Screen Scotland has announced it will double its investment in new talent in Scotland to £1.2million with the creation of Talent Builder - a bold new programme featuring six integrated initiatives designed to develop the next generation of Scottish filmmaking talent and increase creative origination from Scotland.
Designed to support Scotland-based writers, directors and producers working in film, Talent Builder - alongside GMAC’s successful and continuing Little Pictures programme - offers a clear and comprehensive pathway from early-stage through to the completion of a first feature film script. The initiative will focus on identifying and cultivating new and emerging voices in Scottish cinema, helping them develop the skills, connections and confidence needed to thrive in the industry.
More than doubling the number of funded short film opportunities available in Scotland, these programmes will be delivered by three newly appointed delivery partners - Screen Projects, Astar Media and The Portal Arts - who will each work closely with Screen Scotland’s Scripted team, led by Kieran Hannigan.
The six new elements of Screen Scotland’s Talent Builder are:
1. The Bigger Picture - supporting Scotland-based filmmakers to make creatively ambitious, high-value, high-quality and high-impact shorts to bridge the gap many filmmakers experience before making their first feature film. Budgets of up to £90,000 per film will be made available by Screen Scotland towards creatively ambitious shorts with the intention of garnering critical acclaim, winning awards and delivering international success.
2. Co-funded by Screen Scotland and the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, BFI NETWORK funded Shorts will return to Scotland. The new North Star Shorts will provide an opportunity for early career Scotland-based talent to make their first fully funded short film, with budgets of up to £25,000 and editorial support through development and production.
3. To compliment North Star Shorts, Screen Scotland Talent Builder will introduce Next Wave - a new shorts programme for filmmakers who have previously been supported to make an early short film with BFI NETWORK funding in Scotland. Next Wave will provide filmmakers with the opportunity to make a new short film with a budget of up to £25,000, which will enable them to further hone their skills and equip them with a fresh statement of their filmmaking vision.
The Bigger Picture, North Star Shorts and Next Wave will be delivered by Screen Projects under the combined banner of Take Three. Screen Projects is a new development company led by experienced producer Carolynne Sinclair Kidd and industry consultant Holly Daniel.
4. Opening Shot: Community Engagement Workshops programme is a series of community engagement workshops which will be held in communities across Scotland in conjunction with local groups and is designed to introduce filmmaking to individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in the film and TV industry.
5. Opening Shot: Early Development Shorts will also work hand in hand with local community groups to give early-stage filmmakers across Scotland the opportunity to create micro-budget shorts with support and guidance from an experienced filmmaker.
Delivered by the Stornoway-based agency Astar Media, with freelance filmmaker Alison Piper serving as Programme Director, both Opening Shot programmes will seek out and support new voices in areas where film opportunities are not yet a prominent part of the creative landscape.
6. Led by Glasgow-based arts and media charity The Portal Arts, the First Draft programme will support new feature film scripts through development, from early outline to polished first draft. The filmmaking teams will receive close editorial support throughout this process from a highly experienced Development Executive, Lizzie Gray and the Screen Scotland team.
Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted at Screen Scotland said: “Talent Builder provides a step-change in the number of opportunities for people right across Scotland to make films. As well as more than doubling the number of funded shorts, it is actively working to ensure people from all backgrounds and experience levels get to make films.
“Discovering local talent and increasing the number of projects creatively originated here is central to Screen Scotland’s strategy and Talent Builder is designed to help nurture the next generation of Scottish filmmakers who will deliver this.
“Scottish filmmakers like Lynne Ramsay, Bill Forsyth, Bill Douglas and Charlotte Wells, mean this country has an incredibly rich history of creating quality, internationally recognised work and having this clear pathway for progression for Scottish talent is crucial to continuing Scotland’s legacy as a filmmaking nation.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Scotland’s screen sector has seen exceptional growth in recent years, creating new jobs and investment opportunities across the country. The funding, facilities, and specialist support available have strengthened the development of Scottish-originated content and creative talent, resulting in an ever-increasing number of top-quality productions choosing to base themselves here.
“Talent Builder is just one example of how we’re ensuring that growth continues with practical opportunities to nurture the talent of up-and-coming filmmakers in Scotland, putting them in the best possible place to develop their careers whilst securing the sector’s future sustainability.”
Alice Cabañas, Head of BFI NETWORK, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Screen Scotland to ensure shorts funding is available for early career Scottish filmmaking talent. We are looking forward to seeing the films and filmmaking teams that come through these new programmes.”
Murdo MacSween, Creative Director at Astar Media said: “A big part of our ethos is getting out into communities and making sure that people — no matter where they’re from — have access to the same creative opportunities. Everyone on our team has benefitted from chances like this early on, so we know how important they are. We're really excited to meet new voices and support them to take their first steps into filmmaking.”
Moya Crowley, Creative Director at The Portal Arts said: “We’re delighted to be working with Screen Scotland to deliver this important new initiative supporting Scotland’s next generation of feature film screenwriters. It’s a privilege to partner with Lizzie Gray, supported by Helen Sim-Robertson, on a programme that will champion fresh voices, bold ideas, and nurture emerging talent. At The Portal Arts, we’re committed to fostering a creative environment where writers feel inspired and supported to develop their most ambitious work - and we look forward to the distinctive screenplays that will emerge from this collaboration.”
Carolynne Sinclair Kidd and Holly Daniel, Programme Directors at Screen Projects said: “We are passionate about short films: the important role they play in representing the stories and culture of our nation on the world stage, and their crucial impact in helping to advance the careers of writers, directors, producers, cast and crew. We will work hard to help nurture to excellence the next generation of outstanding filmmakers from across the length and breadth of Scotland, telling diverse stories that connect with international audiences.”
This new approach to film talent development in Scotland will run for the next five years to 2030/21, in line with the wider Screen Scotland strategy.
More details on the initiatives, eligibility criteria and application dates will be announced soon.
More information
About Astar Media
Astar is a Gaelic-led agency based in Stornoway, with additional team members in Glasgow. Since launching in 2021, Astar has delivered media and community engagement projects across Scotland. Over the past three years, Astar delivered the national Gaelic short film competition FilmG on behalf of MG ALBA, expanding the project's reach and impact. The company’s name — taken from the Gaelic for both “speed” and “distance” — reflects a dynamic approach and wide geographic reach. Freelance industry professional Alison Piper will work alongside Astar as the Programme Director.
About The Portal Arts
The Portal Arts is an award-winning media access and creative arts charity based in Govan, Glasgow. We use film and the arts to amplify unheard voices, deliver training, building skills, and address inequalities, widening opportunities for underrepresented people. Through our in-house production arm, The Portal Studios, we created Working Differently - a film and good practice guide advocating for neurodivergent talent across the screen sector, driving wider inclusion in the industry.
About Screen Projects
Screen Projects is a new company led by Producer Carolynne Sinclair Kidd and Industry Consultant Holly Daniel. Between them they have many years of expertise in all aspects of filmmaking from development through to exhibition.
About BFI Network
BFI NETWORK exists to support and develop early career writers, directors and producers over 18- years-old and not in full time education. Made possible through National Lottery funding, BFI NETWORK collaborates with film organisations and leading cultural venues across the UK to provide short film production and early feature development funding, industry-backed professional development and networking support. Since it launched in 2013, BFI NETWORK funded shorts have secured a number of award nominations, including BAFTA and Oscar® wins.
Image credits
Images courtesy of Little Pictures