The Scottish Short Film Festival was an independent film festival which has taken place annually in Scotland from 2012 to 2022. From 2012 to 2017, the festival was known as The Raptor Filmz Short Scottish Film Festival until the event was rebranded in 2018.[1]
History and format
The festival was set up in 2012 by Scottish filmmaker Chris Young who is the company director of Raptor Filmz Ltd in West Lothian. The aim of the festival is to promote short Scottish films with a view of potentially setting up a distribution deal with filmmakers. The first festival took place in Glasgow at the Grosvenor Cinema and was hosted by Scottish actor David Anderson.[2] With a desire to bring the festival closer to home, the festival was moved to the Howden Park Centre in Livingston where the date of the festival was also moved to January 2014 rather than December 2013. In 2015, the festival found a new home at the Bathgate Regal Community Theatre which is operated by Scottish actor Scott Kyle.[3] Speaking of the Regal, festival curator Chris Young said:
"I think we’ve found our home with the Regal. It’s a great historic venue, with friendly staff, brilliant equipment, and a fantastic audience.."
The festival consists of awards for films and individual prizes. The awards are selected by jury with an audience choice award being decided by visitors of the festival. Jury members in the past have included actor Declan Michael Laird and film editor Chris Quick.[4] In 2018, it was announced that Ross Miller, the film critic for The National newspaper would join the judging panel.
The festival returned in 2018 but under the new name of The Scottish Short Film Festival. The Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow was due to host the 2018 festival[5] but due to the fire at the Glasgow School of Art, the venue was forced to close. It was announced on the festival's Twitter account that the Crowne Plaza Glasgow would take over as host.
On 4 November 2022, it was announced on the festivals website that the 2022 edition of the festival would be its last. The message on the website read:
"Thanks for being part of this year’s film festival. Sadly this was our final film festival as after 10 years, we’ve decided to finish on a high. We’ve been proud to showcase a huge amount of talent over the years, but alas, all good things must come to an end. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this event over the past decade, and we wish you all the very best of luck in your film-making endeavours."[6]
Chips Last House on CCTV Neeps and Tatties The World's Strongest Unicyclist
Best Documentary
Mr. Lune Town
A Grand Artist Mr. Lune Town My Dad's Video Diary The World's Strongest Unicyclist
Most Creative / Original
Neeps and Tatties
Custodian Damned Left Neeps and Tatties
Best Music
Authentic
Authentic Custodian Helianthus The World's Strongest Unicyclist
Best Sound
Custodian
Custodian Last House on CCTV Mr. Lune Town The Treasurer
Best Costume/Make Up
Hell's Kitchen
Custodian Damned Hell's Kitchen The Treasurer
Thomas Haywood Aerial Photography Award
After Ice
After Ice The Grey Man
2022 Winners
Audience Choice Award (Saturday Screening) - 1815 - Neil Boyle
Audience Choice Award (Sunday Screening) - Terminal Happiness - Eric Romero
Judges 1st Prize - 1815 - Neil Boyle
Judges 2nd Prize - Whale Heart - Phillip Edge
Golden Raptor Award - Professor Heny Bowfax's Fantastic Journey Through Time!
Award
Winner(s)
Nominees
Best Director
Terminal Happiness - Eric Romero
1815 - Neil Boyle A Tale of Tragedy - Tim Lyonds Terminal Happiness - Eric Romero Snapshot - Steve Johnson
Best Actor
1815 - Iain MaCrae
1815 - Iain MaCrae 1815 - Stephen Kerr Worlds Apart - Jatinder Singh Randhawa Whale Heart - Liam J. Barr
Best Actress
Snapshot - Kirsty Strain
Romance Is Dead? - Ainsley Jordan Snapshot - Carrie Dodds Snapshot - Kirsty Strain Terminal Happiness - Rachel Flynn
Acting Coach Scotland Rising Star Award
1815 - Kayla Caldwell
No Formal Nominations
Best Script
1815 - Neil Boyle
Terminal Happiness - Chinh Van Tran 1815 - Neil Boyle Fort Tom - Arthur Johnson Shooting Animals - Libby Penman
Best Cinematography
1815 - Kasparas Vidunas
1815 - Kasparas Vidunas A Tale of Tragedy - James Taylor Neolith - Garry Ferrier, Ross Ferrier The Removal - Klaudia Borbely
Best Editing
Neolith - Garry Ferrier, Ross Ferrier
A Tale of Tragedy - Joshua Strang Neolith - Garry Ferrier, Ross Ferrier Shooting Animals - Libby Penman Whale Heart - Phillip Edge
Best Documentary
Shooting Animals - Libby Penman
Kafia One Last Spin Shooting Animals Call of The Cliff Moment of Impact
Most Creative / Original
Whale Heart - Phillip Edge
Removal 1815 Wahle Heart Dive
Best Music
Terminal Happiness - Margaryta Kulichova
Terminal Happiness - Margaryta Kulichova Wild Haggis - Benjamin Woodbridge The Removal - Jamie Clapton Shooting Animals - Libby Penman
Best Sound
1815 - Scott Walker
Singulars - Luis Del Pozo 1815 - Scott Walker Call of the Cliff - Luke Stainiland Snapshot - Scott Walker, Ewan Jessamine
Best Costume/Make Up
Termiinal Happiness - Kerttu Reinmaa, Eliise Sepp
A Tale of Tragedy - Alma Conway, Katrina Doran 1815 - Samantha Jack, Urte Rusteikaite, Ellen Bramwell Neolith - Olaya Valiente, Heather Currie Terminal Happiness - Kerttu Reinmaa, Eliise Sepp
Best Animation
Love Letter to Glasgow - Myria Chrystophini
Love Letter to Glasgow Eyes Open
Thomas Haywood Best Use of Scottish Landscape Award
The Longest Line
Call of the Cliff Scotland's Wild Industry 1815 The Longest Line
