ReelScotland round-up 🎬 June 2024
Belmont fundraising and Scotland's Bollywood history
Welcome to the ReelScotland round-up, a look at what’s happening in Scottish film and TV. If you work in the Scottish screen sector or enjoy films and TV with a Scottish connection, this is for you.
💰 A combination of falling attendance, rising supplier costs and increased gas and electricity prices have led to a warning that the future of Campbeltown Picture House is looking uncertain. An announcement was made on Facebook earlier in the month, with locals urged to “use it or lose it” - donations can also be made on their website.
🍿 Meanwhile, the team behind Aberdeen’s Belmont Cinema have launched a £150,000 crowdfunding campaign to raise enough money to help refurbish and reopen it “as a vital, unique, community-led, truly independent cinema for all.” Donations can be made until 9th August.
🎥 Pioneer Film Studios in Stepps has closed due to financial difficulties after opening in 2022. Despite the closure, some companies remain active on-site, and the original studio can still accommodate film and TV projects.
💻 BECTU Vision has launched a new website that will make it easier to find their short courses, professional development opportunities and industry development initiatives.
🎞️ Press and Industry Accreditation for this year’s relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is now open.
🇮🇳 Did you know that Scotland is Bollywood's number one filming location outside of Mumbai's Film City? Broadcaster and ‘Bollywoodwalla’ Ravi Sagoo tells all in his new radio documentary Bonnie Bollywood: 25 Years of Indian Film-making in Scotland, which is on BBC Sounds now.
📺 Actor Richard Rankin recently shared the news that the new series of Rebus has been streamed more than 10 million times on BBC iPlayer, increasing hopes for a second season.
🎬 ITV has commissioned a new six-part thriller, Cold Water, starring Andrew Lincoln. The series follows John (Lincoln), who moves his family to a rural Scottish village where they encounter enigmatic neighbour Tommy (Ewen Bremner), leading to dark and unsettling events.
🎬 HBO has joined BBC and BBC Scotland for Richard Gadd’s new series, Lions, reports Deadline. The series explores themes of masculinity through the tumultuous relationship of two brothers over forty years. Lions marks another major collaboration following Gadd’s international success with Netflix’s Baby Reindeer.
🎶 Deadline also reports that Sky, Warner Music Entertainment, and Screen Scotland are collaborating on feature documentary Average White Band: Soul Searching, directed by Anthony Baxter. The film celebrates the 50-year legacy of the Scottish funk band Average White Band, known for hits like "Pick Up the Pieces" and will feature archival footage and new interviews.
🎬 BBC Scotland has recommissioned Firecrest Films for two more series of Paramedics on Scene. Filming for series six will begin this summer across Scotland. The series, produced by Mick McAvoy, includes a Talent Development Scheme that has provided opportunities for over 30 individuals in various production roles.
🎞️ Film distributor Conic has acquired UK and Ireland rights for Mark Cousins’ documentary, A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things, featuring Tilda Swinton as the voice of Scottish painter Wilhelmina Barns-Graham. The film, which delves into Barns-Graham's neurodiversity and transformative artistic journey, will premiere on 3rd July at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and be released in October 2024.
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