ABOUT
US
ShortScape Film Festival is a celebration of the developing Scottish film and video industry. This short film festival aims to provide an alternative platform to showcase the works of creatives based in Scotland, and to encourage inclusivity, cooperation and development of new ideas in the field of media production.
The 3rd edition of ShortScape Film Festival will take place 5 - 7 September 2024 in Leith Arches, Edinburgh.
OUR MISSION
We mean to build bridges and connect our Scottish filmmaking community from the ground up. Everyone is important here! We want to shine the light on the conversation and creativity, and show that you don't need a big budget to make great art.
We believe in integration and cooperation, that’s why we showcase not only Scottish short films but also local artists and musicians.
ShortScape is not a competition, it’s a celebration of talent and community.
MEET THE TEAM
Jagoda TÅ‚ok
Monika NavickaitÄ—
Festival Co-Director
Festival Co-Director
Jagoda is a writer, director and a festival-maker with experience working in coordinator roles for Edinburgh International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival and International Young Audience Film Fesitval Ale Kino! Jagoda also deals with ShortScape Production.
Monika NavickaitÄ— is an award-winning Lithuanian film writer-director and film critic, currently also working in the Curatorial, Media and Communication sectors within the creative industries in Scotland. Monika is also our Head of Programme.
Juno Glover
Lucas Melian
Festival Programmer
Festival Programmer
A recent graduate from the Edinburgh Napier University Film course, Juno specialists in production Design and writing. They were a young programmer for EIFF from 2017 to 2019. They advocate for the film industry to be more inclusive for LGBT+ and disabled people, and ensure SSFF achieves this both in the films it screens and the space itself.
Lucas Melián is an Edinburgh-based filmmaker from the Canary Islands. He currently undertakes studies in Social & Cultural Anthropology to expand the breadth of issues informing his work in hybrid documentary and experimental fiction. As a programmer, Lucas is dedicated to promoting and celebrating local emerging film talent.
Coleen Brennan
Social Media Manager
Coleen is the Social Media manager for ShortScape, she also works as a Researcher in Unscripted TV. She studied Film at Edinburgh Napier University, as well as a few of the other ShortScape team members. She specialised in Documentary Directing and Editing when at university, and Is passionate about telling stories about people and culture. Her main goal with ShortScape is to get as many people interested in the festival as possible - and to make a bold brand that makes the festival stand out from the rest.
Laurie Corewyn
Stuart Charleton
Content Creator
Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Laurie is a content creator for ShortScape Film Festival. She studied at Edinburgh Napier University where she specialised in Cinematography on fiction and documentary projects. Laurie is excited for the opportunity provided by ShortScape to discover developing filmmaking talent in Scotland and meet like-minded creatives.
Stuart is the social media and marketing coordinator for ShortScape film festival. He graduated in media from Robert Gordon University, gaining experience in documentary and short film production. Stuart is a keen photographer and is looking forward to celebrating the incredible filmmaking talent on display at ShortScape.
Beth Lindsay
Festival Coordinator
Beth is the Festival Coordinator for the ShortScape Film Festival. She is a graduate of Edinburgh Napier University where she studied Film with a specialism in Producing. Beth has a particular interest in documentary filmmaking and film exhibition. She is excited to start her journey with ShortScape and to have the opportunity to highlight emerging talent within Scotland.
Heath Virgoe
Industry and Outreach Coordinator
Heath is a film director and writer with a passion for talking about - and enabling others to talk about - cinema. They look forward to using this passion to connect ShortScape with film networks and communities across Scotland, and beyond. Heath sits on the board of Scottish Queer International Film Festival, and previously were a mentee under Glasgow Film Festival’s New Talent Mentorship Scheme. They enjoy inventing fake histories, finding gay subtext, and dancing to Talking Heads.
SEE YOU AT SHORTSCAPE 2024!
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
GOT A QUESTION FOR THE SHORTSCAPE TEAM? GET IN TOUCH!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY
You will be eligible for selection if:
1. You are submitting a short film (up to 25 minutes).
2. Writer, Director or Producer are based in Scotland.
3. The film's budget is less than £10 000.
4. Film was made in the last 3 years (between the 05-08-2021 and 05-08-2024).
5. The party submitting the film owns the copyright to every aspect of the film and does not infringe the copyright of any third party.
6. The submission closes on the 21st of June 2024. The submitting party must provide all the required documentation and an online screener before the 21st of June 2024 (the official deadline for submission).
7. The submitted non-English films must have English subtitles.
8. The submitting party promises to provide required materials for film screening (stills, screening file, subtitle file, etc.) by 5th August.
