SCOTLAND could have its own pavilion at next year's Cannes Film Festival, writes William Russell in Cannes. The British pavilion this year has been a marketing nightmare, too small, and lacking any clear identity with its users - Scottish Screen, the British Council, and the other UK bodies. They are packed in cheek by jowl.

The pavilion cost #60,000 and the problem for Scottish Screen is to find sponsorship so that it can afford to have one of similar size. Although inadequate for the British film presence, the tented pavilion this year would be ideal for Scottish Screen and the Edinburgh International Film Festival to sell their wares.

The pavilion was opened by Films Minister Tom Clarke who was in Cannes for three days followed by a separate visit by the Culture Secretary Chris Smith. Under previous governments the tendency was for only the Films Minister to come.

Mr Smith's only public engagement was to preside at the launch of a #30,000 script-writing contest. Had he stayed at home, the money spent on his visit and that of his entourage might just have been available to spend on improving the pavilion's facilities.

British film this year has been almost exclusively Scottish, with Ken Loach's My Name is Joe and Peter Mullan's Orphans attracting the most attention so far.

Film Four, which has Velvet Goldmine in competition, and the BBC use their own premises.