THE next generation of Scottish filmmakers has been celebrated at a national awards ceremony.
The Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF) held a “special” screening and prize-giving event at the National Museum of Scotland to celebrate the conclusion of the Films of Scotland competition.
SYFF had put out a call to young Scots to submit films showcasing what they believe represents modern-day Scotland and what the country means to them.
A total of 38 films were submitted to the competition and 17 of those films were screened at the museum in Edinburgh over the weekend, with prizes of £250 and a trophy for the best films in three age categories.
The Paisley Panther, won 12 and Under, There's No Place Like Home won 13 – 18 and Da Lass Dat Made Da Bed For Me won the 19 –26 category.
David Barras, co-founder and executive director of SYFF, hailed the event as a success for showcasing Scotland’s next generation of filmmakers.
He said: “The idea for a new version of Films of Scotland came from discussions with the SYFF Youth Board and our patrons about the need for better representation and more Scottish stories on screen.”
Films for the competition came from young people across the country and covered a variety of topics, both serious and fun, including rural isolation, identity and fish and chips.
The competition was inspired by the old Films of Scotland committee, which was formed in 1938, which aimed to produce seven films to showcase Scotland for the Empire Exhibition, held in Glasgow.
These initial films were viewed by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world.
The committee re-formed after the Second World War and continued to make films until the 1980s, helping to nurture some of the country’s top filmmakers like Murray Grigor, Charles Gormley, Bill Forsyth and Iain Smith.
Now president of SYFF and a proud supporter of the contest, Smith said: “What young people need to be able to do is give voice to ideas that arise from their world. And that is the opportunity for a revived Films of Scotland.”
Yvonne Gordon, of National Museums Scotland, added: “National Museums Scotland are proud to be a partner in this exciting programme.
“I can’t wait to see the films the young people have produced, and meet the filmmakers involved, at our upcoming screening event at the National Museum of Scotland.”
Jenni Steel, from VisitScotland, said that supporting the filmmakers of the future is incredibly important.
She said: “Scotland has such a rich film heritage, and we know from research that seeing the destination on screen can have a positive impact on potential visitors.
“In fact, one in five people are inspired to visit Scotland having seen it featured on film or TV.
“Supporting the filmmakers of the future is incredibly important and we’ve really enjoyed being part of this whole project, seeing the range of topics portrayed by such talented young people.”
