Swathes of Americans descended on the Dylan Thomas
Centre among other venues and they ate, drank,
partied and talked fi lm for the best part of a week
in the city. Then, they all got very emotional and
even drunker at the gala awards dinner at the
Dragon Hotel on 7 June.

They seemed to enjoy themselves while here. That
is what they told me anyway. Many also said they
would like to come back.

It is always nice to talk to international visitors to
the city – it represents a useful insight into the
preconceptions people have of Swansea and how
this compares with what they actually fi nd here.
And, generally, people seem pleasantly surprised
by what they fi nd. It seems many don’t expect to
fi nd the beaches and beautiful marina and sea
views. Another big surprise to visitors seems to
be the friendliness of the people of Swansea.
One American visitor I spoke to at the festival
was genuinely gobsmacked at how friendly and
inquisitive staff at an ice cream parlour had been
that day.

So that is nice. The cynic might say we are nosy,
of course, but, whatever you call it, it certainly
means visitors feel welcomed and at home here
making it more likely they will come back.
Among the American accents in town of late,
you might also spot a spattering of continental
accents. Thanks to a certain Roberto Martinez,
there will be a little more Spanish spoken again at
the Liberty Stadium this year and in the pubs and
restaurants around Swansea as a result.
Is it me, or is Swansea getting all cosmopolitan in
its old age? We have international fi lm festivals,
Spanish managers and football players, a good
sprinkling of New Zealand rugby players and that
is before you even start on the Korean developers
in SA1.

We will all be drinking frappacinos and skinny
lattes next and moaning about the quality of
coffee shops in the city rather than the vitality of
our pubs.

Perhaps not. But personally, I quite like the
growing international element to the city. I fi nd
it fascinating to sit in a hotel like Morgans at
breakfast time and listen to the range of accents
and even languages spoken. I wonder what they
are all doing here in our city and whether they
like it.

I hope they do, for we really do have so much to
offer. Long live events like the Swansea Life Film
Festival. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed
themselves so much they tell all their friends
about it and they come back. Perhaps some might
even start making fi lms here. Then we will truly
need more coffee shops!

Wyn Jenkins
Editor