JAMES MCAVOY AT GLASGOW FILM FEST

Pic James McAvoy Instagram 

Actor James McAvoy will attend Glasgow Film Festival’s closing gala for the UK premiere of his directorial debut, California Schemin'

Theshowbizlion.com enjoys popping along to the red carpet every year for the film fest and this year will be no different. 

James will be joined by cast members Samuel Bottomley (How to Have Sex), Scottish star of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, Séamus McLean Ross and Paisley-born BAFTA Scotland Award-winning Lucy Halliday (Blue Jean). Watch the new trailer here.

Scotland-based Chilean-Belgian film director Felipe Bustos Sierra (Nae Pasaran), will return to GFF for the UK premiere of Everybody to Kenmure Street, the festival’s opening gala film on 25 February. This comes after the title was awarded the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance at the Sundance Film Festival. Also attending the premiere will be Glasgow-based political activist and human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar and Glasgow Councillor Roza Salih, who co-founded the Glasgow Girls in 2005 at the age of 15.

A selection of hot new talent and ground-breaking filmmakers will also appear on the red carpet at the 22nd edition of GFF, taking place between 25 February and 8 March.

Scottish talent to tread the red carpet includes 22-year-old identical twins from Bothwell, Ben McQuaid and Nathan McQuaid, who will attend the world premiere of their directorial debut, Welcome to G-Town (28 February). The micro-budget horror film, shot on location in Glasgow and poised to be an audience favourite at the festival, has had a third screening added to the GFF26 programme, after the first two screenings quickly sold out. Edinburgh filmmaker Sean Dunn will also attend the UK premiere of his Edinburgh-filmed black comedy The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford (4 March).

Glasgow-based Jack Archer, director of Gaelic-language documentary Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of the People), will attend, as well as the film’s subject, precentor Rob MacNeacail (1 March). The UK premiere of Midwinter Break, based on Glasgow-based novelist Bernard MacLaverty’s book of the same name, will see the writer grace the red carpet, as well as the film’s director, Olivier Award-winner Polly Findlay (26 February).

Other British filmmakers attending include Ed Sayers, director of environmental feature Super Nature (28 February), BAFTA-winning Mark Jenkin (Bait), who will return to GFF for the Scottish premiere of his hotly anticipated science fiction drama Rose of Nevada (26 February), BAFTA-winning Stroma Cairns (Mood) for the Scottish premiere of The Son and the Sea (7 March), and BIFA-winning directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, who will return to GFF for the Scottish premiere of Broken English, about British pop icon Marianne Faithfull (26 February). 

Filmmakers from across the world will attend, including French screenwriter and director Alice Winocour (Proxima) for the UK premiere of Angelina Jolie-led drama Couture, which will also be attended by co-writer, Swiss filmmaker Jean-Stéphane Bron (28 February). NME Award-winning Irish filmmaker Gavin FitzGerald will attend the UK premiere of Lomu, his new documentary about rugby icon Jonah Lomu and Italian director Francesco Sossai will attend the UK premiere of GFF26 Audience Award shortlisted film The Last One for the Road (5 March), as well as the directors of Leonora in the Morning Light, Swiss/Czech filmmaker Lena Vurma and German filmmaker Thor Klein (28 February). 

Gavin FitzGerald, Irish director of Lomu about legendary rugby player Jonah Lomu, will attend (27 February), as well as Mexico City-based Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig, directors of Jaripeo, about the queer side of Mexican rodeo (1 March). Japanese filmmaker Yukinori Makabe will also return to the festival for the world premiere of his romance drama Sinsin and the Mouse, adapted from celebrated author Banana Yoshimoto’s short story of the same name (6 March). 

Acting talent who will grace the GFF red carpet include Call the Midwife star Natalie Quarry and Eastenders actor Ronni Ancona for the UK premiere of Think of England (6 March), 16-year-old BAFTA-nominated rising star Woody Norman (C'mon C'mon) for the UK premiere of My Father’s Island (2 March), and up-and-coming actor Leisa Gwenllian, lead of Effi o Blaenau, a Welsh drama having its world premiere at the festival, as well as a return to GFF by the film’s director, BAFTA Cymru-winning Marc Evans (3 March).

FrightFest, the horror festival known as the UK’s “Woodstock of gore”, taking place within GFF, will also see a selection of stars gracing Glasgow Film Theatre, with the UK premiere of The Restoration at Grayson Manor being attended by previously announced stars Chris Colfer (Glee) and Alice Krige (Star Trek) (6 March), and Red Riding being attended by acclaimed horror director and producer Neil Marshall (The Descent) (7 March).

