ABOUT

Jonathan Nolan said "The secret to all drama, film, TV, or books - the thing that people respond to most, and the thing I find myself as a viewer feeling most interested in, is the idea of change." This captures exactly what the West Lothian Film Festival is all about. We are a vibrant celebration of emerging film and TV talent rooted in the heart of West Lothian. We provide an engaging platform for up-and-coming filmmakers and creatives with a connection to not only West Lothian, but Midlothian, and East Lothian, as they embark on the early stages of their careers. And as such, change their respective futures.

Dedicated to Dramatic Stories

At the West Lothian Film Festival, we have a passion for the dramatic. We believe that drama, with its high stakes and myriad conflicts, holds a special power to engage and resonate with audiences. Dramas are plot-driven and demand that every character and scene propel the story forward. These narratives follow a clearly defined structure, portraying real-life scenarios or extreme situations with emotionally-driven characters.

Unveiling Local Talents

Our festival isn't just a showcase; it's a pivotal moment for artists in the Lothians. We're committed to nurturing and promoting the vivacious creative spirit of the regions, offering local talents the recognition they deserve and an opportunity to shine on a broader stage. Whether you're a director, producer, writer, actor, any talent behind the camera, The West Lothian Film Festival is your canvas to captivate and connect.

Inspiring Connections, One Frame at a Time

Film has an extraordinary ability to transport, bridge gaps, and ignite discussions. At The West Lothian Film Festival, our commitment lies in fostering connections – between filmmakers and their audiences, among different communities, and amidst diverse stories that deserve to be shared. Our festival isn't just an event; it's a rendezvous for passionate creators and devoted film enthusiasts.

Submissions and Spectators, Alike

For filmmakers, The West Lothian Film Festival presents an invaluable opportunity to share your vision and creativity with an appreciative audience. We invite you to submit your dramatic films and join us in the celebration of cinematic artistry. And to our fellow residents of The Lothians who have a penchant for the magic of the silver screen, we extend a warm welcome to become part of our audience, where you can experience the enchantment of local and global storytelling.

Join Us on this Dramatic Journey

As we set forth on this cinematic expedition, we extend an invitation for you to be part of something extraordinary. The West Lothian Film Festival isn't solely an event; it's a movement that bridges communities, heralds untold stories, and propels new dramatic talents toward the limelight. Together, let's sculpt the future of cinema from the heart of The Lothians.

Join us. Celebrate with us. Let's etch cinematic history, one dramatic frame at a time.

Mission & Values

Championing Change through Cinema:

Our mission is to unearth and showcase new, exceptional filmmaking talents, while inviting audiences to embark on a transformative journey through the world of cinema."

Our Values

We are committed to:

• Backing and presenting the creations of movie makers from all over the Lothian's
  
• Ensuring an easily reachable festival experience by eliminating obstacles related to physical, societal, and financial aspects of attending
  
• Appreciating and valuing staff members and volunteers
  
• Cultivating cooperative partnerships within the community
  

JUDGING Panel

We are thrilled to introduce our judging panel

MATT

FARNHAM

SPIKE

NISBET

Mason

Potter

ROY

McKEAG

Simon Moorhouse

Regina

Mosch

ALEX

MASON

Francisca Cabouco

CONNOR McCAUSLAND

Tamara Pearson

Amanda Farley

HANNAH

McKENZIE

ROBY

WALSH

Natacha Jean Baker

Heather Brown

Mariah

Baillie

Hannah Baillie

Kirsty

Lily

Dominic Thoka-Cowie

Eli

FORBES

JUDGING PROCESS

Submissions are judged by a jury of industry professionals and film critics. They judge with fairness on the quality and authenticity of work from cinematography, directing, producing, costume and many more.

Judging Panel Formation

• We form a diverse panel of judges with expertise in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, acting, cinematography, and screenwriting.
  
• We ensure that judges have no conflicts of interest with the submitted films or filmmakers. If such conflicts arise, the submission either cannot be considered or the judge will be excluded from the process on the judging of the submission that have a connection with.
  

Film Submission, Pre-Screening & Selection

• Submissions will be exclusively submitted via the FilmFreeway platform, as will tickets to the subsequent festival days and the awards night.
  
• Judges receive a list of submitted films and brief synopses in advance.
• Judges may be divided into smaller groups to pre-screen films, narrowing down the selection for the official competition.
  

Evaluation Criteria

• Define clear and specific criteria for judging, such as storytelling, cinematography, acting, editing, sound design, and originality.
  
• Judges will work to a scoring system (e.g., on a scale of 1-10 or 1-5) for each criterion to ensure consistency and fairness.
  

Film Viewing & Scoring

• Judges watch assigned films individually or in small groups.
  
• Each judge scores films based on the established criteria, taking notes on strengths and weaknesses.
  
• Judges will be asked to provide constructive but concise feedback.
  

Deliberation and Scoring

• After individual evaluations, judges convene to discuss their assessments.
  
• We will allow judges to advocate for their favourite films and engage in constructive debates.
  
• If scoring doesn’t show a clear winner, the judges will strive for a consensus on the selection of winning films.
  

Transparency

• We will maintain transparency in the judging process by documenting scores, comments, and decisions.
  
• Ensure that the judging process is fair and free from any biases.
  

Selection of Winners

• Judges collectively decide on the winning films in various categories (e.g., Best Short, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress).
  
• We will announce the winners at the festival's awards ceremony.
  

Feedback and Communication

• Provide feedback to filmmakers, especially those who didn't win, to help them improve their craft.
  
• Maintain open communication with filmmakers and the public about the festival's decisions.
  

Awards Ceremony

• Host an awards ceremony as part of the film festival to celebrate the winners and their achievements.
  
• Invite filmmakers, judges, and the public to attend and participate in the festivities.
  

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

With exception to the ‘Best Gaelic Film & TV’ and the ‘Special International Award of Merit’ all submissions must originate from one of the Lothian’s with a connection to West Lothian. This could be that one of the key crew members has previously lived in the county, attended school or college, worked in West Lothian, have a relative who lives in West Lothian. The person submitting must have 5 or less credits on IMDB and the primary genre of your submission must be Drama.

Connection to

West, mid or East Lothain

Less than 6 credits

Your submission genre is Drama.

Festival & Awards Night

20th and 21st of July - 2-Day Festival at Venue TBC

Our festival provides a diverse cinematic experience for audiences and filmmakers alike, but also an opportunity to reflect on the future of our industry and our collective role within it.

As per our mission, our aim is to unearth and showcase new, exceptional filmmaking talents, while inviting audiences to embark on a transformative journey through the world of cinema.

In addition to live screenings, we offer:

• Networking Events
  
• Filmmaker roundtable
  
• A worldwide network of filmmakers and collaborators
  

Sunday 21st of July - Awards Ceremony

Schedule:

• 17:00 - 19:00 Red Carpet & Drinks Reception
  
• 19:00 - 20:00 Award Ceremony
  
• National Anthem by special guests
  
• Our Presenters to welcome everyone and introduce opening remarks Christopher McPhillips
  
• Christopher McPhillips to introduce VIP
• Presenters to introduce categories, nominations and winners
  
• 20:00 - 20:30 Break
  
• 20:30 - 22:00 Award Ceremony continued
  
• Presenters to continue introduce categories, nominations and winners
  
• Special Musically Performance before final 4 awards
• Both Presenters introduce 4th and 3rd final categories together
• Both Presenters introduce Pete Sneddon of Reconnect Theatres to comment on the Theatre Adaptation Award, including the nominations and the winner.
• Both Presenters introduce Matthew Farnham of West Lothian College to comment on the Best of Festival Award, including the nominations and the winner.
• Final thank to everyone from Christopher McPhillips and that the West Lothian Film Festival will return on on July 18th, 19th and 20th in 2025.
  
• 22:00 - 23:59 Red Carpet
  

FilmFreeway is the world's number 1 way to discover, submit and get tickets to thousands of film festivals, screenplay contests, music contests and photography contests all over the world. And we are thrilled to be part of the platform as one of it’s newest film festival partners.

More than two million filmmakers, screenwriters and artists use FilmFreeway to submit to over 12,000 of the world’s best film festivals and contests (including 170+ Oscar and BAFTA qualifying festivals).

West Lothian Film Festival proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway,

the world's #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.

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