Final preparations are being made for the Bafta Cymru awards ceremony at the Cardiff International Arena on Saturday night.

New Bafta President Lord Attenborough will be among around 1,200 people attending the ceremony, which will be hosted by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards.

It is very encouraging to see programmes of such distinction being made in Wales, in both English and Welsh languages

Bryn Roberts, Bafta Cymru chair

The awards, now in their 11th year, are divided into 33 categories, and cover everything from films to presenters to films, from actors to new media, and from animation to TV programmes.

At the end of the night, Lord Attenborough will also hand out a special award - previous winners of the honour include Sir Harry Secombe and Sian Phillips.

Bafta Cymru chair Bryn Roberts has said the three nominations in each category "reflect the range and variety of the programmes on offer".

"It is very encouraging to see programmes of such distinction being made in Wales, in both English and Welsh languages," he said.

Nominations

Boasting the most number of nominations is Eldra, a film made by Teliesyn for S4C, which is contesting eight categories, including best film, best drama, best design and best editor.

Oed Yr Addewid and Very Annie Mary are also nominated in the best film category.

Lord Attenborough is due to attend the ceremony

Elsewhere, BBC Wales's magistrates drama The Bench is proposed for five awards, including best drama series, best screenwriter and best drama director.

Stewart Jones (Oed Yr Addewid), Robert Pugh (Score) and Huw Garmon (Y Twr) will contest the best actor category, while one of Eve Myles, (Belonging), Lisa Palfrey (Fondue, Rhyw A Deinosors) and Betsan Llwyd (Y Twr) will take the best actress award.

Bafta Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Established in 1987, it is dedicated to "promoting and rewarding the best in film, television and interctive media".

The organisation is administered by a committee which is elected from among its members each year.