This year we are charging small submission fees to make sure we can not only keep the festival running but also improve it. The fees will contribute to the costs related to running the festival but the entire team still works on a volunteer basis.
The fees are associated with three deadlines.
Early bird: 24th February - 24th March (£3)
Regular Deadline: 25th March - 24th May (£5)
Late Deadline: 25th May - 21st June (£10)
Submit early for the cheapest fee!
**If you are facing barriers in submitting your film because of submission fees, please get in touch with our team at: shortscapesubmissions@gmail.com.**
Note that the festival will take place from the 5th to 7th September 2024. We hope that as many selected filmmakers as possible will be able to make it to the screenings and panels in person. We are very proud that every year Shortscape provides a platform to spark new friendships and creative collaborations across the Scottish independent film sector. We are an independent volunteer-run festival, and our home venue – the Leith Arches – provides an intimate and homely environment. We will screen your film on their projection screen and speakers, while not top-of-the-line, we believe it is a relaxed and engaging setting to screen and share your work with other filmmakers and viewers.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. By completing the entry form and delivering the film, you have applied to enter the film into the ShortScape Film Festival.
2. ShortScape Film Festival is not a competition and your film is considered for selection only. No winners will be announced.
3. In the event that a filmmaker is under the age of eighteen, their attendance at any ShortScape Film Festival screening or online event must be accompanied by an adult.
4. The applicant has the sole and full right and authority to accept the terms and conditions and enter into this agreement.
5. The applicant has permission to reproduce and exploit all third-party materials contained in the film or upon which the film is based.
6. The submitting party is the sole and exclusive owner, or has permission from the sole and exclusive owner, of the copyright in the sound recordings comprising the soundtrack of the film and the music and lyrics reproduced in those sound recordings.
7. All of the performers in the film have consented in writing to the use of their performances in the film.
8. The submitting party has obtained from each contributor to the film a written release to use the results and proceeds of the contributor’s services and/or contributions to the film.
9. The submitting party has obtained from each contributor authorisation for Shortscape Film Festival to use the contributor’s name and likeness in connection with any publicity for the event.
10. All details submitted in the entry form by the submitting party are true and correct and the submitting party indemnifies ShortScape Film Festival from and against any and all claims and demands made against ShortScape Film Festival, its assignees or licensees, in relation to the guarantees provided by the submitting party.
11. The submitting party ensures that no part of the film is, or will be, actionable for defamation or violate any right of privacy or publicity of any person, and the full use of the rights in the film will not violate any rights, including copyright or moral rights, of any person, firm, or corporation; and the film is not the subject of any litigation nor is it threatened by any claim or litigation.
12. ShortScape Film Festival may, in its sole discretion, disqualify a film from consideration if ShortScape Film Festival has reason to believe that a film does not, for any reason, comply with the Terms and Conditions.
13. The submitting party agrees to indemnify ShortScape Film Festival and hold them harmless from any damages, liabilities, losses, costs, expenses, obligations, or claims (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys' fees and costs) arising out of the breach of submitting party’s agreements, obligations, representations and warranties under this Agreement.
14. The submitting party has a right to withdraw the film from the selection before the last submission deadline. After the deadline of submissions, all selected films will be considered for the programme and no withdrawals will be accepted.
15. The submitting party agrees for the ShortScape Film Festival to use any submitted supported materials (such as stills and short clips up to 3 minutes) for any future promotional purposes. The festival may also use filmmakers' names, likenesses, and film titles for any future promotional purposes.
16. The submitting party gives all rights to the ShortScape Film Festival to screen the film publicly during the festival event which will take place from the 5th to the 7th of September 2024 in Edinburgh.
17. Shortscape is an independent volunteer-run festival. All the proceeds of submission fees go towards supporting the costs of running the festival. The entry fee for submitting a film to the ShortScape Film Festival varies depending on the submission period. The following entry fees apply: Early Bird £3, Normal £5, Late Bird £7 and Owl £10.
All entry fees are non-refundable and must be paid through FilmFreeway when submitting. Failure to pay the appropriate entry fee may result in disqualification of the submitted film. The ShortScape Film Festival reserves the right to change entry fees at its discretion. This excludes any submitting parties who are given a fee bursary.
18. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the ShortScape Film Festival shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Edinburgh, Scotland. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed under the laws of Scotland.
PROGRAMME
FIND OUR 2024 PROGRAMME ANNOUCEMENT BELOW. A FESTIVAL BROCHURE COMING SOON!
2024 PROGRAMME ANNOUCEMENT
We are excited to announce the Official Selection of ShortScape Film Festival 2024! We have received a record number of submission this year and we were blown away by the incredible standard of work. We appreciate every filmmaker who sent us their films and we are grateful for your support.
