Good evening everyone. And thank you for being here. Wales has a long and remarkable history of screen craft. Back in the 1980s, when S4C was established, a generation of designers, craftspeople and filmmakers helped to lay the foundations for the film and television being made in Wales today. I know because I was one of those designers. That legacy matters. Looking around the room tonight, what strikes me most is the breadth of experience, creativity and craft gathered together in one place. People who build worlds, shape character and tell stories through texture, colour, space, atmosphere and detail. So much of what audiences remember emotionally about film and television comes through craft. And yet so often, the work itself and the people behind it remain invisible. That’s one of the reasons we’re here tonight. When we began talking about this Guild, we kept returning to the idea of the phoenix. Not as something dramatic or mythical… but as a symbol of creativity, resilience and renewal. The fire that keeps creative work alive. Because this is an industry that asks a great deal of people. Freelance life can be exciting and fulfilling – but it can also be uncertain, fragmented and isolating at times. Productions come and go. Teams form and disperse. People move from project to project, often without a strong sense of continuity or connection across the wider industry. And yet the work continues because people care deeply about it. That care is everywhere in this room. * Screen Craft Guild Cymru comes from a long-standing belief that craft deserves visibility, recognition and community. We want to create a place where established professionals, emerging talent and allies can feel connected to one another and proud of the contribution they make. Because none of us do this work alone. Film and television are profoundly collaborative forms. And craft departments sit right at the heart of that. They shape tone, emotion and memory. You can understand a character before they speak because of costume. You can feel history through production design. You can understand vulnerability, status, exhaustion, transformation – through hair and make-up. Craft is storytelling. And Wales is full of extraordinary craftspeople. Not only highly skilled people, but imaginative, resourceful and resilient people who continue to produce incredible work across film and television. This Guild exists to champion that talent. To help strengthen community. To encourage visibility. And importantly, to help create clearer pathways for those coming into the industry. Because emerging talent matters enormously. The future health of our industry depends on people being able to see a way in – and to feel welcomed once they arrive. That sense of welcome matters. And that’s really what tonight is about. The beginning of a community coming together more visibly and with intention. * We want the Guild to be shaped through the people, relationships and experiences that make our industry what it is, working with you and for you. Over time, we hope to create many opportunities for connection, support and recognition across the industry. That includes the launch of the Ember Awards, but also a commitment to deliver for members, strengthen community and create clearer pathways into the industry. * The word ‘ember’ felt important to us. An ember is something glowing with potential. Something capable of reigniting. And in many ways that feels like the spirit of the Guild – gathering energy as people come together around it. So tonight, we want to say: You belong here. Your work matters. Your contribution matters. And we hope you’ll help shape what comes next. Thank you for being part of the beginning of this. And thank you for everything you bring to our industry. Enjoy the evening.