A HANDFUL of Edinburgh filmmakers will head to Sundance Film Festival next month as part of a strong Scottish contingent.
2026 is being hailed as a record-breaking year for Scottish film, as seven films – five with funding from Screen Scotland – from north of the border are set to make their way to the mountainous region around Park City in Utah.
In total, seven Scottish films will be shown at Sundance, one of the most prestigious film showcases in the world and the largest in the United States.
These include documentaries competing in the world documentary competition, stirring dramas competing for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition and the “Film of the next” categories, and special screenings.
The Incomer will be shown as part of the “film of the next” category at Sundance (C) Anthony Dickenson
The Incomer, which tells the story of a gawky council worker intruding on an insular island, is the directorial debut of Edinburgh-based filmmaker Lousi Paxton.
The film was filmed on-location in Caithness and concerns the conflict between modernising “incomers” and a pair of siblings who retell stories of their ancestors and survive by hunting seabirds on a remote Scottish island.
Director Louis Paxton said: “The Incomer has been a joy to bring to life alongside an immensely talented team.
“Developing my debut feature with the support of Screen Scotland has been a pleasure from start to finish.
“I’m so proud to have made a Scottish comedy, steeped in our history and humour, crafted for a universal audience.
“I am thrilled to share it with US audiences at Sundance Film Festival 2026.”
Producers Emily Gotto and Shirley O’Connor said: “We’re honoured to be selected at Sundance and to celebrate Louis as a breakout voice.
“Working with Scottish talent in front of and behind the camera, and on location in the Northern Highlands has been one of the greatest joys of our careers and the results are undeniable.
“We are so grateful to Screen Scotland for supporting this unique project and we’re so excited to share with a US audience.”
The Incomer will be screened as part of The Next programme at the festival
Bird of War, which was produced by the Edinburgh-based Sonja Henrici, tells the love story of a Lebanese journalist and Syrian activists through more than a decade of personal archives across wars, revolutions, and exile.
The film was directed and produced by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak and will have its world premiere as part of the World Cinema Documentary Competition.
Producer Sonja Henrici said: “I’m so grateful for the trust Screen Scotland placed in us to develop this timely film about love and belonging in times of revolution and exile.
“How can we be together despite our differences? I can’t wait to share this film with audiences in 2026.”
Extra Geography, a tale about best friends at an English boarding school grappling with the challenges of girlhood, companionship, boys, studying, and growing, does not have funding from Screen Scotland, unlike the other two.
It will have its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Other films being put forward by Scotland at the iconic film festival include documentary Everybody to Kenmure Street, The Story of Documentary, produced by John Archer, Lady, a sprawling drama set in Lagos, and golf drama Filipiñana.
Although Scotland has a rich cinematic history, next year’s turnout is being hailed as a breakthrough for Scottish film.
The films sent have been described as “entertaining, urgent and creatively uncompromising”, with the breadth and depth of Scottish film talent being celebrated by Screen Scotland and the government alike.
Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland said: “Every one of these titles is entertaining, urgent and creatively uncompromising.
“It’s deeply rewarding to see Scotland’s creative achievements reflected in Sundance’s programme.
“Supporting original storytelling — from early development through to established careers — is a core part of Screen Scotland’s strategy.
“This selection showcases not only the vision of our filmmakers, but the breadth of talent and commitment across Scotland’s screen sector.
“Congratulations to all the teams heading to Park City — we look forward to what comes next.”
Culture secretary Angus Robertson added to the plaudits: “I am really pleased to see these films be selected for the Sundance Film Festival, showcasing the incredible breadth of creativity in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government is committed to building on the exceptional growth of Scotland’s screen sector.
“The funding, facilities, talent, crew, and specialist support available in Scotland mean that an ever-increasing number of, hugely exciting and ambitious domestically originated projects, such as these, are able to take shape and succeed on the global stage.”
Sundance Film Festival is one of the largest in the world, and the most well-known outside of Europe.
It has acted as a springboard for independent filmmakers, actors, and producers to launch their careers.
It was founded by actor Robert Redford in 1978 and has been held in Utah ever since.
It was announced earlier this year that the festival would move from Park City, Utah to Boulder City, Colorado for 2017 and beyond, taking the festival out of Utah for the first time.
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