Films of Scotland
Calling Scotland’s young filmmakers!
Are you aged 26 and under? We want to see your films about today’s Scotland. The culture, the landscape, the people, the food... whatever inspires you.
We’re looking for your films about modern day Scotland. They can be about any subject you like and can be in any form, documentary, animation, drama, experimental… They should be five minutes or under and deadline for submissions is 31st January 2025.
Submission is completely free. Head to the Film Freeway page to upload your film - https://filmfreeway.com/filmsofscotland
The best films will be shortlisted and shown at a special event in March 2025 in the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street, and prizes awarded. Winning films will be placed in the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive, as part of Scotland’s story for future generations.
Our competition is inspired by the original Films of Scotland, which ran from 1938 until 1982.
The Original Films of Scotland
Back in 1938, the Empire Exhibition was held in Glasgow and to promote Scotland, a committee was formed and 7 films were commissioned to showcase Scotland. These initial Films of Scotland were seen by vast audiences both nationally and internationally.
Films of Scotland re-formed after the war and ran until 1982. Well known Scottish filmmakers like Bill Forsyth, Charlie Gormley, Murray Grigor and Iain Smith worked on them, and they form an incredible archive of Scotland's moving image culture.
You can find out more about the original Films of Scotland, and watch the films here: https://www.nls.uk/exhibitions/cinema/films-of-scotland/
The clips below are from some of the original films and you can download and use them for your own films if you’d like.
We want the voices of Scotland’s young people to form the reimagined Films of Scotland for the modern age. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of an exciting time in Scotland’s film history!
Audio Clips
Please also find below some audio clips you can download and incorporate into your films, please do note where you use any archive clips.
1. A field recording of a folk band playing dance music NLS_SOC-8-3-1-03_s1_f01_v1
A recording made by Christopher Mylne in February 1978 of an unidentified band playing to a group of dancers in Shetland.
2. Blackbird and Cuckoo, Scotland, 1978 NLS_SOC-8-3-1-04_s1_f01_v1
A recording made by Christopher Mylne in 1978 of blackbirds and cuckoos on Fair Isle.
3. Blackcocks, Peesweeps, Grouse, Carrion Crow, etc. Scotland, 1964 NLS_SOC-8-1-1-01_s1_f01_v1
A recording made by William Brotherson of birds at Garvald Farm, Haugh Field, Scottish Borders in 1964.
4. Footsteps, knock at the door, door opening and closing NLS_SOC-8-3-1-03_s1_f01_v1
A recording made by Christopher Mylne in 1978 of an unidentified person walking and opening a door on Fair Isle.
5. Sheep Farm soundscape NLS_SOC-8-3-1-04_s1_f01_v1
A recording made by Christopher Mylne in 1978 of people herding sheep on a Fair Isle farm.
6. Shetland pier noise NLS_SOC-8-3-1-03_s1_f01_v1
A soundscape recording made by Christopher Mylne in February at a Shetland pier.
7. William Brotherston driving away from Fala Flow NLS_SOC-8-1-1-04_s2_f01_v1
A field recording of William Brotherston starting his car and leaving Fala Flow loch. Recording in March 1964.
8. George D. Campbell - “The Queer Folk O’ The Shaws”
Traditional song arranged by accordionist Jack Kynoch and performed by Comedian George D. Campbell. Released on Beltona Records in 1934.
N.B. Clips 1-7 are taken from the Scottish Ornithologists Club Collection (UNLS009) and have a CC-BY-NC licence applied.
Clip 8 is an arrangement of a traditional song. The rights status will be determined by the death dates of the arranger (Kynoch)
https://www.britishcopyright.org/information/information-copyright-basics/