Creative Scotland is financing a new Scottish Shorts initiative to invest in producers, writers and directors with the imagination to create thrilling, engaging stories to share with international audiences.

Scottish Shorts will work with up to 10 talent teams with short film proposals before commissioning four high-quality live action or animated films in early 2013.

Jointly managed by Hopscotch Films and DigiCult, the initiative draws on the experience of producers John Archer, Carolynne Sinclair Kidd and Paul Welsh – producer of Lore which is receiving its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Paul Welsh, DigiCult & Edge City Films said:

“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. This should be a stimulating, challenging experience, one aimed squarely at lifting the work to the highest standard and helping position the talent nationally and internationally for future opportunities and success.”

Caroline Parkinson, Director, Creative Development, Creative Scotland added:

“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.’

Talent teams will be drawn from producers, directors and writers with experience but who now wish to develop projects with unique stories and fresh voices in films of up to 15 minutes. This can include new adaptations of rights-cleared short stories. The budget range for commissions will be between £5,000 and £20,000.”

Scottish Shorts guidelines and applications can be found here:

http://www.digicult.co.uk/opportunities/scottishshorts

Applications close Friday 12 October 2012.

Source: Creative Scotland