Rhys Ifans backs film project about 1990s bands

Newly-found footage of rock bands from 1990s Wales is to be screened at a film festival as part of a Rhys Ifans-backed project.

The Hollywood star will join youngsters from the CellB youth programme when rare material from the so-called "Cool Cymru" era will be shown at the British Film Institute's Rip It Up festival, at London's Southbank Centre on 3 May.

The "priceless" footage includes bands Ffa Coffi Pawb, Catatonia and Super Furry Animals.

Ifans, originally from Ruthin, was the singer of Super Furry Animals before his acting breakthrough in 1997 crime caper Twin Town.

The film project, called Video Hud: Have You Seen Your Culture Baby, Standing in the Shadows? is part of the 10th anniverary celebrations of CellB, which is a cinema, venue, hostel and pizzeria in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd.

Ifans will take part in a question and answer session at the screening.

The project, led by Gwenno Llwyd Till, Cian 'Clinc' Roberts, Yannick Hammer and Rhys Roberts, explores Welsh youth culture through film, music and life experience.

Freelance director Till said the band footage was captured by record producer Emyr Glyn Williams.

One of the founders of Ankst records, he died of cancer in January 2024 aged 57.

Ankst released records by bands including Super Furry Animals, Ffa Coffi Pawb, Datblygu and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.

CellB founder Roberts said: "The programme captures a moment when Welsh youth culture reshaped music, film and identity - a period now widely recognised as Cool Cymru."