GFF26 will host 126 films across 12 days, including 16 World, European and International premieres, 68 UK premieres, and 18 Scottish premieres, with titles from 44 countries and six continents.  

GFF is Scotland’s flagship film festival and is run by Glasgow Film, a charity which also runs Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT). The festival is made possible by support from Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, both awarding National Lottery funding, and Glasgow Life, the charity which delivers culture, events and active living in Glasgow. 

JENNY ORTEGA’S GLASGOW GRAVEYARD VISIT

Court Glasgow TokTok
Jenny Ortega in Glasgow

Exclusive 

Beverley Lyons 

Wednesday Addam’s star Jenna Ortega has been enjoying Glasgow’s scenery as she walked her dog in and around the city centre. 

The 22 year old Netflix star, who has now arrived in Glasgow to film alongside on JJ Abrams new movie Ghost Writer alongside Glen Powell and Samuel L Jackson, even kept in character as she took a tour of Glasgow’s spooky Necropolis graveyard alongside Dave Grohl’s daughter Harper. 

Although she’s not yet been spotted on set, the actress and her prized pooch Stinky, named on account of his wind problem, decided to take in some of the city’s famous sights during some precious time off before filming. 

Jenna looked relaxed in her all black ensemble as she first posed in pictures with a group of friends who met her on her travels at the famed Glasgow Necropolis graveyard which was recently featured in the Batman movie. 

 The 22-year-old, who has been acting since 2012, became a household name thanks to her part in Netflix comedy series Wednesday based on her Addams Family character that reached screens in 2022.

Dave Grohls second eldest daughter Harper,16, who is thought to have been visiting Glasgow separately is an accomplished drummer and had joined her father onstage at gigs before. 

Jenna told her and the group that she was exploring the city during her break before shooting at 10pm. 

Courtney Baw, who was there with friends told her followers on TikTok that Jenna was so sweet and cute. She added: “Harper is our lovely friend. She’s just visiting.”

Asked if the picture of Jenna was real she added: “It's real Imao shes shooting a film here! We met her on her break. Yes! She was on her break till 10pm. She said we all looked so cool and she complimented my friends shirt!”

Asked the name of Jenna’s dog she added: “It’s stinky.”

Jenna also decided to take a stroll around the city centre, circling Blytheswood Square, Pitt Street and West George Street with her beloved dog. 

She is also set to appear alongside Sex Education’s Emma Mackey in the film, Abram's first since his 2019 Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker,l. It is said to be inspired by The Last Starfighter - a 1984 space movie about a video game player who is recruited to join an interstellar battle against alien forces.

The Warner Bros production was in Edinburgh and has now been filming long shoots into the early hours of the morning in Glasgow in the street around Douglas Street and will continue to film there until June 23. 

Sets include dystopian Asian style restaurants with futuristic vehicles and although Samuel L Jackson has not yet been seen, Glen Powell has been spotted running up hills and walking along pavements in character.

Director JJ Abrams said he was enjoying his time  shooting in Glasgow after being here secretly to check out locations during Glasgow Film Festival. He was also thrilled when one fan congratulated him on his popstar daughter Gracie Abrams success. 