Our brilliant programmers including Monika Navickaite (ShortScape Co-Director), Lucas Melian and Juno Glover have watched every single submission, debated, pondered and finally curated the five strands that we are happy to present to you below. We are very proud of this selection and we can't wait to share the films with you. We will be announcing the festival schedule soon, so you can plan your visit to ShortScape. Congratulations to all the selected filmmakers, see you in September!
​
Close Encounters of The Filmic Kind
1 hour 12 minutes 49 seconds
What’s hiding behind the door to Shortscape’s Twilight Zone? Cue the X files theme and discover an eclectic collection featuring hidden extraterrestrials, fae, and beasts. They come in peace!
Overpowered | dir. By Michael Bicarregui | 14:49
Cw: Implied violence
Six would-be superheroes confront the realities of adult life. Will they “make it big”, or will their powers go to waste?
Kitchen Sink Fantasy | By Heath Virgoe | 14:50
Cw: Drug use, strong language, sexual scenes, derogatory language towards minorities
A fantasy rom-com that follows a gender-swapping Gen-Z narcissist on a quest to pay rent on time.
Cakes! | Johnny Herbin | 2:20
Cw: Violence and threat! Cannibalism, blood and gore, mental health
A grieving woman follows a singing cake into a magical world within her oven.
The Party Line | Michael Roddy | 6:33
Cw: Strobe lighting, violence, threat, strong language
In a desperate attempt to raise the nation's spirit, the government forces everyone to dance EVERY day.
Subject 73 | Reiff Gaskell | 7:15
Cw: flashing images, violence, horror/threat
In a mysterious experiment, a participant's pursuit of wealth unravels as money and morality crash.
Have You Seen The Beast? | Will Hewitt & Austen McCowan | 7:00
Cw: Horror/threat
A cold case rumour-mentary about sightings of an alien big cat in the rural Welsh countryside told through eyewitness telephone accounts.
TFH! | Fraser Scott | 8:51
Cw: strong language, threat
Darren and Lu attempt to escape Glasgow during the Alien Apocalypse.
Mouth | Guy Woods | 11:11
Cw: references to sex and death, mental health, mild language
A boy dies and is allowed to do one thing before he moves on. He tries to cry.
Tales of Perseverance
1 hour 18 minutes 52 seconds
Perseverance is contagious! This collection of intimate documentaries celebrates inspiring and unstoppable overcomers of creative, political, and personal barriers.
Film About | Cameron Nicoll | 16:53
Cw: strong language, mental health
A filmmaker dives into his inner self (the notes on his phone) to revive abandoned film ideas that had been casualties of fear and self-doubt.
Oatmeal Stout | Lewis Baillie | 5:08
Cw: n/a
Following Gordon Hush - a warm and charismatic bottle digger - we gain insight into his average day and his quest to find the perfect bottle.
And So It Was | Niall Morison McRae | 14:55
Cw: loss and grief
A grieving Norah McRae - the longest-serving Scottish post office worker in history - begins to reflect on the future of the wee shop attached to her house.
Their Accounts | Hannah Kate Cameron Hunter | 5:48
Cw: n/a
The thoughts of Scottish Highland youths - whose collective voice often goes unheard - told through interviews inspired by traditional oral storytelling.
The House of Culture | Becky Miková | 14:10
Cw: mental health, threat, discussions of historical violence
Through the filmmaker’s family's memories, we return to The House of Culture - once the centre of a community, now left to decay and ruin.
Oj, Tato | Natalia Baczynski | 12:23
Cw: grief, discussions of death and mental health
Natalia ventures to her grandparents' home in Poland in search of a deeper understanding of her late father.
Friends On The Outside | Annabel Moodie | 9:35
Cw: violence, mental health, drug use, strong language, threat.
Following Jamie, an incarcerated man, the filmmaker explores how nature can take care of us and offer connections in the spaces of the state’s neglect.
Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself
58 mins 46 seconds
A splash of punk, a test of faith, an internet troll face-off. These are some of the ingredients for an unforgettable exploration of the many forms love can take.
Taylor vs. Beyoncé | Ryan Dewar | 2:49
Cw: mild language
A devoted Swiftie goes to war against a Beyhive.
My First Punk Gig | Ewan McPherson | 9:32
Cw: flashing images, drug use, strong language, hate language
Queer performer Derek McLuckie reflects on the gig that changed his life, and how punk provided the soundtrack to his coming-of-age experiences.
Échappé | Megan McRitchie | 14:22
Cw: flashing images / strobe lighting, mental health, strong language
Returning to their old ballet school, burnt-out dancer - Sylvie - explores their past to decide what to do with their future.
