Film Access Scotland’s 1.5° Film Challenge was a participatory short filmmaking project inviting individuals and groups to share their thoughts on climate change and how it affects us, our communities, our families and our surroundings. To do this, the Challenge encouraged everyone to make a 90-second (or 1.5-minutes) film to reflect the hoped-for limiting of global warming to 1.5 degrees.
1.5° Film Challenge from Film Access Scotland on Vimeo.
The 1.5° Film Challenge provided a platform for voices across Scotland to reflect local and regional stories and perspectives. Youth groups, schools, community organisations, activist groups and individuals, most of whom had never made a film before, were inspired to take part. Regardless of background, age or filmmaking experience, participants were encouraged and supported to make a film and submit it to the Challenge.
Between August 2021 - June 2022, 200 individual participants from 120 organisations got involved in the Challenge. 20 free online and in-person filmmaking workshops with climate literacy training were delivered across Scotland. Finally, 150 90-second short films were submitted to the Challenge.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for professional development, which I was able to learn from and deliver a workshop during COP-26 in our community space using the format of the workshops I attended. Going forward I’m excited to add this to the programme of community activities and workshops we can deliver in our organisation. The accessible delivery of the workshops, fixed deadline, and great constructive feedback from tutors as the work progressed meant there was an accelerated period of learning, development and achievement over a very short period. As a practising artist I was also really delighted to learn new animation skills which I now plan to keep developing as part of my own ongoing practice. An amazing opportunity to be part of, many thanks!” Workshop Participant, 2021
Film Access Scotland delivered the workshops in collaboration with organisations across Scotland: The Portal Arts (Previously known as Plantation Productions), GMAC Film, Media Education, shmu, Screen Education Edinburgh, Screen Argyll, An Lanntair, Scottish Association for Marine Science, South West Media Factory and Keep Scotland Beautiful.
“I really enjoyed teaching the course and was lucky to have a great group of attendees. It has improved my confidence of delivering online film workshops, as previously I felt much happier delivering training face to face. I also learnt a lot, both about online teaching methods, filming with phones, and about climate change. Which was all very positive.” Workshop Tutor, 2021
Scotland-based filmmakers, programmers and curators were invited to join a jury to select prize winners. Our Youth Film Access Festival's Youth Team alumni also came together to select the winners in the Youth Award categories.
1.5° Film Challenge participants were invited to join masterclasses with BBC The Social, BECTU Vision and Wildscreen to develop their knowledge and take guidance on embarking on their filmmaking journey. Winners of the Challenge won tickets to the Wildscreen Festival 2022 and a festival pass to the Encounters Film Festival where their films were screened as part of the 90-second Depict Film Competition.
“The whole project was excellent. I don’t consider myself to be any good with technology so was really surprised that I was able to shoot and edit a film. I’ve learnt a lot and really grown in confidence. The tutor was excellent. It was just the right length of course. The apps were really easy to use. I’m so pleased with the film I made and can’t wait to get it out there and seen.” Workshop Participant, 2021
In 2021, a selection of films were featured at the New York Times Climate Hub, as well as further films streaming on BBC The Social and The Scotsman during COP26. In 2022, the 1.5° Film Challenge was linked with the theme of ‘Only One Earth’ to celebrate the World Environment Day on 5th June 2022 and regional Scottish screenings were held.
In November 2021, regional screenings and award ceremonies took place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen as part of The Films for Future Weekend in collaboration with Film Access Scotland’s Youth Film Access Festival, which featured a series of events and workshops on eco-filmmaking and explored environmentalism.
In 2022, screenings took place in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Isle of Tiree, winners were announced, and filmmakers got a chance to see their films on a big screen, meet other filmmakers and talk about their filmmaking process.
You can watch all the film submissions from the 1.5° Film Challenge on our video player here.
The 1.5° Film Challenge was led by Film Access Scotland and supported by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland.
