Hedydd Ioan: From Film Fan to Filmmaker

• Yn Gymraeg // Read this in Welsh

Hedydd Ioan is an inspirational young man who, through his passion for film, contagious enthusiasm and a 10-year relationship with Into Film, is now working in the UK film industry.

At the age of 12, Hedydd joined his school's Into Film Club, Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle, where he started to develop his love for film. It was there that he heard about Into Film's Young Reporter programme, which he auditioned to became a part of, and went on to regularly interview film stars and filmmakers.

As well as becoming a member of  our Youth Advisory Council (YAC), Hedyyd also won our ongoing Film of the Month competition in 2020 for his COVID-themed film The Lost Year, and was recognised as a One to Watch at the 2020 Into Film Awards. 

At the most recent Into Film Awards, Hedydd accompanied one group of nominated filmmakers from his old film club, Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle, whom he had mentored as they produced their Best Film: 5-11 entry Ynyr yr Ysbryd (Ynyr the Ghost).

As an Into Film Alumni member Hedydd continues to benefit from opportunities and events shared via our Get Into Film social channels, and most recently attended a careers event at Warner Bros. Crew HQ and had the chance to participate in workshops and panels with industry trainees and new entrants.

Below, we speak to Hedydd about his journey from film fan to filmmaker.

How did you first became interested in film?

The earliest memory I have of loving and knowing that I wanted to make films is my dad teaching me how to build a scene when I was around seven years old. I clearly remember him showing that if we put a shot of me walking in a corridor, me opening a door and me coming out the other side of a door together, we could make a little story. 

From that point onwards I've just tried to find more and more ways to watch and create as many films as I can. Thanks to amazing opportunities like Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle 2020 and Welsh language film festivals for young people like Zoom Cymru and PICS, and to amazing programmers in our local cinema (Emyr Glyn Williams and now Dion Hughes), my love for film has only grown as I've gotten older and seen more and more films that excite me.

When did you first become interested in a career in the film industry?

Thanks to all the great organisations around me when I was younger (and my own delusions to begin with!), I was certain that I wanted to work in film since I was around nine. I loved making films, and I decided that's what I wanted to do when I grew up. 

When I was younger I knew I wanted to direct films, but wasn't sure how to go about doing that. Thankfully through going to different events and learning more, I found out about a whole host of amazing jobs that can be had through film, and have been lucky enough to dip my toes in a few different positions on productions to see what works for me.

What transferable skills have you acquired as a result of being an Into Film Young Reporter and YAC member?

There have been many skills that I learned through being an Into Film Young Reporter and YAC member that have helped with countless elements of my work. The main thing I learned was just about going for different opportunities, even if you don't think you'll get them. 

When applying to be a Young Reporter, I never imagined I would get it. But I was so lucky that I went for the opportunity, and through it I learnt to really push boundaries, especially when pushing yourself to apply for programmes. 

And since then, I've applied for different opportunities, and even with the ones I wasn't successful with, I learnt so much though the process. That skill of pushing yourself and researching what's out there for you has helped me so much since then.

How has Into Film supported your career journey so far?

Into Film has supported my career so much, not only through its programmes, but also with my own pursuits in the industry. When I made a short film back in 2018 the Into Film crew down in Cardiff posted a video saying 'good luck with the screening of the film', and it's that care and support that has really gone the extra mile. There are countless times I've been sent new opportunities by Into Film to apply for and heard about various events through them. 

The recent careers day at Warner Bros. Crew HQ was a brilliant opportunity. I really enjoyed the day and I learnt so much! I really loved the depth and how much detail we heard about the production side and the practical elements of putting a big budget film together.

What are you doing in the screen industry today? 

I've been working as a full-time freelance artist working in film, music and art for two years now. In that time, I've been lucky to able to start directing more music videos and items for television, but this year I've written and directed my first short film with a large crew through the 'It's My Shout' programme in Wales.

Back in 2020 I was named a Ones to Watch and won the Film of the Month competition through Into Film, and both those awards really helped me go from being a young person wanting to work in the industry to then starting to try and actually getting a career in film and TV.