Benched | Nicholas Barton-Wines | 8:44
Cw: strong language
Lewis and Andrew meet at a bench. Across their sparse conversation, a turbulent fraught relationship is revealed.
Fionamonium | Angus Gannagé | 12:17
Cw: mental health, drug use, discussions of illnesses
A singer comes to terms with a seismic change in her life.
Floored | Fin Bain | 15:00
Cw: drug use, strong language, strobe lighting, violence and threat
In the medical tent at a techno rave, an unusual bond is struck between a raver and the steward who looks after him.
Jonah | Sebastiano Spadon | 11:02
Cw: mental health, mild drug use, threat
Jonah believes everything happens for a reason. He decides to test his faith and soon realises he is the one being tested.
​
Pinch Me! I’m Dreaming
44 minutes 31 seconds
Let your mind wander off and your subconscious take over in this hypnotic journey through surreal and otherworldly dreamscapes. Brace yourself to meet the monsters under your bed!
My Conversation With Elle | Nicholas Patrick Afchain | 6:12
Cw: n/a
Kay, a disenchanted zillenial, seeks the meaning of a recurring dream through its retelling to her best friend Elle.
Making Mountains | Sammi Duong | 2:13
Cw: mental health, strong language
A chaotic stream of consciousness expressing the escalating thoughts and feelings of a person navigating the difficulties of explaining her anxious mind.
Crowd | Eszter Marsalko & Wils Wilson | 6:14
Cw: nudity
A non-narrative, poetic short traversing ideas of solitude and connection, presence and alienation in nature and urban environments.
Priob | Choirstaidh NicArtair | 4:56
Cw: flashing images, intense audio, themes of loss
A woman who connects with her late grandfather, the Coal Man who speaks through radio waves from the clouds.
Porkhampton | Louis Managh | 4:44
Cw: Faeces, mild threat of violence
A remembered portrait of the filmmaker's hometown - Stretford, Manchester - where the line between reality and the imagined blends.
Itching Spider | Louis Sanders Martin | 4:46
Cw: mental health, intense audio, drug use, threat
A psychological thriller following two industrial workers in their claustrophobic work environment with submersible implications.
Tenement | Max Breakenridge | 10:55
Cw: mental health
A late-night glimpse into the private lives of four lonely residents of an old flat building in Glasgow.
Midnight at Mickey’s | Vin Wolff | 4:31
Cw: minor drug use, threatening imagery, mental health
Two tough guys face off in a seedy late-night diner.
​
Rites of Survival
1 hour 8 mins 8 seconds
Powerful stories of overcoming the man-made obstacles of our society, with an emphasis on the femme experience, our rights, gender identity, and patriarchal oppression.
Because I Can | Eva Magdić Govedarica | 9:39
Cw: hate language, threat
Through the mountains and valleys, climate changes, heatwaves, and patriarchy, Hana spins her own wheel of fortune - her unicycle. Simply, because she can.
Safe Home | Holly Jack | 12:13
Cw: intense audio, threat, stalking
Walking home after a night out, Jen is forced to download a new app to keep her safe, but will she be betrayed by the very thing supposed to protect her?
Femmes | Sára Ní Eithir | 6:18
Cw: sexual violence, mild language
Whilst in ballet class, rumours that Siobhán hooked up with a boy begin to affect her friendship.
Growin’ Pains | Sammson Orr | 5:48
Cw: mental health, mild threat, nudity
A teenager flees into the garden to escape a family argument, swallowed by the earth. Only to realise that they cannot run away from all their anxieties.
There’s Not Much We Can Do | Erica Monde | 19:15
Cw: discussions of illness, mental health
The director reflects on her journey of getting diagnosed with endometriosis by observing the invasive Japanese Knotweed. Both grow disruptively, but only one is treated with urgency.
Sweet Like Lemons | Jenny Jokela | 5:13
Cw: flashing images, violence and threat, scenes of a sexual nature, mental health, strong language.
A visual reflection on getting out of a harmful relationship and moving on.
Fly-Tipping | Gareth Malone | 9:42
Cw: blood, discussions of miscarriage, drug use, strong language.
Margo contemplates her future after losing her baby.
The strand descriptions and the film loglines were edited by Juno Glover.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN
We are excited to receive your submissions for Shortscape 2023!
CALL FOR ARTISTS
We are looking to showcase a variety of artwork at this years festival! Please get in touch!
SUBMISSIONS OPEN
We are excited to receive your submissions for Shortscape 2023!
CALL FOR ARTISTS
We are looking to showcase a variety of artwork at this years festival! Please get in touch!
WE ARE RETURNING TO LEITH ARCHES FOR SHORTSCAPE 2024!
