ideas session at the EatSleep Media office where I pitched the idea of The Forgotten Team. A team with iconic players, managed by Wales’ first full time manager going on a run to the tournament quarter finals. 

This really was a passion project for me and to help give these players some recognition of their achievement in that tournament, 50 years after the start of it”. 

The documentary really is a testament to our Dave's (not footballer Dave) dedication and creative film genius. Through exclusive interviews from the likes of rugby great Gareth Edwards, midfielder Brian Flynn, the late-great Leighton James and author Nick Burnell, alongside archive footage from the time, we take a trip down memory lane and relive the historic run which was lost among the excitement of the Bale era of qualifying for 3 out of 4 major tournaments.

Now, we have to spill the beans – Dave didn’t take home the trophy this year. But hey, who needs a shiny award when you’ve got a nomination that screams, “You’re awesome!”? The RTS Cymru Awards night was a blast, filled with glitz, glam, and a whole lot of film geekery. It was a perfect stage to celebrate our team’s hard work and talent.

Dave has been the heartbeat of our team for years. We couldn’t be prouder of his achievement with The Forgotten Team. The nomination alone proves he’s a filmmaking force to be reckoned with.

So here’s to you, Dave – director, editor, and all-around superstar. Cheers to many more films, lots more fun, and maybe a few more nominations (and wins) in the future! 🥂

Now go and grab yourself some snacks and watch The Forgotten Team here https://faw.cymru/redwallplus/videos/the-forgotten-team/ .

Another awesome EatSleep Media production, The Dragon On My Shirt, was also up for a gong as Alex Ashman was nominated for Production Manager of the Year. He led the team alongside the brilliant Mollie Atta for the documentary series which amplifies the stories of Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse Cymru players. 

Ash, as Alex is known, is now part of Red Mountain Films, so it was a great opportunity to catch up with him & the wider team’s achievements on the night. And it gives us the chance to shout about the brilliant The Dragon On My Shirt series which you should absolutely go & watch on RedWall+ 

Finally, a big thank you to the Football Association of Wales for their vision in taking ownership of their own stories via the RW+ platform and trusting us to tell those stories. 

Sigh. Feels like we’ve made an acceptance speech. Maybe we’ll keep this handy for next year! 

Stay tuned for more of our team’s antics and the awesome projects we’re cooking up. We promise it’ll be worth the wait.

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