Scottish Films Galore!

We're thrilled to see so many Scottish films out and about at international festivals and on your cinema screens!
This week will see the world premieres of two of our brandnew Bridging the Gap: SHIFT films: Jimmy, by Martin Smith - a moving film about the tireless work of disabled rights campaigner Jimmy McIntosh, MBE, and The Perfect Fit, by Tali Yankelevich: It's about a part of the ballet world even Black Swan did not reveal to us: Who actually makes those uncomfortable point shoes? Well there's only one factory in the whole of UK, and one special shoemaker, as you will find out!  Bridging the Gap's key supporter has again been Creative Scotland, who recently launched their new film and arts funds, in case you haven't had a look yet.
A shout out also goes to Edinburgh filmmaker Tomas Sheridan who is showing his short Radiostan at Sheffield, as well as Mariana Oliva, an Edinburgh College of Art graduate whose Humanoids will be screening alongside James Marsh's Project NimYou've been Trumped by Anthony Baxter made waves in Toronto last month when Donald Trump was considering running for the US presidency. The Guardian calls it "compelling stuff". It will make you angry and sad – so come to its UK Premiere during Sheffield Doc/Fest this Friday, or to its Scottish premiere in Aberdeen (Belmont) the week after (17th June), or to its Edinburgh premiere in July, thanks to Take One Action Festival.

Jig by Sue Bourne (Wellpark Scotland) is continuing its breathless UK/Ireland release. It gets a screening during Sheffield Doc/Fest as well, and is now in cinemas in USA. It's fantastic to have two Scottish feature docs out and about at the same time. You can follow Jig's movements on its UK or US website. We're also proud that it was associate produced by the multi-talented & Glasgow-based Ruth Reid, who has just finished directing a Bridging the Gap for us, Nightshift.

Then, right after Sheffield we have, on our doorstep, of course the legendary Edinburgh International Film Festival from 15 to 26 June. After carrying around EIFF festival bags year on year, we look forward to its new edition – and a new bag! EIFF has entirely revamped its programme with new director James Mulligan, and will test a host of new venues, like The Teviot as the Industry Centre (known to many as a major Fringe venue during August) where, incidentally, we will also host The Edinburgh Pitch on 14th June (please sign up for last minute Observer seats here) and George Square Theatre, where we will have our Bridging the Gap 'Shift' screening followed by drinks on 23 June, 2.15pm. In fact, no more walking along the desolate stretch that was Fountainbridge in order to get to Cineworld, as no films will be screening there at all this year.

Other news is that our most industrious MA/MFA documentary graduates at Edinburgh College of Art/Screen Academy Scotland, who we regularly see coming out of their editing suites late at night, have banded together to form a collective, Wee Red Films. They're proudly putting on an industry screening during EIFF as well - Scottish Stories: Documentary Films from ECA. Don't miss this outstanding bunch of short docs if you're in Edinburgh -  some of them have already hit the international festival circuit, and won awards at Full Frame and San Francisco. 

I'm sorry, the list continues, but I'll be brief:

We have various shorts going to numerous festivals across the pond and beyond:

We are thrilled to  know that Palm Springs ShortFest loves a 'Surprise', and no less than four of our Bridging the Gap films will be showing in the heat of California later this month: Get luder, PS: Your Mystery Sender, Twinset and Surpriseville.

Twinset by Amy Rose in fact is screening from coast to coast: at Outfest in LA and at Newfest, NY's premiere LGBT festival (presented by none other than Marc Jacobs), and then at Silverdocs too!

Silverdocs is also showing Lost Every Day, Surpriseville, Twinset, and Humanoids. We look forward to some New York Rooftop screenings, and last but not least, some screenings of Bridging the Gap and Dhaka Stories films at the London Open City Festival next week.

Phew. Exhausted already? Let's call June officially 'documentary month'! Enjoy it where ever you are and don't forget to come to The Edinburgh Pitch on Tuesday 14th!