The fourth International Christian Television Festival will be held from May 4 to 10, 1975, in Brighton. Miss Doreen Stephens, who has had 18 years' experience heading television production departments for the BBC and ITV in Britain, has been named Director of the Festival, which is held every two years.
Sponsors of the event are Unda, the International Catholic Association for Radio and Television, and the World Association for Christian Communication. Bishop Augustine Ilarris, Auxiliary of Liverpool, and the Anglican Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Robert Wylmer Woods,. are cochairmen of the organising cornmittee.
Previous festivals have been held in Monte Carlo in 1969; Baden-Baden in 1971; and Salzburg in 1973.
Although the festival has been primarily European, some entries have come from other parts or the world. Fr. Agnellus Andrew, OT.M.' president of
*Ada (from the Latin for "wEive') reports that the coming Festival in Brighton will be "more internatiOnal than ever."
Substantial financial support for the 1975 festival has come from the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the Rank Foundation. Southern Television will provide extensive technical facilities.
The idea for a European Christian Television Festival originated with Unda, which sponsored annual events in Monte Carlo from 1960 to 1968. The World Association for Christian Broadcasting — one of the groups which merged to form WACC in 1968 — took part in the Monte Carlo festivals during the latter part of this period. When the WACC was formed, it considered having a television festival of its own; but, after consultations with Unda, the present ecumenical lestival was born.
One of the four prizes awarded at last year's festival at Salzburg went to Thames Television For "Kontakion," a ballet based on the life of Christ.
Linda is made up of national associations comprising in each country the national Catholic Office for Radio and Television, or its equivalent, as well as individuals and groups interested in broadcasting from the Christian standpoint. Its headquarters are at Hatch End, Middlesex.
It collaborates with the WACC in Et:sisal. the Ecumenical Satellite Commission, and communications aspects of the 1974 World Population Year.