Scotland’s leading island film festival has announced its full programme its 2024 event which will take place next month.
The Hebrides International Film Festival will run a series of events across the islands of Lewis, Harris, North Uist, South Uist and Barra.
The theme of this year's Festival is adapting to a changing world as inspiring environmental documentaries and film dramas with new perspectives are brought to the big screen.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When does it take place?
The Hebrides International Film Festival will take place across 10 venues on the rural islands between Tuesday 1 October and Saturday 5 October.
What’s on?
The festival hosts a packed week of films and activities, including a special UK screening of Mike Day’s lyrical documentary Cowboy Poets in An Lanntair and Carinish Hall.
In terms of screenings, the festival includes 15 dramas, 11 documentaries and 13 short films, plus a collection of treats from the archives. Four of the feature films have been specially chosen for family audiences.
International festival hits in the line-up include Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, Farah Nabulsi’s The Teacher and ravishing Chinese animation Deep Sea, while there’s a distinctly Scottish flavour to Johnny Barrington’s Lewis-set drama Silent Roar, which stars Sex Education alumna Chinenye Ezeudu, and Kevin Cameron’s documentary on influential Scottish Writer and Artist Alasdair Gray: A Life In Progress. Alisdair Gray’s book Poor Things was the topic of one of the most popular films of 2023, earning 11 nominations at the Oscars.
What’s the aim of the festival?
With the theme this year being adapting to a changing world, the main aim of the 2024 programme is to educate and inform viewers on climate change and the environmental effects that are taking place all across the world.
Festival Director Muriel Ann Macleod said: “The Hebridean International Film Festival offers new perspectives on remote lives through screening some of the best environmental docs and award-winning film dramas available today.
“We are changing perceptions about climate change, with diverse international films offering solutions that we need to consider. “HIFF has something special for cinema audiences in the Outer Hebrides, screening unusual and thought-provoking climate documentaries, international dramas and animations that you cannot normally see in remoter parts of the islands.”
At a time when Scotland and the rest of the UK is facing extreme challenges to keep the creative arts industry alive, Ms Macleod says that it is now more important than ever to champion the art that influenced by the Hebridean Isles.
The festival gives a unique opportunity to give the chosen venues a boost, and that each screening of the events will tackle issues that directly affect locals on the Hebridean Isles.
She added: “The Hebrides International Film Festival links 10 rural venues across the islands in the presentation of a contemporary inspiring cinema programme. The environmental films link directly with issues that matter to island people, the dramas connect us to global cultures. The annual festival offers a needed opportunity to support rural community venues across the Outer Hebrides in presenting unique films and events for island audiences.
“Each year island audiences ask us where are the new Gaelic language films and the content that represents our islands globally? We have always placed value on what we have here and looked outwards with this festival to find climate solutions or celebrate Indigenous cultures. In challenging times for cultural organisations across Scotland, it's even more important to support the development of audiences in more remote parts of Scotland. Historically the peripheral regions always suffered when there were arts cuts in the Central Belt."
What else is on?
When visitors are not watching films, they can enjoy the island landscape, go whale watching at Tiumpan Head, or help the environment directly by participating in an organised clean-up of the nearby Portvoller Beach.
There’s another chance to get close to the sea with an outdoor screening of Collision at the Fisherman’s Co-Op on King Edward’s Wharf in Stornoway. Philip Hamilton’s film explores the effects of increasing shipping traffic on our oceans, and looks at possible solutions.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets for the Hebrides International Film Festival are on sale from today, and can be purchased on the festival’s website alongside more information on the full 2024 programme.
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