MEL GIBSON MEMORABILIA UP FOR GRABS

Pic: Propstore
Beverley Lyons 
MEL Gibsons’s performance as William Wallace in iconic Scots film Braveheart would not have been the same without his trusty Claymore and now those with deep pockets have the chance to own one of the movie world’s most famed weapons. 
As legendary as Luke Skywalker’s original Star Wars light sabre, and arguably as important on screen as the protagonist himself, the signature Claymore was designed by noted armorer Simon Atherton and constructed with Del Tin blades based on real-world medieval-era Scottish broadswords.
It is now going on sale in auction from March 12 with a predicted price of between $60,000 - 120,000. 
The sword’s metal handle is said to be the only ‘screen match’ to that used by Gibson in the Award winning medieval biopic which first reached our cinemas on May 24 1995.
As the real Wallace was believed by some scholars to have wielded a customised sword of his own design, Atherton's version is similarly distinguished by personalised, yet historically accurate, detailing on its pommel and grip.
The Claymore is not perfect - as you would expect from one used in the movie which was best picture winner in 1996. 
The blade has been restored but the nicks and production distressing on this sword's pommel screen-match to when Wallace thrust his sword into the ground during the Battle of Falkirk.
Images from the fan-favourite moment later inspired the film's promotional campaign.
The handle features a distinctive cruciform crossguard, a matching scalloped pommel, and a brown leather ricasso and grip. 
According to auctioneers at Propstore, at an indeterminable time, the sword's original blade was removed just below the leather-wrapped ricasso, possibly for a specific effects shot. 
The sword has been restored to its original appearance by welding a replica metal blade to the ricasso. The replica blade was created from the exact dimensions of another production-used Wallace sword. 
The sword was intentionally distressed by production with nicks in the guard and pommel and discoloration to the ricasso to appear well-used in battle. It also exhibits some tearing from use. 
Propstore COO, Brandon Alinger added: “What makes this such a great piece is that we are able to match the sword to a specific scene in the movie.  The handle and all leatherwork is original and screen matches to Willaim Wallace thrusting the sword into the ground during an epic battle scene. It was that scene that inspired the film’s entire promotional campaign – so this one prop has multiple reasons to be prized and valued.”
The Claymore is not the only prized piece from the film that is up for grabs. 
The double bladed buckler used by Scots actor David O’Hara’s as Stephen of Ireland in the film is also for sale at a lesser estimate of $2,000 - 4,000.
Stephen wielded his signature buckler against the English as he battled alongside William Wallace. 
Constructed from metal and wood wrapped in red leatherette with solid metal blades extending from either side to create the double-bladed effect, the leatherette is studded with metal and a piece of tape across the front is hand-marked "Stephen." 
The weapon is intentionally distressed by production to give it a battle-worn appearance with nicks and grime applied to the metal. The buckler exhibits some discolouration from age and the blade was dulled by production.
Stewart's (Donal Gibson) bloodied stunt Battle of Stirling Bridge dagger which was used to slit the throats of English soldiers while fighting alongside William Wallace l in the Battle of Stirling Bridge is also for sale. 
The rubber stunt dagger is hand-painted silver and brown to resemble metal and wood, blood-stained, and erroneously labeled "MacGregor Stirling" on a piece of tape wrapped around the handle. It exhibits flaking paint and exposed rubber from production use and age and is estimated to sell for between $1,000 - 2,000. 

Those who also want to spend more on something less aggressive can get a vital piece from the historic wedding scene between William Wallace and Murron MacClannough (Catherine McCormack).

Pic: Propstore

William and Murron wrapped a wedding tartan around their hands when the priest (Robert Paterson) wed them in secret.
The red, black, and green wool tartan features a sewn straw "W and "M" for William and Murron alongside a flower-patterned arabesque design sewn with straw. 
The tartan exhibits intentionally frayed edges and loose thread from production use and is expected to sell for between $12,000 - 24,000.
Widely considered one of the greatest war epics of all time, Braveheart received 10 Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture and Best Director for Gibson. 
The film also generated a great deal of tourism for Scotland and piqued interest in Scottish history, including into the real lives of Wallace and MacClannough.

SCOTS DOCTOR WHO NCUTI GATWA MOVES INTO FIRST HOME

NEW Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa has just moved into his first home after securing the prestigious role of the famed time travelling doctor - and he couldn’t wait to tell his fans about his good news. 

Ncuti,  who has revealed in the past that he was once homeless, couldn’t wait to show off his new London pad which he started moving into in mid January. 

He fully moved in this week and in a now deleted Insta story he grinned widely at the camera as he showed off his surroundings. 

He also wrote: “Man a homeowner now.”

Scottish Sex Education star Ncuti who was born in Rwanda, previously revealed that before landing the role, he'd struggled with homelessness and depression. 

He told the Big Issue in 2020 of his past struggles to make ends meet.

 He wrote: "Being a 25-year-old man with no money or job affected my sense of self-worth. Rejection became unbearable. Auditions weren't just acting jobs, they were lifelines." 

One friend gave me money towards paying off the prior month's rent and offered to let me move into their spare room rent free for a while.

Great, I thought. An opportunity to get back on my feet and start paying people back. On moving-in day, he changed his mind. As I was standing on the street with my suitcases, one thought came into my head: 'I'm homeless.'"

"To the outside world everything seemed fine. I was temping at Harrods. 

