Film Access Scotland News | March 2023
As our 2023 programme of events continues into the spring, it’s been great to see our members and associates engaged, inspired and ready for more activities. In this newsletter we give you an update on our past and future events and share news about all the impressive projects carried out by our members over the last few weeks.
Upcoming Programme
Coffee Morning (Highlands & Islands)
Members’ Highlights
Support Us
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
RESCHEDULED: Film Access Workshop: Outreach & Engagement + Networking
Led by Katie Paterson (shmu), Felix Gilfedder (Mobile Film School and Solar Bear) and Alasdair Satchel (Screen Argyll and Freelancer).
Date: Wednesday 19 April 2023
Time: 1:30pm – 4.30pm
Venue: Media Education, Edinburgh
In this Workshop we will look closely at current outreach and engagement strategies of Film Access Scotland members and associates for their projects. Through presentations and discussion groups, the session will assist Film Access practitioners identify the challenges in outreach and engagement and offer examples of activities and strategies that have proven to work across the Film Access Sector.
The case studies presented by our speakers will look at different ways to deliver film access activities and how the current environment will shape the future of outreach and delivery.
Find out more about the event and sign up here.
Film Access Scotland Coffee Morning: Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
Time: 11am – 12pm
Online
Save the date! Join our second online Film Access Coffee Morning, at 11am on 3 May 2023. We are delighted to welcome Film Access practitioners from the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway, who will share insight into their organisations’ current Film Access activities and the challenges working with remote and isolated communities. This event is open to everyone working and/or interested in the Film Access sector – we also hope to welcome back some previous participants from the other Scottish regions!
Find out more about the event here.
Film Access Training: Neurodiversity
Led by biggerhouse film (Stephen Clarke and Tom Stubbs)
Date: Tuesday 16 May 2023
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Online
This practical session will focus on neurodiversity awareness and how it can inform practice. It will provide Film Access Scotland members and associates with the understanding and basic skills needed to work confidently with neurodiverse people and create comfortable and suitable working environments.
About biggerhouse film:
biggerhouse film have been working together for 20 years making films with people. They describe their practice as making creative work with people who might describe themselves as being or feeling ‘removed from the centre’. This can include working with neurodivergent filmmakers, people with learning disabilities, people living with dementia and sometimes young people belonging to the LGBTQI+ community.
Find out more about the event here.
Film Access Workshop and Training sessions are free to attend for our members and associates.
To join Film Access Scotland and access our full range of services, click here.
Our first online Film Access Coffee Morning, with a focus on the Highlands and Islands, took place on 28 February2023 in conversation with members, Screen Argyll and Eden Court.
Jen Skinner from Screen Argyll and Drew Tremlett from Eden Court shared their news on their Film Access activities in the Highlands & Islands. They discussed implementing film access programmes in remote areas, working from their own base and reaching out to other areas across the region.
You can hear more about the inspirational highlights on delivering BFI Film Academy, thoughts on progression routes for young people, and reaching isolated communities with online film clubs and hopping on boats to deliver in-person activities on the islands below!
https://vimeo.com/filmaccessscot/coffeemorning1
This discussion introduced film access practitioners from the Highlands & Islands to each other and provided an engaging discussion on shared experiences, which will lead to further online and in-person networking and peer support in the region.
If you think you would benefit from joining, become a member or associate of Film Access Scotland here.
LINLATHEN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
Media Education recently completed a project producing 6 films in Linlathen, Dundee. The team worked with researcher, Karen McArdle, from the University of Aberdeen and Dundee City Council, alongside residents of Linlathen, to produce an ‘action research’ project, where the community explored the changes they want to see for their locality and problem-solved together about what structures need to be put in place to make this happen.
This project built skills and capacity in the community whilst helping service-providers to realise what change is needed. The project is receiving strong interest from the Scottish Government as a new method of community consultation, working in co-production with all stakeholders.
BFI FILM ACADEMY UPDATES
The participants of this year’s BFI Film Academy have been finishing off their short film edits. Professional filmmaker Faustas Talacka supported the groups with colour grading their films and sound design. They also composed original music for their soundtrack. The young people are looking forward to screening their finished films later this year.
Still from BFI film Heart Attack
ST MACHAR PARENT SUPPORT PROJECT
shmu’s Comms Officer and Community TV Worker completed a 90-second film about St Machar Parent Support Project – a local community project in Woodside, one of shmu’s priority areas. The staff and participants at the Project are looking forward to seeing their film distributed on shmu’s Community Websites once launched. The film celebrates the Project and those they support, encouraging others to get involved and access the help available to them.
