By Miriam Mathie (she/her)
Bright and early on a Tuesday morning saw many people at Cineworld in Glasgow gather for the Little Pictures short film screening at the Film Festival. Smiling faces all-round, chatting and sharing stories before the screening began. But… what is Little Pictures?
Little Pictures is a micro budget commissioning scheme at GMAC Film based in Trongate, Glasgow, supported by Screen Scotland and the National Lottery. It nurtures new talent to make their first funded short film in fiction, documentary, animation, or experimental genres, while learning from professionals. These commissioned projects are worked on over a period of time and were shown on the big screen in front of all the supporters, actors, crew, and mentors who were part of the journey.
You’ll now understand why the room was filled with an excited buzz, ready and prepared to watch their hard work on the one of the screens as part of the wider Glasgow Film Festival. Screen 1 held some of the scripted short films: Hope (directed by Sabina Torres), Look at Me (directed by Benedetta), A Prayer for Father (directed by Jay Alexander-Ali), Bear (directed by Kate Hammer) and Next in Line (directed by Seyma Dag).
While Screen 2 held the remaining scripted films and documentaries: The Letter (directed by Jack Guariento), Whits Fur Ye (directed by Ashely Catherine Dick), Hugh (directed by David Robertson), and Return to Arabia (directed by Mar Felices). Both were followed by Q&As where hosts and audience alike could ask the talent their pressing questions surrounding the process of making such poignant pieces of work.
After funny memories and advice were exchanged the rest of the cohort headed towards the Doubletree Hilton for refreshments, while the directors and producers held back to talk to the interviewers.
Discussing the impact that this scheme has had on their career as a creative person, what sets this chosen pathway apart from others, and their future plans, everyone in the room got to experience a snippet of their process.
“GMAC and Little Pictures has significantly impacted what I have done and what I am going to do,” says Jay Alexander-Ali, director, and actor in A Prayer for Father, a short, scripted film about a young man learning about religion after the loss of his dad.
“It has given us, small creatives, a chance to explore what we’re good at and passionate about, while allowing us to have a platform to raise awareness for the issues that are close to our hearts, whether that is for deaf people, like Benedetta’s film, or for young people on their journey of faith like mine. Without GMAC, we wouldn’t have that at all and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to share that on the big screen here at the Film Festival.“
Ask anyone, participant, mentor or spectator and the sentiment of the day would be the same – encouraging. With schemes like these in place across Scotland, and particularly in Glasgow, it is no wonder that the film industry is vibrant and alive with creatives like them.
If you’re a budding director, producer, or writer, check out GMAC Film’s Little Picture, WAC PRO and Café Flicker programmes here.