"I'd wake up from the double bed I shared with my best friend, leave the house without a hair out of place in a slick-looking trench coat and polished brogues. I would get compliments for looking so presentable. When I lost weight due to eating only one meal a day, people told me how lean and healthy I looked.”

Following his move in during the weekend Ncuti couldn’t wait to thank his removal team for being so kind. 

He wrote: “Finally FULLY in my yard. Hit up Den Drops Ltd if you need to move. So helpful. So efficient. And great banter. What more do you want.”

Ncuti will take over from fourteenth Doctor David Tennant at the end of 2023.

From Scotland with Love theshowbizlion.com 

This article has since been published in the mail online. 

JOHNNY DEPP SPEAKS ABOUT BEING IN SCOTLAND AFTER WINNING LIBEL CASE

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Exclusive 

JOHNNY Depp talked about how he was feeling in  Scotland after he was asked how it felt to be a free man here. 

Footage has emerged from the Hollywood star’s trip to Glasgow to perform on stage with his musician friend Jeff Beck and the star looked thrilled as he spoke exclusively to theshowbizlion.com . 

Johnny had greeted fans after exiting through the back door of the Dakota hotel in Glasgow and spent time autographing pictures and waving to the awaiting crowd. 

The 58-year-old who was in the hotel’s car park had arrived the previous morning around 3am by tour bus with his Scots bodyguard Malcolm before heading inside the hotel. 

At the time he was unable to stop after the tiring journey from down south but he promised to speak the next day.

Johnny mania hit Glasgow as fans tried to get a glimpse of the Pirates of The Caribbean star ahead of Jeff’s sold out gig at the Royal concert hall. 

Photo copyright - theshowbizlion.com 

Bev asked Johnny: “Johnny Depp, how does it feel to be a free man in Scotland?”

A smiling Johnny responded: “Oh it feels good to be in Scotland, it feels good.”

Photo copyright - theshowbizlion.com 

He didn’t say if he was planning to party but later that night had a small gathering with friends including Shane MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke backstage at the Royal Concert hall. 

Johnny arrived in Glasgow just days after he won his libel case against his ex-wife Amber Heard this month.

Johnny was awarded compensatory damages of $10million (£8 million) and a further $5 million (£4 million) in punitive damages by a jury.

Photo - copyright theshowbizlion.com 

The actor sued the Aquaman star Amber over an article  titled: “I spoke up against sexual violence - and face our culture’s wrath. That has to change.” 

His victory has divided opinion but raised conversations about the role of social media, women’s rights, men’s rights and the power of PR. 

From Scotland with love - theshowbizlion.com 

KAREN GILLAN TO LEAD NEW YORK TARTAN WEEK PARADE

Karen Gillan will walk the streets of New York City as she becomes the second ever female Grand Marshall of the famous Tartan Day Parade. 

Former Doctor Who star Karen will walk the closed off streets of the Big Apple for the tartan themed event on April 9.

The Avengers, Guardians of The Galaxy and Jumanji star follows in the footsteps of KT Tunstall who led the parade in 2018 and other celebrated Scots including Sir Billy Connolly who took the honours at the last event held in 2019.

Outlander actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, Trainspotting's Kevin McKidd, and kiltmaker Howie Nicholsby have also taken on the role in previous years.

The globally marketed event first started in 1999 – the year after the United States Senate agreed to designate a national Tartan Day each April.

More than 30,000 people take part in the event in Manhattan and previous years have seen dogs wearing kilts, mini Kelpies grace Union Square, scaled down Military Tattoos being held in the city and First Ministers participate in events like cutting the tape of the Tartan Week marathon round Central Park.

Inverness-born Karen, who this week told fans she is back at work after a New Year break, has gained a cult following for her role as Nebula in the Marvel superhero films and now lives in LA.

The Tartan Day Parade confirmed Karen's latest honour saying: "The National Tartan Day New York Committee is honoured to announce award-winning Scottish actress Karen Gillan as Grand Marshal of the New York City 2022 Tartan Day Parade."

The event is now in its 24th year, and a lively procession of pipes and drums bands, Highland dancers, Scottish clans, Shetlander Vikings and more are expected to perform on the day.

DAVID BOWIE’S MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN SCOTLAND

David Bowie album cover 

As fans celebrate the late great David Bowie's birthday, theshowbizlion.com thought it would be fun to remember some of his most memorable moments in Scotland.

The Life On Mars singer and Man Who Fell To Earth star passed away in 2016 after a battle with cancer.

