Meeting of the Parliament 10 June 2026 [Draft]
Meal do naidheachd—congratulations—to my colleague Alyn Smith on securing this members’ business debate on the importance of the screen industry in Scotland.
As members will know, I believe that my constituency is Scotland’s most beautiful, because of its land and seascape and its people. Collectively, those elements make Argyll and Bute—and Scotland—a perfect location for the film industry.
I will set the scene in land and seascape. A plethora of films have used the rugged, rolling scenery of Argyll. Mull and the Corryvreckan were the location of the 1945 classic, “I Know Where I’m Going”. Walt Disney’s film “The Three Lives of Thomasina” was set in the picture-perfect town of Inveraray. The brutalist, concrete structure of the Cruachan dam, which resembles Darth Vader’s mask, played a starring role in the Disney+ Star Wars prequel series “Andor”.
However, as others have said, film is nothing without its cast, whether in front of the camera—the man of the small and silver screen, Sylvester McCoy, was born in Dunoon, and Ashley-Anne Lilley of Rothesay made her film debut in “Mamma Mia!”—or in the crew, production team and writers. Screen Argyll on Tiree provides opportunities for communities to connect through film. The Sea Change film festival is Scotland’s only annual film festival that is dedicated to empowering women in film and celebrating women behind the camera, with funding from Sgrin Alba—Screen Scotland.
Sgrin Alba also had a vision to embed film and screen education and qualifications in Scotland’s schools. I had a fabulous visit to the Rothesay joint campus with you, Presiding Officer, in the previous session of the Parliament. Having worked at BBC Scotland—very much behind the camera—and having a husband who works in the industry, I am excited that that education is now at the heart of Scotland’s curriculum. As Outlander actor Sam Heughan has said,
“Film and Screen storytelling is at the centre of developing a child’s imagination, a way for communities to represent their identity and individuals to connect with others.”
That is certainly what Q Manivannan contributed.
Sam Heughan is not from Argyll and Bute, but Grace Wallace is. This is what she told me about her learning experience at Rothesay academy:
“The Film and Screen course made me certain of my future. It gave me the opportunity to learn and experiment in all areas of the film industry: from pre to post production, both in front of and behind the camera, and working with people already in the sector. I have been given the skill set and confidence to seek further opportunities in this area, which as a young woman from a small island originally seemed impossible.”
That is definitely a five-star review.
We also need places to watch films, as Liam Kerr, Michael Marra and Lloyd Melville have all noted in the debate. Later this summer, Screen Machine 3 will return to its west coast venues, with £1.49 million raised, £500,000 of which was from the Scottish Government. Ten years ago, the wee picture house in Campbeltown was lovingly restored with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and played a starring role in “Cinema Gadelica”—a BBC Alba production that showcased films that were shot in iconic Scottish locations. Studio Cinema Dunoon opened in 1976 and is part of West Coast Cinemas. The Isle of Bute Winter Garden cinema is a community-owned single-screen cinema. As others have said, cinemas such as those are full of laughter, crying, horror, and excitement. They are at the centre of communities and bring people together through cinema. As Liam Kerr highlighted, they need investment.
The Scottish film industry is booming. We should build on that success and be even more ambitious for the sector. We have skilled and talented people who are building the foundations of an independent Scotland’s film industry. I will finish with more of Grace Wallace’s words:
“I believe that this sector needs to grow and thrive, to allow young people, like myself, to pursue their dreams, no matter where they come from, and open doors for demonstrating their talents and expressing their creativity.”