How did you become a mentor for the Into Film Award-nominated film, Ynyr yr Ysbryd (Ynyr the Ghost)?

Over 10 years ago, my filmmaking journey started with a local film club in Dyffryn Nantlle, the valley I'm from. There, a crew of young people came together, and a mentor helped us make a film.

A lot has happened in the 10 years since then, and after starting to work as a freelancer I was lucky enough to go back to the film club, but this time as a mentor. I've since helped young people from the ages of 9-11 make five films. Last year we made a film called Ynyr yr Ysbryd, a Welsh Language mockumentary about a really useless ghost. 

As a mentor, I help introduce the young people to filmmaking, and share what I enjoy about making films, while also showing them how to turn their ideas into a fully realised film... in just three days! There's a lot to cram in, but we have a lot of fun! 

Going with the crew this year to London for the Into Film Awards ceremony was so special, and seeing their reaction to seeing their names alongside big stars in Leicester Square was priceless!

What's next for you in your career journey?

The eventual goal is to be able to direct Welsh language feature films that get theatrical distribution. I think being able to see films in the cinema is so important and is one of the reasons I fell in love with film, so to be able to show my own films in cinemas in my mother tongue is definitely the place I'm aiming for. 

I'm really inspired by Welsh language directors such as Lee Haven Jones, Euros Lynn, and a whole host of other brilliant directors who are making brilliant work in Wales. Before getting to features, I'm working on a couple of short film scripts and developing my skills as a director for drama.

Fel rhan o gyfres barhaus o astudiaethau achos gyrfaoedd sgrin, y mis hwn, rydyn ni'n dathlu dyn ifanc llawn ysbrydoliaeth. Mae Hedydd Ioan, trwy ei angerdd am ffilmiau a'i frwdfrydedd heintus, bellach yn gweithio yn niwydiant ffilm Prydain ar ôl 10 mlynedd o berthynas ag Into Film ar draws y nifer o raglenni ffilm sydd ar gael i bobl ifanc.

Yn 12 oed, ymunodd Hedydd â chlwb Into Film ei ysgol, Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle, lle dechreuodd ddatblygu ei gariad at ffilmiau o ddifrif. Dyna lle y clywodd am raglen Gohebydd Ifanc Into Film y cafodd glyweliad ar ei chyfer a chael ei dderbyn, gan fynd ymlaen i gyfweld â sêr y byd ffilm a gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau yn rheolaidd. Roedd Hedydd yn aelod o Gyngor Cynghorol Ieuenctid Into Film, enillodd Ffilm y Mis ac yn 2020 cafodd ei gydnabod ymhlith Unigolion i'w Gwylio yng Ngwobrau Into Film. Yng Ngwobrau Into Film 2025, gwnaeth dywys y gwneuthurwyr ffilmiau a oedd wedi'u henwebu o'i hen glwb ffilm, Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle, ac yntau wedi bod yn fentor iddyn nhw. Fel aelod o gyn-fyfyrwyr Into Film mae'n parhau i elwa o gyfleoedd a digwyddiadau sy'n cael eu rhannu trwy ein cyfryngau cymdeithasol, Get Into Film. Yn fwyaf diweddar aeth i ddigwyddiad gyrfaoedd yn Warner Bros. Crew HQ gan gael y cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn gweithdai a phaneli gyda hyfforddeion a newydd-ddyfodiaid yn y diwydiant.

Mewn cyfweliad fan yma, mae Hedydd yn rhannu ei daith o fod yn un sy'n mwynhau ffilmiau i fod yn un sy'n creu ffilmiau:

Dwed wrthym ni pryd wnest ti ddechrau ymddiddori mewn ffilmiau?