He was born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London but he spent much of his life travelling and frequently visited here over the years.

One of his earliest headline gigs, still using his real name, was in 1964 in December 3 in Lothian Road, Edinburgh at the ABC cinema. He was in a group called the Manish Boys.

Five years later he played as David Bowie, the name of his second studio album in Kirkcaldy at the Adam Smith Theatre in November 1969. The album was later re-released oin 1972 by RCA as Space Oddity.

1969 also saw Bowie perform at the Edinburgh Fringe, as an actor this time round, in Lindsay Kemp's The Looking Glass Murders which incorporated his music.

One year later he plays at Grampian TV studios - now STV - in Aberdeen for the Cairngorm Ski Night show.

In 1973 the Starman also played the now defunct Apollo, then known as Green's Playhouse in Glasgow with songs from Hunky Dory,The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

One year on he and Scots Shut belter Lulu had a fling, despite him being married to Angela Barnett and Lulu subsequently covered and had a hit with The Man Who Sold The World.

1978 saw Bowie play four-nights at Glasgow's Apollo from June 19 - 22 and in 1983 he brought Let's Dance to Murrayfield Stadium and played to a crowd of 47,000.

Six years on he also played with Tin Machine at The Forum in Livingston before returning to the capital to perform for the Royal Highland Exhibition Centre in 1990 and Glasgow's Barrowland.

2003 was sadly the last time David Bowie performed in Scotland at Glasgow's SECC but in 2014 he asked for Scotland to remain part of the UK, via Kate Moss at the Brit Awards.

His impact and influence on Scots will never be forgotten and many today paid tribute as Bowie’s widow Iman shared a quote from author Margaret Atwood, saying: "I exist in two places, here and where you are."

SIR BILLY CONNOLLY IS READY TO ANSWE YOUR QUESTIONS

Sir Billy Connolly will be holding a Question and Answer sessions with his fans around the world as part of his new book promotion.

The Scots comedy legend recently wrote his bestselling autobiography, Windswept & Interesting which sold more than 230,000 copies within its first month of sale.

And to celebrate, next week he plans to give fans some of his precious time to talk about his life.

Billy will chat with writer and broadcaster Damian Barr across his own Facebook and Waterstones Facebook on December 8 at 7:30pm.

The event is FREE and fans can put in their questions via the hashtag #AskBilly on social media from now.

Waterstones’ audience development manager Will Rycroft said: "After the joy of sharing Billy's brilliant autobiography with readers we’re thrilled to be able to bring them together with the man himself for this unique event.

"That word unique is often overused but feels entirely fitting here, and we’re already intrigued to hear what answers we might get on the night."

Billy who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013 turned 79 last week and fans will be keen to see him after he received birthday greetings from around the globe.

Billy has always been a favourite of theshowbizlion.com and we’ve met him in numerous occasions throughout the years. 

His candour and sincerity shine through and the Q and A promises to be fun for all fans.

HOLLYWOOD STAR SENDS SCOTS BAND THE RONAINS AN EMOTIONAL MESSAGE

SCOTS band The Ronains received a touching message of encouragement from Hollywood star Peaky Blinders and Guardians of The Galaxy actor Tommy Flanagan during mental health awareness week. 

Tommy who also played an alcoholic with mental health issues in hit crime drama Sons of Anarchy, has been following the Clydebank band for the past year and has championed their work. 

The Braveheart actor sent bass player Jim, singer Debbie, drummer Linzi and guitarist LP a message of support after they let him hear their brand new single, a powerful cover of Flower of Scotland which they are releasing on Friday May 21.

The track is available for 79p on preorder now from iTunes and Amazon and the band are hopeful it will chart. 

Tommy,  who has been filming the new series of Peaky Blinders in Chicago, as well as new series of Tower sent the band a message after bass player Jim told him he was finding the music business difficult during lockdown.

Tommy wrote: “Life’s highs will be overshadowed by the sometimes overwhelming lows. But the clock keeps ticking. 

“Time will reveal the why the who the wtf. If what you’re doing brings you love and joy end of, you win!

“Do not give up! Adjust and reset when required. ‘Hard work and heartache’ life of an artist. Enjoy the highs when they come.

“Few people want to see you succeed, no matter what they say.
Beware of that s***e!
You guys got tons of talent. Keep doing the work. You’re going to get to wherever ‘there’ is.
Best TF.”

