Published: 08 Nov 2017
The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) has been shortlisted in the Film Society of the Year Awards for its innovative Film Education in Libraries project.
The Film Education in Libraries project has been shortlisted in two categories – Film Discovery Award and the Community Award.
The project, which is supported by £190,000 National Lottery funding from Creative Scotland, is piloting community film clubs at six public library services at the City of Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Community Trust, Midlothian Council, Culture North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire Council and Western Isles Council. The aim is to improve the provision of film and moving image education across Scotland.
The film clubs have been taking place in rural, remote and inner-city settings, targeting children, older people and young offenders with screenings of archive film footage relating to the local area. The clubs have been designed to tackle social isolation and improve literacy among different groups of library users.
It has been immensely inspiring to see what library staff have achieved in developing film with their communities.- Scott Donaldson, Head of Film Education
Scottish actor and winner of the best film actor at the 2017 Scottish BAFTAs, Ewen Bremner has recently voiced his support for the innovative film project. He said:
"Just like great books, great films have special powers to communicate, share experience, provoke thought and expand our understanding of ourselves and each other. It's great that the libraries are giving all of us the opportunity to share some time and films together. Access to films for everyone is something to be celebrated and enjoyed. I hope this project helps people get even more from our libraries."
Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive, SLIC said: “To be shortlisted for these national awards is excellent recognition for our film project and underlines how libraries are an ideal location for film discovery and other cultural experiences. Libraries are at the heart of our communities and are open to everyone, offering an accessible space and providing services that everyone can benefit from.”
Scott Donaldson, Head of Film Education at Creative Scotland said: “These nominations recognise the important role film clubs and film education play in connecting communities with film and moving image, and connecting people with each other - key aims for Scotland's libraries and the role of culture in their national strategy.
“Creative Scotland is delighted to support this programme in partnership with SLIC, to promote film and moving image education, and to increase the reach and provision of film and moving image across Scotland, key aims for our Screen Strategy. It has been immensely inspiring to see what library staff have achieved in developing film with their communities.”
The winners of the Film Society of the Year awards will be announced on Saturday 11 November at the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield. The annual awards are run by Cinema for All, a national support organisation for community-led cinema, helping communities across the country to deliver film screenings.
For media enquiries contact Angela Hughes at Clark Communications on 0141 548 8028, 07970 184 198, angela@clarkcommunications.co.uk
The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is the independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on library matters. For more information on SLIC visit www.scottishlibraries.org
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.
