NETFLIX’S ONE DAY - LUDOVIC ROBERT/NETFLIX Welcome to the ReelScotland round-up, a look at what’s happening in the world of Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector, are trying to enter it or just enjoy films and TV with a Scottish connection, then this is for you. Subscribe now ? The 20th Glasgow Film Festival kicks off tonight with Opening Gala Love Lies Bleeding and continues through to Sunday 10th March. Have a browse of the packed programme that also includes this year’s Frightfest horror festival. The BFI recommends 10 films to see. ? The 17th Glasgow Short Film ..read more

The Traitors Series 2 Welcome to the ReelScotland round-up, a look at what’s happening in the world of Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector, are trying to enter it or just enjoy films and TV with a Scottish connection, then this is for you. Feel free to get in touch with anything you’d like to see mentioned - hopefully there’ll be more interviews and features coming soon. Subscribe now After a quiet start to 2024, the last few weeks have seen the news items stack up, so here’s a brief(ish) summary… ? The programme for the 20th Glasgow Film Festival, running from 28 ..read more

Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie in Vigil 2 Welcome (back?) to the ReelScotland round-up, a look at what’s happening in the world of Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector, are trying to enter it or just enjoy films and TV with a Scottish connection, then this is for you. Subscribe now News ? The death of screenwriter, playwright, artist and designer John Byrne at the age of 83 last Thursday has left the Scottish arts sector in mourning. It’s impossible to do justice to Byrne’s career here so please have a read of some of the numerous online obituaries, though it might ..read more

Brian Cox as Controller in 007: Road to a Million Welcome (back?) to the ReelScotland round-up, a look at what’s happening in the world of Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector, are trying to enter it or just enjoy films and TV with a Scottish connection, then this is for you. Subscribe now News ? BAFTA Scotland has announced the full list of nominations for its 2023 awards, “honouring excellence and celebrating talent across the Scottish screen industries”. Highlights include feature film Aftersun receiving five nominations in categories such as Actor, Actress and ..read more

Ginnie Atkinson and Rod White outside 88 Lothian Road Welcome to the ReelScotland newsletter, a deep(ish) dive into the world of Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector (or are trying to enter it) or just quite like films and TV with a Scottish connection, then this is for you. Subscribe now News ? The Scottish Government is imposing a £6.6 million budget cut on Creative Scotland. The organisation, which encompasses Screen Scotland, will dip into its reserves this year but won’t be able to do so again, threatening the future of Scotland’s arts sector. The Campaign for ..read more

I had good intentions when I moved ReelScotland over to Substack in 2020, excited by plans for a new Filmhouse here in Edinburgh (more on that later), a new film studio in Leith and production on various TV series and films taking place around the country. Sadly, I got a bit ahead of myself as I was still writing on a book on 1986’s Highlander and mulling over starting another book on 1983’s Local Hero while going back to university for an MA in Screenwriting and working part time at the Scottish Documentary Institute. What was I thinking? The books are now published, the course is finished ..read more

I was a latecomer to the charms of Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, my own cinema-going experiences rudely interrupted in the mid-80s by a move from Edinburgh to the Highlands and a return in the mid-90s that saw me drawn to the Cameo, just as Pulp Fiction heralded a new wave of student-friendly films. I like to think I’ve made up for my youthful ignorance, having spent many hours ensconced in either the cafe or one of its three screens (admittedly favouring Screen One, usually somewhere near the aisle to help my 6’ 5” frame fit into the snug seats) over the last 20 years or so. I won’t bore you with m ..read more

If you’re searching for some horror viewing with a Scottish twist this Halloween but don’t know where to start, look no further than a batch of shocking shorts now available on YouTube. While 30 new films have been created for US streamer Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween season, two of them originated in Glasgow: Eye Exam from director Aislinn Clarke (The Devil’s Doorway) and Special Delivery from director John McPhail (Anna and the Apocalypse). Ten of the films can be watched on YouTube right now, including the two films with Scottish DNA - scroll down this page to watch them and to read new bite ..read more

The last few years have seen a number of small independent production companies spring up in Scotland, producing content for both local and national audiences. One such indie is Very Nice, established in Glasgow in 2018 by MD Andrew Robertson and Creative Director Henry Imbert. Robertson previously served as Head of Entertainment for Mentorn Media, where he oversaw the company’s entertainment commissions, and also worked at STV, Tigress, Zeppetron and Endemol. He took some time out of his schedule to discuss the ethos behind Very Nice, their BBC Scotland series Mirror Mirror, and what’s next ..read more

Ian Hoey takes a trip back to the 1970s, recalling the time James Cosmo teamed up with The Sweeney. Ever since it first appeared on television screens in 1975, The Sweeney has been part of U.K. popular culture. The fourth and final series may have come to an end in 1978 but the characters and tone of the drama remain reference points for all that has followed since. Combine that with the iconic theme music by Harry South, which is recognisable to many more people than have actually seen the show, and it all adds up to one mighty presence in British TV history. I’m of a suitable age to have w ..read more