Bass player Jim Reid said: “Tommy is one of my favourite actors and I've watched him in everything from Braveheart and Guardians of The Galaxy to Sons of Anarchy and Peaky Blinders.  I’m a huge fan. It’s a deep message he sent us. I’d told Tommy that I was finding lockdown hard as a musician and he wrote this incredible letter of encouragement."

The band have been playing their version of Flower of Scotland at live gigs for a while but decided to record and release it to reflect the recent achievement in Scottish sport.

Jim said: “We recorded a powerful rocky verson of Flower of Scotland because we wanted to celebrate the success of the national football team and reaching the World Cup qualifiers for the first time in 26 years. 

“The Scottish rugby team have done well and boxer Josh Taylor is fighting in Las Vegas for our country too.

We are proud of our Scottish roots and this song means everything to us.”

Singer Debbie, whose soaring vocals feature in the song, added: 'It's quite terrifying taking on such a huge, Iconic song, but if you don't reach for the sky you'll never be amongst the stars.”

The song is available for Pre-order now on Amazon and iTunes by clicking on the 2 links below.

AMAZON ➡️ https://amzn.to/3un9po9 - 79p

ITUNES ➡️ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/flower-of-scotland-single/1564971257?ls=1&app=itunes 69p

THE BAFTA SCOTLAND AWARDS ARE HOTTING UP WOTH GUILT AND ELIZABETH IS MISSING AS FRONTRUNNERS

THE nominations for The British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Scotland (BAFTA Scotland) are in and Guilt is leading the way with five nominations alongside Elizabeth Is Missing with four nominations.  

We always love a red carpet at theshowbizlion.com and we will be sure to get our sequins on for the big event this year - even if it is virtual. 

The very best talent in film, games and television produced in Scotland will be celebrated this year on Tuesday December 8. over the last year.

 First time nominees this year include Lois Chimimba (Group) Mirren Mack (The Nest) and Jamie Sives (Guilt) 

There’s also a new Audience Award in  

conjunction with Screen Scotland which sees productions including Black and Scottish, Guilt, 

Murder Trial: The Disappearance of Margaret Fleming, The Nest, Outlander and River City In the running, 

The Awards, which include two Outstanding Contribution Awards and the new Audience Award, will be presented at the digital ceremony by Edith Bowman who tells us she will miss the heckles this year, but not the cold of the red carpet. 

Edith will host a socially distant, closed-studio show alongside Sanjeev Kohli and other guest presenters. 

The ceremony will be live streamed from 19.00 GMT on BAFTA’s Facebook and YouTubechannels and followed by a highlights show on BBC Scotland at 22.00 GMT.  

Members of the public can cast their vote for the Audience Award from 10.00 GMT on 21 October until 17.00 GMT on 18 November on the BAFTA Scotland website (www.bafta.org/scotland).

Jude MacLaverty, Director of BAFTA Scotland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be announcing our British Academy Scotland Award nominations, which highlight the phenomenal level of talent and creativity in the film, game and television industries within Scotland. We are also thrilled to welcome EE back as the Official Network Partner to the Awards this year and to be working in partnership with Screen Scotland on a brand new Audience Award. During these challenging times, TV has both entertained and informed the public, and it seems only fitting that the viewing public is given the chance to have their say. Although our Awards format is different this year, our passion for and commitment to recognising talent and celebrating achievement remains, and we are really looking forward to celebrating all of our nominees on 8 December.”

Edith Bowman, returning host of the ceremony, added: “I am very excited to be returning to host the British Academy Scotland Awards, albeit for a slightly different show this year. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we celebrate and recognise the achievements of the country’s film, games and television industries, reminding everyone of the importance and enjoyment of the arts.  This year’s list of nominees highlight yet again the wealth of creative talent and craft that exists in Scotland. I can’t wait to announce this year's winners on 8 December.” 