Yr atgof cynharaf sydd gen i o garu ffilmiau a gwybod fy mod i eisiau creu ffilmiau yw fy nhad yn fy nysgu sut i adeiladu golygfa pan oeddwn i tua 7 oed. Dwi'n ei gofio'n glir yn dangos, pe bydden ni'n rhoi saethiad ohonof i'n cerdded mewn coridor, fi'n agor drws a fi'n dod allan ar ochr arall i'r drws at ei gilydd, y gallen ni wneud stori fach. O'r pwynt yna ymlaen dwi wedi ceisio dod o hyd i fwy a mwy o ffyrdd o wylio a chreu cymaint o ffilmiau ag y gallaf i. Diolch i gyfleoedd anhygoel gan Glwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle 2020, Gwyliau Ffilm Cymraeg i Bobl Ifanc (Zoom Cymru a PICS) a rhaglennwyr anhygoel yn ein sinema leol yn Pontio, (Emyr Glyn Williams a nawr Dion Hughes), mae fy nghariad at ffilm wedi tyfu wrth i mi fynd yn hŷn a gweld mwy a mwy o ffilmiau sy'n fy nghyffroi.

Pryd wnest ti ddechrau ymddiddori mewn gyrfa yn y diwydiant ffilm?

Diolch i'r holl sefydliadau gwych o 'nghwmpas pan oeddwn i'n ifanc (a fy rhithdybiau fy hun i ddechrau) roeddwn i'n siŵr fy mod i eisiau gweithio ym myd ffilm ers oeddwn i'n 9 oed. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd yn creu ffilmiau, a dyma benderfynu mai dyna oeddwn i am ei wneud pan fyddwn i'n tyfu i fyny. Pan oeddwn i'n iau roeddwn i'n gwybod fy mod i eisiau cyfarwyddo ffilmiau ond doeddwn i ddim yn siŵr sut i fynd o'i chwmpas hi. Diolch byth, trwy fynd i wahanol ddigwyddiadau a dysgu mwy, mi wnes i ddod i wybod am lu o swyddi anhygoel sydd ar gael trwy ffilmiau a dwi wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus i roi cynnig ar ychydig o swyddi gwahanol ar gynyrchiadau i weld beth sy'n gweithio i mi.

Pa sgiliau trosglwyddadwy wyt ti wedi'u datblygu o fod yn Ohebydd Ifanc Into Film ac yn aelod o'r Cyngor Cynghorol Ieuenctid?

Dwi i wedi dysgu llawer o sgiliau trwy fod yn Ohebydd Ifanc Into Film ac yn aelod o'r Cyngor Cynghorol Ieuenctid sydd wedi helpu gyda elfennau dirifedi o fy ngwaith. Y prif beth ddysgais i oedd mynd am gyfleoedd gwahanol, hyd yn oed os nad ydych chi'n meddwl y byddwch chi'n eu cael nhw. Wrth wneud cais am fod yn Ohebydd Ifanc, wnes i byth ddychmygu y byddwn i'n ei gael. Ond roeddwn i mor ffodus fy mod i wedi manteisio ar y cyfle a thrwy hynny mi wnes i ddysgu gwthio ffiniau go iawn, yn enwedig wrth wthio eich hun i wneud cais am raglenni. Ac ers hynny, dwi wedi gwneud cais am wahanol gyfleoedd a hyd yn oed pan na fyddwn i'n llwyddiannus, mi oeddwn i'n dysgu cymaint drwy'r broses. Mae'r sgil yna o'ch gwthio eich hun ac ymchwilio i'r hyn sydd allan yna wedi fy helpu gymaint ers hynny.

Ydy Into Film wedi dy gefnogi ar daith dy yrfa hyd yma? Os felly, sut?

Mae Into Film wedi cefnogi fy ngyrfa gymaint, nid yn unig trwy eu rhaglenni ond hefyd o ran fy ngorchwylion fy hun yn y diwydiant. Pan wnes i greu ffilm fer yn ôl yn 2018, gwnaeth criw Into Film i lawr yng Nghaerdydd bostio fideo yn dweud pob lwc gyda dangosiad y ffilm ar y pryd, a'r gofal a'r gefnogaeth yna sydd wedi mynd yr ail filltir. Mae Into Film wedi anfon cyfleoedd newydd dirifedi i mi i wneud cais amdanyn nhw a dwi wedi clywed am wahanol ddigwyddiadau drwyddyn nhw. 

