Cool Cymru (Welsh: Cŵl Cymru [ˈkul ˈkəmri]) was a Welsh cultural movement centred around music, independent film, and other artistic endeavours by young Welsh figures prior to and during the new millennium. It was highlighted in 1999 when the BBC announced that year as the "year of Cool Cymru". The UK was at the time gripped by Britpop, but a distinctively Welsh culture would grow to compete, led by the popularity of bands such as Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia and Super Furry Animals.