DGTV GROUP GET FILMING
As part of SYFF’s legacy in Dumfries and Galloway (after holding last year’s Scottish Youth Film Festival there), the DGTV group embarked on shooting their first drama, Wednesday’s Child. The film looks behind the front that young people show to the world. The group had previously shot films for last year’s live broadcasts from the Scottish Youth Film Festival.
PRESTON LODGE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT
After three years of delay due to COVID-19, SYFF finally got to work with Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans to produce a post-apocalyptic film called 3 Weeks Later.
WILMA SMITH BECOMES CO-VICE PRESIDENT OF SCREEN TALENT EUROPE
The Scottish Parliament have congratulated GMAC Film’s Filmmakers Programme Manager, Wilma Smith, who was recently appointed Co-Vice President of European talent organisation, Screen Talent Europe (STE). Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3mSqeZB
APPRENTICESHIP SPEED NETWORKING
On 9 March 2023, Screen Education Edinburgh had the pleasure of attending the ‘Apprenticeship Speed Networking Event’ at Leith Academy, presented by Developing the Young Workforce. SEE’s representatives, Brian and Laura, were delighted to speak to senior pupils about the different opportunities available at SEE, along with advice and information on entry-level positions within the film, TV and media industries.
During the event, senior pupils were given the chance to speak to representatives from a variety of industries and sectors, including hospitality, social services, healthcare, and creative careers. SEE was delighted to represent the creative sector and share our knowledge of the sector with the pupils.
The representatives of SEE hope that the students left the event with a better understanding of the opportunities available to them and the skills and experience needed to explore and pursue their chosen career paths. SEE looks forward to similar events in the future and continuing to support the development of Scotland’s next generation of creative professionals.
SEE AT GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL
Screen Education Edinburgh attended the ‘Connecting the Dots: Pathways to Genuine Inclusion & Diversity in Film’ event at the Glasgow Film Festival. The event celebrated the important work being done in the Scottish Screen Sector to break down barriers and create points of access to the screen sector for people from marginalized and underrepresented communities.
During the event, SEE alumni Kaitlyn Roper and Connal Tolmie were a part of the panel, along with alumni from GMAC Film, Fair Access at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Portal Arts and Film Access Scotland. The panel discussion focused on the importance of having access to creative organisations in their communities and how it has helped them with their career and future aspirations.
The panel discussion emphasised the need to embed inclusion and diversity pathways in the industry and how this can be achieved by providing opportunities to those who may have traditionally been excluded. As an organisation, Screen Education Edinburgh believe that everyone should have access to creative opportunities, and events like ‘Connecting the Dots’ allow us to learn from, and celebrate the important work being done in the Sector.
We need your support! Film Access Scotland is a registered charity that relies on funding and donations to deliver its key services. By donating to us you will be supporting our work to change lives through creating film. Film Access work is not simply about pathways into the film industry; Film Access organisations and practitioners work across sectors to address inequalities and contribute to improved outcomes in education and lifelong learning, community, health and wellbeing and employability settings.
A donation from you would go towards Film Access Scotland continuing its work to co-ordinate capacity-building on behalf of the Film Access Sector through providing training, advice and spaces for peer-to-peer learning to its members.
This work is critical for everyone in Scotland to have the opportunity to engage with Film Access activities wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider adding Gift Aid to make your donation go further.
Click here to contribute.
Find out more about the value of Film Access activities here.
BRAND NEW FILM CLUB AT SHMU
A new film club is kicking off at shmu at the end of this month! If you are aged between 12 and 17 years old and love films – the shmu Friday Film club is for you! Starting on Friday 31 March between 5pm – 8pm, you’ll get to watch, discuss and talk about the film being featured that week!
If you live in Tillydrone, Woodside, Torry, Middlefield, Seaton Northfield or Commings Park and are interested in watching and talking about movies, this film club is for you. Email alex.matthew@shmu.org.uk to register your interest!
BFI FILM ACADEMY
Just recently the GMAC FILM screening room was filled with excitement and pizza as they hosted this year’s BFI Film Academy cast and crew screening of their short film ‘Double Take’. If you’d like to get involved in the next BFI Film Academy, find out more here.
