Highlands and Islands Climate Hub film gains international recognition in first year since production
A Highland-made film aimed at inspiring people to tackle climate change has received international recognition in its first year since production.
Climate Action: Highlands and Islands was created by the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub in 2023 and launched at an event in Eden Court in September the same year.
Since then, it’s been shortlisted as finalist in the People and Planet category at the Big Syn Film Festival, the world’s biggest sustainability film festival, and scooped the Documentary prize at the SeeMor Short Film Festival in Anglesey as well as being recognised at film festivals in Paris and India.
• Highlands and Islands Climate Hub's film in running for top prize
In November, the Hub team was joined by film maker, music producer and sustainability professional Cameron Mackay at the Big Syn International Film Festival awards event at the Cruzon in London.
He delivered the Hub’s vision by visiting all 10 communities, capturing their stories and pulling them together to create the 28-minute long film.
With more than 500 submissions from 120 countries, just 20 were shortlisted as finalists at the Big Syn International Film Festival.
Although another winner won the People and Planet category on the night, the Hub team was proud to have made the shortlist and enjoyed networking with fellow finalists and hearing about their projects.
The competition was judged by a grand jury made up of internationally-renowned individuals from the film making industry including BAFTA and Emmy-award winning producers and directors.
The finalist films were given an international audience throughout October via The Big Syn Film Festival’s website.
Highlands and Islands Climate Hub chief executive Joan Lawrie said: “To be recognised by The Big Syn Festival and to have Climate Action Highlands and Islands propelled to an international audience is incredible.
“One of the films main goals is to inspire others but never in my wildest dreams did I think the end result would inspire international audiences.
“It just goes to show that communities within Highland, Orkney and Shetland really are leading the way in grass roots climate action.
“Communities, sustainability experts and many more are watching in awe as these communities catapult towards Net Zero goals.
“I can’t wait to continue amplifying the voice and power of communities at local, national and
international levels.”
Travelling from Thurso to London for the event, the Hub team remained committed to sustainability and enjoyed the Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness using seven times less CO2 than other forms of transport.
During the creation of the film, Cameron travelled to each location exclusively using public transport as further commitment to the planet and the Hub’s ethos.
The 28-minute film tells the stories of 10 vibrant, inspirational and hard working communities from Shetland to Lochaber and their climate action projects.
Climate Action: Highlands and Islands is now available to view online in full and anyone interested in hosting a community screening can also download a screening pack which offers handy hints and tips to host a memorable event and inspire similar action in their community.
