Daeth John Hefin i gysylltiad gyntaf â gwaith teledu nôl yn 1960, pan ymatebodd i hysbyseb yn y papur yn gofyn am gynorthwywyr cynhyrchu dan brentisiaeth. Yn ystod y 1960au, fe weithiodd fel cynhyrchydd a chyfarwyddwr i BBC Cymru. Yn 1974 helpodd i greu'r opera sebon Gymraeg ‘Pobol y Cwm’, yr opera sebon deledu sy wedi parhau hira o’r rhai a gynhyrchwyd gan y BBC. Fe ysgrifennodd a chyfarwyddo ar y cyd hefyd y ffilm gomedi i’r teledu ‘Grand Slam’ yn 1978, a chyfarwyddo'r gyfres ddrama The Life and Times of David Lloyd George. Roedd y gyfres naw-pennod hon, yn sôn am fywyd yr Aelod Seneddol o Gymru, ac yn seiliedig ar sgyrsiau a gafwyd â’r Fonesig Olwen, ei ferch hynaf, a A J Sylvester, ei ysgrifennydd personol. Yn 1984, John oedd cyfarwyddwr y llefaru ar gyfer ffilm animeiddio o stori’r Tywysog Charles i blant The Old Man of Lochnagar. Yn dilyn ei swydd fel Pennaeth Drama BBC Wales, fe weithiodd yn yr Adran Theatr, Ffilm ac Astudiaethau Teledu ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth. Yn 1988, ef oedd cyfarwyddwr artistig cyntaf Ffilm Cymru ( a ail enwyd yn ddiweddarach yn Gyngor Ffilm Cymru), ac ymddiriedwyd iddo’r cyfrifoldeb o gomisiynu ffilmiau oddi wrth gynhyrchwyr annibynnol o Gymru gan ddefnyddio cyllid S4C. Ef hefyd oedd Cadeirydd Comisiwn Ffilm Cymru, a Chadeirydd Cyfrwng, newyddiadur y cyfryngau a rhwydwaith Cymraeg. Yn 2004, fe gyfarwyddodd a ffilmio rhan o raglen ddogfen yn ymwneud â’r artist Kyffin Williams, Reflections in a Gondola. Anrhydeddwyd John â’r MBE yn 2009, am ‘wasanaeth i ffilm a drama Cymraeg”. Yn 2012, dyfarnwyd iddo Wobr Arbennig BAFTA Cymru am Gyfraniad Eithriadol i Ddrama Teledu. John Hefin first became involved in television work in 1960, when he responded to a newspaper advertisement for apprentice production assistants. During the 1960s, he worked as a producer and director for BBC Wales.In 1974, he helped create the Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm, the longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC. He also co-wrote and directed the 1978 TV rugby comedy film Grand Slam, and directed the 1981 drama series The Life and Times of David Lloyd George.This nine-part series, a biopic based on the Welsh PM, drew on conversations with Lady Olwen, his eldest daughter, and A J Sylvester, his personal secretary. In 1984, John was the director for the narration for an animated version of Prince Charles's children's story The Old Man of Lochnagar. Following his post as Head of Drama with BBC Wales, he worked in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University. In 1988, he became the artistic director of Film Cymru (which was later renamed the Wales Film Council), entrusted with the responsibility of commissioning films from independent Welsh producers using S4C funds. He was also Chairman of the Film Commission Wales, and Chair of Cyfrwng, a Welsh media journal and network. In 2004, he directed and filmed part of a documentary featuring the artist Sir Kyffin Williams, Reflections in a Gondola
John was awarded the MBE in 2009, for "services to Welsh film and drama". In 2012, he was awarded the BAFTA Cymru Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television Drama. Mae Gŵyl Ffilm Bae Caerfyrddin (CBFF) yn anrhydeddu etifeddiaeth John Hefin drwy Wobr Cyflawniad Oes John Hefin, sy’n cydnabod unigolion sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniadau rhagorol i ffilm, teledu neu theatr yng Nghymru. Mae’r wobr hon yn adlewyrchu dylanwad sylweddol Hefin ar gyfryngau a diwylliant Cymru. Yn ogystal â’r Wobr Cyflawniad Oes, cyflwynodd CBFF y Wobr John Hefin ar gyfer ffilmiau byrion Cymraeg, gan hyrwyddo sinema Gymraeg ymhellach ac annog gwneuthurwyr ffilm i gynhyrchu cynnwys yn y Gymraeg. Sefydlwyd CBFF yn 2012 ac mae wedi tyfu’n sylweddol, gan dderbyn dros 850 o geisiadau o 65 o wledydd yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae’n ŵyl sy’n gymwys i Wobr Fer Prydeinig BAFTA, gan amlygu ei hymrwymiad i ddathlu rhagoriaeth mewn ffilm annibynnol. Drwy gysylltu enw John Hefin â’r gwobrau hyn, mae CBFF yn parhau i anrhydeddu ei etifeddiaeth ac ysbrydoli cenedlaethau’r dyfodol o wneuthurwyr ffilm Cymreig. Am fwy o wybodaeth am Ŵyl Ffilm Bae Caerfyrddin a’i gwobrau, gallwch ymweld â’u gwefan swyddogol:
carmarthenbayfilmfestival.co.uk
The Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (CBFF) honours John Hefin’s legacy through the John Hefin Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to film, television, or theatre in Wales and reflects Hefin’s significant impact on Welsh media and culture. In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, CBFF introduced the Gwobr John Hefin (John Hefin Award) for Welsh-language short films, further promoting Welsh-language cinema and encouraging filmmakers to produce content in Welsh. Established in 2012, CBFF has grown significantly, receiving over 850 submissions from 65 countries in recent years. It is recognized as a BAFTA British Short Film Competition qualifying festival, highlighting its commitment to celebrating excellence in independent film. By associating John Hefin’s name with these awards, CBFF continues honouring his legacy and inspiring future generations of Welsh filmmakers. For more information about the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival and its awards, you can visit their official website:
