Scottish Screenwriters Festival

16/06/2026

11/06/2026

This time last week, we were running our first round of live pitches for Vertical Scotland. Here are the facts and what we learned:

We received 12 x submissions.
We shortlisted 6 x projects who were invited to pitch to directly to Sandra Yee Ling, Head of Production at GammaTime.
Sandra requested follow-up materials on 2 x projects.

First of all - I have to say 10 of the 12 writers were very fluent in vertical / microdrama writing, pacing and tone.

What I found particularly interesting was that the two projects selected for further interest represented very different approaches to Scottish storytelling:

One came from a Scottish writer with a concept that could travel anywhere but will be developed through a Scottish lens.
The other came from an international writer with a story deeply rooted in Scotland but designed for a global audience.

For me, that's one of the most exciting discoveries from this first round: there isn't a single model for success. There is room for stories that are unapologetically Scottish, and there is room for Scottish talent creating stories that resonate far beyond our borders.

Most importantly, we've proven something:
Scottish writers are interested in and ready for the format & platforms are willing to engage.

We have genuinely started to build a pipeline between Scottish talent and an emerging global market. This is only the beginning.

Thank you to everyone who submitted, pitched and supported the initiative,
Thank you to Dan Lowenstein, and especially to Sandra Yee Ling and the GammaTime team, for taking the time to engage with Scottish writers.

Watch this space for the next call for submissions!

Onwards & forever upwards

10/06/2026

SSF25 speaker Michael Hines on screenwriters and what it takes to be successful.

🎥:

05/06/2026

⚖️ NEW SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT ⚖️

We're absolutely thrilled to announce that David McKie, Senior Partner at Levy & McRae, will be joining us at this year's Scottish Screenwriters Festival, for a fascinating conversation exploring the legal realities of documentary and factual storytelling.

David, who led the legal team for the recent Netflix 'Should I Marry a Murderer?' production, and who has provided legal advice on many fact and fiction based programmes, will take us behind the scenes of what it actually means to "legal" a documentary before it reaches audiences.

Together we'll explore:

🎬 Defamation, privacy and public interest
🎬 The responsibilities of filmmakers working with real people and real events
🎬 How legal teams help shape projects behind the scenes
🎬 The unique challenges of true crime and factual storytelling

Moderating the session will be 'Shetland' producer Louise V Say, who we are delighted to welcome back. Louise produced and directed factual programme earlier in her career,

This promises to be a fascinating discussion as well as a rare opportunity to gain insight into a side of the screen industries that most writers and filmmakers rarely get to see!

It is also our absolute pleasure to welcome Levy & McRae as our very first official Festival Partner, for the 2026 Scottish Screenwriters Festival!

📍 Scottish Screenwriters Festival 2026
📅 12th & 13th September
🏨 Voco Grand Central Glasgow

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/firewalkerpictures/2144036

04/06/2026

🎬 Tonight, Vertical Scotland becomes real.

A few months ago, this was an idea.

This evening: five writers from the Scottish Screenwriters Festival community will pitch their vertical drama projects directly to Sandra Yee Ling, Head of Production at GammaTime, one of the leading platforms in the rapidly growing microdrama space, based in Los Angeles.

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who submitted work for our first pitching session - the most salient point was the understanding of the format and the pace in each episode, and make it work authentically for the story.

Vertical drama may be a new format for many, but at its heart it's still about what Scotland has always done well: fascinating characters, big emotions, distinctive voices and great storytelling.

Whatever happens next, tonight marks an important milestone for our community and mission.

A huge thank you to Sandra @ GammaTime for her willingness to engage with Scottish talent, and to director Dan Lowenstein for helping shape the initiative from the very beginning.

To all our writers: GOOD LUCK!
We're rooting for you. 🚀

And if you have a vertical microdrama project and missed the deadline: never fear! We have another window opening next week for a different platform. More details on Monday.

01/06/2026

A few of our wonderful delegates last year had invested in the crowdfunder and the campaign so I’m sharing this here as the last chapter of that particularly story has been written.

I shall announce how we rise from the ashes at the festival though.

Together we rise 🔥

THE site where axed soap River City was filmed for 24 years has been snapped up by a property firm for £2.1million, we can reveal. Campaigners said they were “devastated” by the loss of the Dumbar…

29/05/2026

VERTICAL SCOTLAND update:

Last chance to submit for this first pitching round! 🚨

The deadline for our Vertical Scotland initiative with Gamma Time is this Monday, 1 June at 12 noon.

We have been really impressed with how well screenwriters who submitted projects for this so far have understood the format and made the cliffhanger after every 90 secs feel seamless.

THANK YOU, and well done, to all who submitted so far!!

If you've ever wanted to see your story adapted into the fast-growing world of vertical drama, this is your opportunity to get in front of industry professionals actively looking for new ideas!

We're looking for compelling, binge-worthy stories that could work in the vertical format — romance, crime, thriller, comedy, drama and beyond.
Selected writers will have the opportunity to pitch their projects directly on 4 June.

This initiative is presented through the Scottish Screenwriters Festival in partnership with Gamma Time, one of the platforms helping shape the future of vertical storytelling.

What we're looking for:
Vertical first microdrama series
50-70 eps x 90 secs

Please send your first 6 eps scripts and a treatment to [email protected]

Pay the submission fee (£15 + VAT) - https://buy.stripe.com/9B6bJ23Cv8de2DHgoh3wQ06

⏰ Submission deadline: Monday 1 June, 12 noon
🎤 Pitching session: 4 June

If you've been thinking about it, don't wait until the last minute.

Scotland has brilliant storytellers.
Let's show what we can do.

28/05/2026

Stop. The. Press!!

We are SO excited and grateful to announce that the one and only will be joining us at the Scottish Screenwriters Festival this year!!

Steven Cree is a Scottish actor whose work spans film, television, and stage. He is best known for his performances in Outlander and A Discovery of Witches, and has built a
reputation for his range across both studio and independent productions.

Most recently, Cree appeared in the BAFTA Award-winning feature I Swear, Apple TV+’s Down Cemetery Road, the BBC/HBO drama Industry, the Apple TV+ feature All of You opposite Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots, and Amazon’s action-comedy Heads of State.

Projects set for release later this year include Queen at Sea — winner of the Silver Bear at the 2026 Berlinale — starring Juliette Binoche, Florence Hunt, and Tom Courtenay;
Season 3 of the International Emmy-winning BBC series Vigil; and the feature films Archangel for Sony and One Last Shot for Sky Cinema.

In addition to acting, Cree has written the feature film Ben and Lucy, which is currently in development with Finite Films and expected to enter production later this year!

Steven is joining Scott Frank, Ashley Storrie, Lesley Paterson and Douglas Mackinnon amongst others on our speaker line up and we are READY!

Do you have your ticket yet?

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/firewalkerpictures/2144036

🙌🙌🔥🔥✨✨

27/05/2026

Scottish Screenwriters Festival 2026 - so far!
Do you have your ticket yet?

2 days
12 + speakers
Grand Central Voco - Glasgow

Who’s coming?

24/05/2026

We're delighted that writer Nora Chassler will be joining director Douglas Mackinnon on stage at the Scottish Screenwriters Festival to talk all things 'The Ridge'!

Nora Chassler grew up in NYC in the 80s and has lived in Scotland since 2002. She has published two critically acclaimed literary novels, a collection of fragments and flash fiction and two books of poetry. She has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. She co -created and co- wrote the BBC’s critically acclaimed psychological thriller, The Ridge, and is working on several other projects for the screen, as well as a new novel.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/firewalkerpictures/2144036