Projects in genres: Scottish

Synopsis

This film is the first to document the life and work of the Scottish painter, illustrator and decorative artist, William McLaren. From humble beginnings in the 1920s in Cardenden, a mining town in Fife, McLaren went on to produce work in some of the finest houses in the UK. His illustrations appeared regularly in the 1950s and 1960s in the BBC's Radio Times. He became a prolific book illustrator and designer of dust jackets for over 150 books. In 1966 a commission to create a series of paintings for Hopetoun House near Edinburgh was the breakthrough for McLaren, leading to decorative commissions in private houses and public buildings where he developed his trompe l'oeil style. The filmmakers have traced hundreds of works by McLaren and many of these are included in this documentary, together with testimony from those who knew him. He died in 1987, aged 64, leaving behind a range of work that will surprise and delight many people.  

Synopsis

A different kind of Vampire movie set in the ancient creepy gothic city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Everyone keeps talking about her..ever since she was born. As they say "No peace for the wicked". But really, what has eleven year old Morticia done to anyone...apart from throw a cup of tea into Rev. Maclean's face at the Vicar's garden party...and write graffiti all over the church walls "Reverend Maclean is a Dirty Bugger." The Three Witches love to gossip about her....making up tall tales...or are they? None of the children seem to like her. And her Mum and Dad are hopeless cases. Well, they would be...fancy Christening her "Kylie". What a yucky name. So anodyne. Kylie much prefers "Morticia" meaning Death. Nothing seems to happen much until she hears a voice calling her name "Morticia". it is her Master's voice. It draws her to the local zoo, where she encounters the man...or beast of her dreams.....but everybody else's nightmares. Morticia knows what she must do. And fearlessly she does it....and is transported...far away from her war-mutilated ex-soldier Dad, and her guilt-ridden Mum.

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The Scottish filmmaker Bill Douglas's reputation rests on the trilogy of films he made in the 1970s about his childhood in postwar Scotland. What many people do not know about Douglas is that he was also a passionate collector of cinema memorabilia and pre-cinema optical devices. He incorporated many of these into his last film, Comrades, which tells the story of the first trade union from the point of view of an itinerant lanternist. Lanterna Magicka recounts the story of Douglas's collection, the making of Comrades and the remarkable legacy Douglas left us with.

Synopsis

What does it feel like to know that you are about to be killed? Nearly a decade ago, a terrified village in southern Mexico sought refuge in a small wooden church and awaited their inevitable fate. Several hours later, 45 of them were dead. Until now the full story of the massacre at Acteal has never been told. A Massacre Foretold is a powerful story of drama and intimacy, that takes us into a world of masked Mayan rebels, clandestine government death squads and an inspiring indigenous village.

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A biopic celebrating the life of visionary musician Billy MacKenzie of the Associates. Focusing on his rise to fame and untimely death. Set at the height of the 80's.

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Police raid a Glaswegian Asian household. The son, Ali is arrested on suspicion of terrorism. Between cops, hacks, mullahs and militants, the Malik family’s world descends into nightmare. Yet not everybody is an enemy. Fast-paced, topical and thought-provoking, this is the first-ever feature film made by the South Asian diaspora in Scotland. A night of darkness.   An Act of Terror was nominated for a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award 2009 in the 'Best Producer' Category.

Synopsis

Bill has an understanding with local teenage boys, that he will buy beer for them. However when Cowan takes along his friend Jim for the first time, something about Jim encourages Bill to reveal more of himself to the boys than he ever has before.

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A young woman's perspective on her albinism.

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What would life be like if women weren’t judged primarily on their looks? Wistful and lyrical, this is a journey through the eyes of Shabana, a passionate 25-year-old British Muslim woman in Scotland who always longed for freedom from bodily scrutiny, and found it by wearing the controversial hijab.

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Donkeys is a bittersweet, tragi-comic tale. When Alfred learns of his impending death he realises it's time to make amends with his estranged family. However, before things get better they get a whole lot worse and a blast from the past injects calamity, comedy and confusion into Alfred's efforts.

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Stuck in the middle of a pointless game at the youth centre Archie makes a choice to deviate from the uninvited tumult. He puts his headphones on and dares himself to follow a fellow outsider. Finding himself in a strange place he is forced to adjust quickly and absorb himself into something that both excites and numbs his head.

Synopsis

Midnight Madness is Europe's first basketball film. The film follows Nhamo Shire, the founder of the Midnight Madness tournament, and two players, Mike Martin and Pierre Henry-Fontaine, as they battle through the summer to make it as one of the top 10 basketball players who will go to Los Angeles to train and compete against their American counterparts. Nhamo recollects how in 1999 he launched the first Midnight Madness in Harlesden as a means of deterring teenagers from gangs and crime when they are most vulnerable: night time. 9 years on we follow him as this extreme basketball tournament rages in twelve cities across the UK. Midnight Madness culminates at Crystal Palace where 5,000 screaming fans attend the finals. We also follow Mike Martin who lost his mum a couple of months before the summer and wants to win the tournament as a tribute to her memory and Pierre Henry-Fontaine who's dream of making the big time in the United States ended prematurely. He now sees the opportunity of playing against the Americans in their own backyard as a means of proving to himself he can play and compete with the best. Far from the violent picture painted in the media of inner city life we discover through Midnight Madness passionate, hardworking and touching individuals trying to make a difference.