Roedd y diwrnod gyrfaoedd diweddar yn Warner Bros. Crew HQ yn gyfle gwych. Mi wnes i fwynhau'r diwrnod yn fawr iawn ac mi wnes i ddysgu cymaint! Roeddwn i wrth fy modd â'r ffaith i ni fynd i gymaint o ddyfnder a chlywed cymaint o fanylion am yr ochr gynhyrchu ac elfennau ymarferol rhoi ffilm â chyllideb fawr at ei gilydd.

Beth wyt ti'n ei wneud nawr? Dwed ychydig wrthym ni am dy daith o weithio gydag Into Film, i mewn i'r diwydiant sgrin.

Dwi i wedi bod yn gweithio fel artist llawrydd llawn amser ym myd ffilm, cerddoriaeth a chelf ers 2 flynedd bellach. Yn ystod y cyfnod yma, dwi wedi bod yn ffodus i allu dechrau cyfarwyddo mwy o fideos cerddoriaeth ac eitemau i deledu ond eleni dwi i wedi ysgrifennu a chyfarwyddo fy ffilm fer gyntaf gyda chriw mawr trwy raglen It's My Shout yng Nghymru. Yn ôl yn 2020 mi wnes i ennill gwobr Unigolion i'w Gwylio a chystadleuaeth Ffilm y Mis trwy Into Film, ac mi wnaeth y ddwy wobr hynny fy helpu'n fawr o fod yn berson ifanc a oedd eisiau gweithio yn y diwydiant i ddechrau ceisio cael gyrfa ym myd ffilm a theledu.

Sut wnest ti ddod yn fentor i'r ffilm a enwebwyd yng Ngwobrau Into Film 25, Ynyr yr Ysbryd, a beth oedd dy rôl di?

Dros 10 mlynedd yn ôl, dechreuodd fy nhaith ym myd creu ffilmiau mewn clwb ffilm lleol yn Nyffryn Nantlle, lle cefais i fy magu. Yno daeth criw o bobl ifanc at ei gilydd ac mi wnaeth mentor ein helpu i greu ffilm gyda'n gilydd. Mae llawer wedi digwydd yn y 10 mlynedd ers hynny, ac ar ôl dechrau gweithio'n llawrydd roeddwn i'n ddigon ffodus i gael mynd yn ôl i'r clwb ffilm, ond fel mentor y tro yma. Ers hynny, dwi wedi helpu pobl ifanc rhwng 9 ac 11 oed i greu 5 ffilm. Llynedd mi wnaethon ni greu ffilm o'r enw 'Ynyr yr Ysbryd', ffilm ffug-ddogfen Gymraeg am ysbryd da i ddim. Fel mentor, dwi'n helpu i gyflwyno'r bobl ifanc i greu ffilmiau, dwi'n rhannu'r hyn dwi'n ei fwynhau am greu ffilmiau a hefyd yn dangos iddyn nhw sut i wireddu eu syniadau ar ffurf ffilm go iawn... mewn 3 diwrnod! Mae'n llawer i'w stwffio i mewn ond mi ydan ni'n cael llawer o hwyl! Roedd mynd efo'r criw eleni i Lundain yn brofiad arbennig ac roedd gweld eu hymateb i weld eu henwau ymhlith y sêr mawr yn Leicester Square yn amhrisiadwy!

Beth wyt ti'n gweithio arno ar hyn o bryd a beth sydd nesaf i ti o ran gyrfa?

Y nod yn y pen draw yw gallu cyfarwyddo Ffilmiau Nodwedd Cymraeg sy'n cael eu Dosbarthu i Theatrau. Dw i'n meddwl bod gallu gweld ffilmiau yn y sinema mor bwysig ac yn un o'r rhesymau pam wnes i syrthio mewn cariad â ffilm, felly gallu dangos fy ffilmiau fy hun mewn sinemâu yn fy mamiaith, yn sicr yw'r hyn dwi'n anelu ato. Dwi'n cael fy ysbrydoli'n fawr gan gyfarwyddwyr Cymraeg fel Lee Haven Jones ac Euros Lynn a llu o gyfarwyddwyr gwych eraill sy'n gwneud gwaith gwych yng Nghymru. Cyn cyrraedd ffilmiau nodwedd, dwi'n gweithio ar ambell sgript ffilm fer ac yn datblygu fy sgiliau fel cyfarwyddwr drama.