Scotland is celebrating an unprecedented year at Sundance, with seven films produced or co-produced in the country set to screen. Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland, highlights that this is a “breakout year,” noting that previous years only saw two or three Scottish titles make it to the festival. She emphasizes that Sundance provides a crucial international stage for emerging films.
Ania Trzebiatowska, a feature film programmer at Sundance and director of the SANDS: International Film Festival of St Andrews, explains the festival’s impact. With a relatively small slate of around 100 films and only ten documentaries in world competition, each selection carries weight. Seven Scottish films represent a strong showing, especially with some screening on the festival’s opening day.
One of the standout entries is Everybody to Kenmure Street, a documentary by Glasgow director Felipe Bustos Sierra, produced by Ciara Barry of Barry Crerar. The film explores a standoff between police and local protesters following a Home Office dawn raid in Pollokshields. Barry describes the story as “hopeful and optimistic,” emphasizing community spirit and the unique character of Glasgow. She also notes the festival’s business side, which helps smaller films reach global audiences before their wider release.
Other Scottish productions include The Incomer, which screens in the NEXT programme. Set on a remote Scottish island, the film follows two siblings surviving by hunting seabirds. Edinburgh-based director Louis Paxton brings his debut feature to a US audience, and co-producer Wendy Griffin, who also worked on Extra Geography, is excited to present the film internationally.
