Independent filmmaker Laura Harvey’s movie follows a Glasgow woman who returns to her late father’s flat on New Year’s Eve, where memories, grief and family traditions collide as midnight approaches
Martin Compston(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Greenock-born star Martin Compston has hailed a powerful short film which explores Scottish traditions, families and culture, saying it left him “misty-eyed”. The Line of Duty actor said the 15-minute drama, Hogmanay, is “gorgeous”.
Created by independent filmmaker Laura Harvey and starring some of the country’s finest actors, it follows a Glasgow woman who returns to her late father’s flat on New Year’s Eve, where memories, grief and family traditions collide as midnight approaches. It focuses on Scottish rituals and the emotional weight many families carry into the first hours of January.
The film, which has also been described by Glasgow treasure Elaine C. Smith as “moving and uplifting” will debut on STV shortly after the bells on January 1, reports the Daily Record.
Former English and drama teacher Laura, who took a break from acting to raise her children, said it “still doesn’t feel real” that the project she pushed for will be shown on the telly.
She said: “The film explores how one person’s alcoholism affects three generations of women, but it’s also about Scottish culture, resilience, and using the bells as an opportunity to make a fresh start – something I’m sure viewers across the country can relate to.”
Laura, who wrote the script and pushed the project forward independently, raising the full budget with a small, dedicated team, added: “There was no safety net.
“We built this from nothing. The fact it’s now going out on TV just after the bells still doesn’t feel real.”
Despite being a first-time screenwriter, Laura approached her “dream cast” directly including BAFTA award winners Peter Mullan and Siobhan Redmond.
She said: “All the chosen actors agreed to take part, shooting in freezing winter conditions for a short film with no studio backing.
“I honestly thought it was a long shot, but everyone read the script and it was a resounding, yes. That changed everything.”
Directed by the award-winning Kirsty Hines-Mackay, the production was supported by charities SFAD (Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs) and North West Recovery Communities.
Laura Mahon, CEO of Scottish Families, said: “Hogmanay gives voice to a reality that so many families in Scotland recognise but rarely see reflected honestly on TV. One person’s alcohol use has a ripple effect through families and across generations, shaping relationships, long-term grief, trauma and resilience.
“We are grateful to Laura Harvey for including us in Hogmanay’s creation, using real-life family voices and treating their experiences with dignity and respect. The film challenges Scotland’s difficult relationship with alcohol and how deeply woven it is into Scottish culture, showing why change is needed.
“It is a powerful call to action that highlights how the harms of alcohol ripple through families, and why families urgently need to be seen, heard and supported.”