string(10) "/playback/" Skip to main content
PLAYBACK
Cymraeg
Close

Contact Us
Media Cymru
Spark, Maindy Road
Cardiff,
CF24 4HQ

Telephone
+44(0)2922 511 434

Email
media.cymru@cardiff.ac.uk

PLAYBACK.

Media Cymru’s Festival of Innovation is coming to Cardiff this September.

PLAYBACK

PLAYBACK is coming to Cardiff on 16 and 17 September 2026.

Years of progress and media sector innovation will culminate in an epic two-day showcase featuring talks, panels and immersive experiences – all set against the backdrop of the UK’s third largest media centre.

What to expect

Over the last four years, Media Cymru have invested millions of pounds into hundreds of research and development (R&D) projects across Wales. PLAYBACK will showcase these projects, allowing you to explore the game-changing new products, services and experiences being created by the Welsh media sector.

Taking place at Tramshed, Tramshed Tech and fringe venues across the city, PLAYBACK will feature panels, lightning talks, keynotes and immersive experiences covering topics such as: equality, diversity and inclusion in the media sector, digital content, environmental sustainability, finance and funding and the latest technologies.

 

Book your tickets

Keynotes

PLAYBACK

Takashi Kudo - teamLab

Takashi Kudo was born in Tokyo in 1977. He grew up in Abu Dhabi, and graduated from Waseda University in 2000 with a B.A. in Literature and Philosophy. After working as the Editor in Chief for a video game magazine in Stockholm for 4 years, he returned to Japan to join teamLab. teamLab are an international art collective navigating the convergence of art, science, technology and the natural world, based in Tokyo, Japan.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Sakurako (Saka) Naka

Sakurako was born in Japan and graduated from New York University in Abu Dhabi for Literature and Art History. Saka has been a member of teamLab since 2021. teamLab are an international art collective navigating the convergence of art, science, technology and the natural world, based in Tokyo, Japan.

Learn More

Panellists

We've got 5 massive panels happening over the two days: Rewriting the Script: towards an inclusive sector, Planet Positive Productions, Wales to the World and Financing the Future.

Emyr Afan portrait

Emyr Afan

Emyr Afan is a Bafta award-winning TV executive producer, multi-camera director and ideas creative. In 1995, he co-founded Afanti Media (formerly Avanti Media), and as Chief Executive Officer has built one of the longest-standing and most successful TV production companies in Wales.

Learn More
Nicole Wait portrait

Nicole Wait

Nicole Wait is a freelance sustainability manager and consultant for high-end TV and film productions in Wales. She has worked with NBCUniversal on Anemone, Sky on Under Salt Marsh, an independent film The Queen of Fashion, and most recently Channel 4’s Deadpoint.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Todd Jones

William “Todd” Todd-Jones is a Founder Director of Wild Connect. Across four decades in film, television and theatre, Todd has worked as a creature designer, performer, director, movement consultant, digital performance artist and writer, with credits including Labyrinth, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Batman, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Little Shop of Horrors, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and His Dark Materials, where he was Head of Creature Effects and Master Puppeteer.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Alison Lomax

Alison Lomax, Managing Director of YouTube UK & Ireland is a serious champion for digital innovation and has spent her career at the intersection of technology and creativity. Having previously worked for over a decade at Google managing both commercial and creative teams, she is not afraid of riding the transformational wave.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Rich Moss

Rich Moss is Gorilla TV’s Founder and Managing Director. He comes from an award-winning editing background and over the last 30 years, has grown the business into a nationally respected post-house. Rich is active in promoting Wales and the Creative Industries, He is a member of various Industry Boards and working groups including UK Screen, BAFTA and ScreenSkills.

Learn More
Shirish portrait

Shirish Kulkarni

Shirish is an award-winning journalist, researcher and community organiser. As News Innovation Research Fellow at Media Cymru, he’s led the News for All / Newyddion I Bawb research projects, working with communities in Grangetown and Blaenau Ffestiniog to explore new, more collective forms of journalism - rooted in what people actually want and need.

Learn More

Screenings

We'll have a variety of our funded content on show at the cinema.

PLAYBACK

Dead Reset LIVE

We’ll be hosting a LIVE playthrough of Wales Interactive’s DEAD RESET – an interactive horror film created in collaboration with Dark Rift Horror. This playthrough promises to be a dark, cinematic and GORY experience where your choices shape the story.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Screening the Green

In 2023, Media Cymru and Film Cymru Wales collaborated on a joint R&D Content Fund called Climate Stories Fund. Today, we’re screening the green content made from this fund. Ft Richard Billingham, Lowri Roberts, Gavin Porter and host Louise Dixey.

Learn More

Lightning Talks

Our Lightning Talks will consist of concise 20 minute presentations on a specific topic such as: Tech and Wellness, AI, 3D Printing, and Sustainable Production batteries.

Osian Davies

Osian Davies - Nessa & Afango

Osian is a leader in the production and broadcast sector, with a strong track record in technical delivery and innovation. As Operations Director at Afanti Media, he leads some of the largest outside broadcasts in Wales and is at the forefront of making production more sustainable through improving working practices, reducing carbon emissions and supporting better wellbeing.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Robin Moore - AI: What is it good for?

Robin Moore is founder and Director of SHWSH Ltd a Creative Technology consultancy and, as a resident Innovation Consultant for Media Cymru, has been helping their projects with the creative application of technologies like AI, XR and VP - all the acronyms! He previously spent 20 years integrating new technologies into BBC workflows, including as Head of Innovation at BBC Wales. He first gave a talk on the topic of AI at Mozfest in 2019, back when GANs were cool and now, when not experimenting with AI tools, does training and talks on AI for the likes of NFTS, BBC Academy, TAC, TRC and S4C.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Danny Askew - PLA Production

Learn More
PLAYBACK

Jonathan Prescott - Making Emotions Measurable

Jonathan Prescott is the founder and CEO of Cavefish AI, a Cardiff-based applied AI company specialising in emotional risk intelligence. He helps organisations move from experimenting with AI to practical implementation, using technology to analyse communication, understand human response and improve high-stakes interactions.

Learn More

Fringe

On top of our showcase activity we will also have a range of activity at venues across the city including: CULTVR and Canopi.

PLAYBACK

The One Planet Show LIVE at PLAYBACK | Tuesday 15 September | 7:00pm

As part of PLAYBACK, Little Wander will film a FREE live pilot of The One Planet Show, a fresh, humorous, and thought-provoking talk show that explores the topic of climate change but with a comedic twist.

Learn More
PLAYBACK

PLAYBACK After Hours | Wednesday 16 September | 5.30pm @ CULTVR.

After the first day of PLAYBACK, head on down to CULTVR for live R&D from three immersive Media Cymru projects and to network with those working in the createch space. From 5.30pm to 9.30pm you can experience Games of Domes, Echosystem and Lost in Light.

Learn More

Ticket information

Can’t attend both days but want to maximise your time at PLAYBACK?

Our programme of events each day will cover different topics.

There are three ticket types available:

  • 2-day ticket (Wednesday AND Thursday)
  • Wednesday ONLY ticket
  • Thursday ONLY ticket

We will be adding an exciting programme of fringe events in the evenings at PLAYBACK, so do keep an eye on our socials or sign up to our mailing list to find out how to get involved.

 

Book your tickets