The 2008 Nominations are announced today for the 17th Annual BAFTA Cymru Awards Ceremony which celebrate the best in Welsh Film, Television and New Media. BAFTA Cymru are delighted to announce Blue Peter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones as the host for the event.

The Ceremony will be held for the first time in the Donald Gordon Theatre at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. The Winners will be announced at the star-studded Ceremony on Sunday 27th April.

BAFTA Cymru also welcome on board Stifyn Parri as Producer of the awards show whose Cardiff-based Events Management Company, Mr Producer, have a wealth of high profile experience within Wales. BAFTA Cymru 2008 Staged and Produced by Mr Producer. The Best Film category returns this year with a solid line-up of; Daddy’s Girl, a first feature debut for DJ Evans, Small Country (Calon Gaeth) a bilingual love story adapted from the novel by Sian James and Summer Scars the fourth feature film from Newport born Julian Richards.

ITV Wales have scooped 7 nominations for The History of Mr Polly including Best Director: Drama and Best Actress. The film which was shot on location in Wales is based on the novel by H G Wells and stars Lee Evans. Evans' co-star, Anne-Marie Duff is up for the Best Actress award alongside last year's Winner, Eve Myles (Torchwood) and Rebecca Harries for her role in Belonging.

Welsh-language productions feature heavily in this year's line-up of nominated productions with Y Pris, Caerdydd and Calon Gaeth leading the way.

BBC Wales have received 8 nominations for Sci-Fi TV Series, Doctor Who with spin-off Torchwood picking up a total of 4 nominations which will see both Series' go head-to-head for the title of Best Drama Series alongside Belonging.

The Nominees for Best Actor see a strong line-up of performances from Rhodri Evan (Cowbois ac Injans), Richard Harrington (Daddy's Girl) and Matthew Gravelle (Y Pris).

Coal House, the series that transported three families back to the South Wales coalfield of the 1920s has received 3 Nominations plus Coal House Interactive is up for Best New Media.

The 2007 Winner of Best Newcomer, Gareth Bryn is returning this year as a Nominee for Best Director: Drama on the S4C series, Y Pris.

Recipients of the Gwyn Alf Williams Award, Lifetime Achievement and the Siân Phillips Award will also be honoured and this should see an exciting climax at the Ceremony for the announcement of all the Winners.