[Filmfestivalresearch] Scottish Film Festival Studies Network – inaugural workshop

[Alexander Marlow-Mann]

Scottish Film Festival Studies Network – inaugural workshop
The Scottish Film Festival Studies Network – an initiative organised by the Centre for Film Studies at the University of St Andrews and funded by the Royal Society for Edinburgh – had its inaugural meeting at the Royal Society for Edinburgh on Monday. The occasion was a workshop on Film Festivals in Scotland and Beyond – Activism and Social Impact.
The first session comprised a lively discussion on ‘Film Festivals and Activist Causes’ between Nick Higgins (University of Edinburgh/ filmmaker), Eddie Harrison (Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival ) and Ron Inglis (Regional Screen Scotland), which was moderated by David Archibald (University of Glasgow).
This was followed by a session on ‘Documentary Film Festivals: Nodes and Networks’, moderated by Leshu Torchin (University of St Andrews) and featuring interventions by Robin McPherson (Edinburgh Napier University), Mona Rai & Paula Larkin (Document Film Festival) and Sonja Henrici (Scottish Documentary Institute).
After lunch a session on ‘Where Is the Edinburgh International Film Festival Headed Next?’ focused on the festival’s prospects after the appointment of its new Artistic Director, Chris Fujiwara. The debate was chaired by Matthew Lloyd (Glasgow Short Film Festival/ author of How the Movie Brats Took Over Edinburgh) and featured comments by David Cairns (Edinburgh College of Art, Shadowplay) and Diane Henderson (Edinburgh International Film Festival).
The final session saw veteran activist filmmaker Želimir Žilnik in conversation with Dina Iordanova (University of St Andrews).
About 60 scholars and festival practitioners attended this highly successful event. A second workshop is planned for the same time next year (date and venue t.b.c.)
To be kept abreast of developments, and to join in the discussions on film festival culture, sign up to the Scottish Film Festival Studies Network by visiting: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/sffs<http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/sffs>

Dr. Alex Marlow-Mann
Research Co-ordinator
Centre for Film Studies
University of St. Andrews
99 North Street
St. Andrews
Fife
KY16 9AD
Scotland
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1334 467 463

The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.