 

 

BRITISH ACADEMY SCOTLAND AWARDS 2020:

NOMINATIONS 

 

ACTOR TELEVISION sponsored by Audi UK

MARK BONNAR Guilt

NCUTI GATWA Sex Education

JAMIE SIVES Guilt

 

ACTRESS TELEVISION 

LOIS CHIMIMBA Group

GLENDA JACKSON Elizabeth is Missing

MIRREN MACK The Nest

 

DIRECTOR – FACTUAL

STEWART KYASIMIRE - Black and Scottish

JOHN MACLAVERTY - The Battle of Skye Bridge

MATT PINDER - Murder Trial: The Disappearance of Margaret Fleming

 

DIRECTOR - FICTION sponsored by Champagne Taittinger

ROBERT MCKILLOP Guilt

LYNSEY MILLER Deadwater Fell

AISLING WALSH Elizabeth is Missing  

 

ENTERTAINMENT

SCOT SQUAD: THE CHIEF’S ELECTION INTERVIEWS Jack Docherty, Joe Hullait, Iain Davidson, Marie McDonald - The Comedy Unit/BBC Scotland 

SELLING SCOTLAND Jack Docherty, Mark Downie, Liam McArdle, Julyan Sinclair - IWC Media/BBC Scotland

TEST DRIVE Derek McLean, Daniel Nettleton, Lynsey Wylie, Katy Smith – Bandicoot Scotland/BBC Scotland

 

FACTUAL SERIES

DARREN MCGARVEY'S SCOTLAND Harry Bell, Stephen Bennett, Darren McGarvey, Ceara East - Tern Television/BBC Scotland 

FRANKIE BOYLE'S TOUR OF SCOTLAND Mick McAvoy, Nicky Waltham, Graeme Hart, Frankie Boyle -Two Rivers Media/BBC Two

MURDER TRIAL: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARGARET FLEMING Matt Pinder, Audrey McColligan, Iain Scollay, Lorraine McKechnie – Firecrest Films/BBC Scotland

 

FEATURES

A COUNTRY LIFE FOR HALF THE PRICE Kate Humble, Andrew Jackson, Louise Scrivens, Iain Robson – Raise the Roof Productions/Channel 5

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Production Team - IWC Media/Channel 4

SCOTLAND'S HOME OF THE YEAR Production Team – IWC Media/BBC Scotland

 

GAME

AUTONAUTS Aaron Puzey, Gary Penn - Denki

CLOUDPUNK Marko Dieckmann, Thomas Welsh, Rebecca Roe, Roman Agapov - Ion Lands

DEAD END JOB Production Team - Ant Workshop

 

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

THE NINE Production Team - BBC Scotland

SCOTLAND'S LOCKDOWN (DISCLOSURE)Production Team - BBC Scotland/BBC One Scotland

THE WAR NEXT DOOR: SCOTLAND AND THE TROUBLES Brendan Hughes, Harry Bell, Morag Tinto, Andrew Chambers – Tern Television/BBC Scotland 

 

SHORT FILM & ANIMATION

BETTY Will Anderson - Autoproduction

THE LAST TRAIN Ross Hogg, Sean Mulvenna – LUX Scotland/BBC

THE MOTORIST Ciaran Lyons, Beth Allan, David Liddell, Chris Lyons - Forest of Black

 

SINGLE DOCUMENTARY

THE BATTLE OF SKYE BRIDGE Harry Bell, John MacLaverty, Noel Nelis, Cara Maclean – Tern Television Productions/BBC Scotland
BEING GAIL PORTER Harry Bell, Anne-Claire Pilley – Tern Television Productions/BBC Scotland
DOOMAN Darren Hercher, Dave Arthur, Karen Emsley – CTVC/BBC Scotland

 

SPECIALIST FACTUAL sponsored by Deloitte

CLIMATEGATE: SCIENCE OF A SCANDALProduction Team - Red Sky Productions/BBC Four

GREG DAVIES: LOOKING FOR KES Jenny Dames, Richard Bright, David Arthur, Fran Kilgour – BBC Studios/BBC Four

MISS WORLD 1970: BEAUTY QUEENS AND BEDLAM Hannah Berryman, Lizzie Webster, Patrick Smith, Richard Bright - BBC Studios/BBC Two

 

TELEVISION SCRIPTED

DEADWATER FELL Production Team – Kudos/Channel 4

ELIZABETH IS MISSING Andrea Gibb, Aisling Walsh, Sarah Brown, Chrissy Skinns – STV Productions/BBC One
GUILT Production Team - Expectation/Happy Tramp North/BBC Scotland

 

WRITER FILM/TELEVISION supported by Screen Scotland

ANDREA GIBB Elizabeth is Missing

NEIL FORSYTH Guilt

PAUL LAVERTY Sorry We Missed You

 

THE BAFTA SCOTLAND AUDIENCE AWARD in partnership with Screen Scotland

BLACK AND SCOTTISH

GUILT

MURDER TRIAL: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARGARET FLEMING

THE NEST

OUTLANDER

RIVER CITY