{"id":631603,"date":"2025-12-14T09:02:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T09:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/631603\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T09:02:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T09:02:30","slug":"edinburgh-filmmakers-among-strong-scottish-contingent-at-sundance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/631603\/","title":{"rendered":"Edinburgh filmmakers among strong Scottish contingent at Sundance"},"content":{"rendered":"

A HANDFUL of Edinburgh filmmakers<\/a> will head to Sundance Film Festival<\/a> next month as part of a strong Scottish contingent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026 is being hailed as a record-breaking year for Scottish film<\/a>, as seven films \u2013 five with funding from Screen Scotland \u2013 from north of the border are set to make their way to the mountainous region around Park City<\/a> in Utah.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These include documentaries competing in the world documentary competition, stirring dramas competing for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition and the \u201cFilm of the next\u201d categories, and special screenings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>The Incomer will be shown as part of the \u201cfilm of the next\u201d category at Sundance (C) Anthony Dickenson<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The film was filmed on-location in Caithness and concerns the conflict between modernising \u201cincomers\u201d and a pair of siblings who retell stories of their ancestors and survive by hunting seabirds on a remote Scottish island.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Director Louis Paxton said: \u201cThe Incomer has been a joy to bring to life alongside an immensely talented team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDeveloping my debut feature with the support of Screen Scotland has been a pleasure from start to finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so proud to have made a Scottish comedy, steeped in our history and humour, crafted for a universal audience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am thrilled to share it with US audiences at Sundance Film Festival 2026.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Producers Emily Gotto and Shirley O\u2019Connor said: \u201cWe\u2019re honoured to be selected at Sundance and to celebrate Louis as a breakout voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are so grateful to Screen Scotland for supporting this unique project and we\u2019re so excited to share with a US audience.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Incomer will be screened as part of The Next programme at the festival\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Producer Sonja Henrici said: \u201cI\u2019m 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can we be together despite our differences? I can\u2019t wait to share this film with audiences in 2026.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It will have its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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 Filipi\u00f1ana.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although Scotland has a rich cinematic history, next year\u2019s turnout is being hailed as a breakthrough for Scottish film.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The films sent have been described as \u201centertaining, urgent and creatively uncompromising\u201d, with the breadth and depth of Scottish film talent being celebrated by Screen Scotland and the government alike.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland said: \u201cEvery one of these titles is entertaining, urgent and creatively uncompromising.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s deeply rewarding to see Scotland\u2019s creative achievements reflected in Sundance\u2019s programme.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSupporting original storytelling \u2014 from early development through to established careers \u2014 is a core part of Screen Scotland\u2019s strategy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis selection showcases not only the vision of our filmmakers, but the breadth of talent and commitment across Scotland\u2019s screen sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to all the teams heading to Park City \u2014 we look forward to what comes next.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Culture secretary Angus Robertson added to the plaudits: \u201cI am really pleased to see these films be selected for the Sundance Film Festival, showcasing the incredible breadth of creativity in Scotland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Scottish Government is committed to building on the exceptional growth of Scotland\u2019s screen sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sundance Film Festival is one of the largest in the world, and the most well-known outside of Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has acted as a springboard for independent filmmakers, actors, and producers to launch their careers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was founded by actor Robert Redford in 1978 and has been held in Utah ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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