Creative Scotland financing new Scottish Shorts initiative

Creative Scotland have announced that they are financing a new initiative aimed at investing in producers, writers and directors.

Jointly managed by Hopscotch Films and DigiCult, Scottish Shorts will work with up to ten teams with short film proposals before commissioning four live action or animated films in early 2013. Producers John Archer, Carolynne Sinclair Kidd and Lore producer Paul Welsh [pictured], which receives its North American premiere in Toronto, will head up the initiative.

Teams will be drawn from writers, producers and directors with experience who now want to develop projects of up to 15 minutes, including adaptations of rights-cleared short stories, with commission budgets ranging between £5,000 and £20,000. Applications close on Oct 12.

Welsh commented: “I’m delighted to be working with Creative Scotland and Hopscotch Films on Scottish Shorts 2012. The mix of talent and experience heading-up this programme should be great for emerging filmmakers in Scotland.”

“The Scottish Shorts initiative offers an intense period of development for producers, directors and writers ready to take the next step in their career. We are delighted that three acclaimed producers have committed to developing the stories and voices that will strengthen Scottish film making,” added Caroline Parkinson, Director, Creative Development, Creative Scotland.