Highlands and Islands representation within International Film Festivals
The Highlands and Islands Climate Hub and its members are celebrating after their film; ‘Climate Action: Highlands and Islands’ received international recognition in its first year since production. The film was created in 2023 and launched at an event in Eden Court in September that year. Since then, it’s been shortlisted as finalist in the ‘People and Planet’ category at The Big Syn Film Festival, the world’s biggest sustainability film festival and scooped the Documentary prize at the SeeMor Short Film Festival in Anglesey as well as being recognised at film festivals in Paris and India.
In November, The Hub Team were joined by Cameron Mackay; film maker, music producer and sustainability professional at the Big Syn International Film Festival awards event at the Cruzon in London. Cameron delivered the Hub’s vision by visiting all 10 communities capturing their stories and pulling them together to create the 28 minute long film.
With over 500 submissions from 120 countries, just 20 were shortlisted as finalists at the Big Syn International Film Festival. Within the People and Planet category, the competition was very high and while another deserving winner took the prize on the night, the Hub team remain incredibly proud to have made the shortlist and enjoyed networking with fellow finalists and hearing about their incredible projects.
The competition was judged by the grand jury and the finalist films were given an international audience throughout October via The Big Syn Film Festival’s website. The grand jury was made up of internationally renowned individuals from the film making industry including BAFTA and Emmy award winning producers and directors.
Highlands and Islands Climate Hub CEO, Joan Lawrie said:
“To be recognised by The Big Syn Festival and to have Climate Action Highlands and Islands propelled to an international audience is incredible. One of the films main goals is to inspire others but never in my wildest dreams did I think the end result would inspire international audiences. It just goes to show that communities within Highland, Orkney & Shetland really are leading the way in grass roots climate action. Communities, sustainability experts and many more are watching in awe as these communities catapult towards Net Zero goals. I can’t wait to continue amplifying the voice and power of communities at local, national and international levels.”
Travelling from Thurso to London for the event, The Hub team remained committed to sustainability and enjoyed the Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness using 7 times less CO2 than other forms of transport. During the creation of the film, Cameron travelled to each location exclusively using public transport as further commitment to the planet and the Hub’s ethos.
The 28 minute film tells the stories of 10 vibrant, inspirational and hard working communities from Shetland to Lochaber and their climate action projects. Climate Action: Highlands and Islands is now available to view online in full and anyone interested in hosting a community screening can also download a screening pack which offers handy hints and tips to host a memorable event and inspire similar action in their community.
