Films - Sea Change Film Festival

The full programme has been unveiled for Sea Change Film Festival, a celebration of female filmmaking talent hosted on the Scottish island of Tiree from 21st - 25th September...

Press Release

Sea Change was founded with the mission to support women across the screen industries, both by running a unique and nurturing Development Lab and by bringing a new community of audiences to films made by female filmmaking talent.

The 2022 Development Lab will run from 21st to 23rd September and will bring together experienced practitioners and respected industry experts to inspire participants to explore new ways of working, promote discussion and facilitate learning around the challenges and barriers facing women in the UK screen industries in a safe and positive space. Confirmed speakers include Melanie Iredale from Birds Eye Films, Milia Mokkola from Finland’s Midnight Sun Film Festival, Catharine Des Forges from Independent Cinema Office, Ros Cranston from BFI Archive and Lindsey Dryden from Little By Little Films. Alongside intensive coaching and development sessions participants will enjoy beach walks, barbeques, swims in the Hebridean seas and Tyree Gin tastings.

From 23rd to 25th September, the festival opens up with a packed public programme of new and classic films by women. Sea Change 2022 will celebrate the rich links and similarities between Finnish and Hebridean cultures with a focus on Finnish talent including Tove [read Tony's review of that film here - Ed], the inspiring and moving life story of the woman who created the Moomins, introduced in-person by its screenwriter Eeva Putro; the Moomins themselves in Gaelic translation and a hand-picked selection of contemporary shorts screening in 16mm. 

Other festival highlights include Journey to the Isles: Marjory Kennedy Fraser, silent films shot by the legendary Hebridean song collector in 1905 with a new soundtrack performed live by Marion Kenny and Mairi Campbell, Lizzie MacKenzie’s award-winning documentary about Ken Smith a.k.a The Hermit of Treig introduced by Lizzie herself, and The Camera is Ours, a collection of pioneering documentary shorts by British female filmmakers from the 1930s - 1960s curated by the BFI’s Ros Cranston, who will introduce the screening. 

 The public festival will take place at venues across the island, including the distillery, Baugh Church, and An Talla Community Hall.

Jen Skinner, director of Screen Argyll and Festival Director, said, “We are so excited to bring people back together in person, for this year’s Sea Change. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Finnish Institute to bring you a celebration of Tove Jansson and her Moomins. Tove’s work was inspired by nature on a remote island, the island of Tiree is the perfect place to explore it further. There will be workshops, talks, lots of fantastic films and of course our daily swim! We have so many amazing directors attending either in person or virtually this year. Come join us, it is going to be brilliant!!

“Our festival and development lab brings together women working across the industry, from production, distribution and exhibition to share and develop ideas and gain new perspectives. We want to work together to bring change, to support women in the industry to find their voice, to give us the opportunity to see ourselves on screen and to widen the access to voices and experiences that are portrayed in cinema, opening up the world through film.

“All of the films in our programme are directed by women, our opening night event, Journey to the Isles, from HippFest, celebrates Hebridean culture, landscape and stories, setting the scene for the weekend. We have a Moomin Family Trail and lots of opportunities to see them in action. We will be welcoming the screenwriter of Tove, Eeva Putro, who will be running a masterclass on writing for film. We have films selected and introduced from the Scottish Documentary Institute, Birds Eye Film Festival, we have films celebrating pioneers of early documentary through to those who are starting out plus the opportunity to make your own. We will travel with Tove and her partner across Japan, we will spend time in Finland, Portugal, France, returning to Scotland for a dance and a walk along the beach.”

Sea Change 2022 is funded by Screen Scotland, the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, Argyll and Bute Council and Tiree Community Development Trust. Passes to the Development Lab and tickets to the public programme are available now at www.screenargyll.co.uk

Images & info - Sea Change 2022