More Than Movies. A Movement.
Film has the power to spark change, and at LandxSea we use it to do just that.
Since launching in 2023, Montrose LandxSea Film Fest has grown into a dynamic platform for environmental education, action, and creativity. We use the power of film to inspire audiences, spotlight urgent issues, and build community - one screening, conversation, and splash in the sea at a time.
Whether we’re welcoming primary school pupils for their first Q&A, platforming bold international premieres, or connecting audiences to grassroots climate organisations, we believe storytelling can make a real difference.
Here’s how we’re measuring that difference, and where we’re headed next.
2025 Festival Impact Report [PDF]
2025 Festival at-a-glance
From 12–14 September 2025, our third annual festival turned Montrose into a hub for ideas, action, and cinematic brilliance. Here’s what we achieved:
Showcased 22 exceptional films from 14 countries over 3 days.
Presented 2 World and 8 Scottish Premieres.
Welcomed 30 filmmakers and guest speakers.
Attracted 1,050+ attendees.
70% average screening capacity.
Offered over 1/4 of events for free.
Earned an impressive 93% audience film rating of excellent or very good.
89% of attendees reported feeling inspired to take action after attending a festival programme.
Achieved over 2.5 million media impressions
Partnered with 35+ arts and environmental organisations.
Festival Impact Reports [PDFs]
What People Are Saying
“Film festivals, such as LandxSea, play an important part in Scotland’s screen industry success story by promoting domestic productions, supporting talent development, showcasing high-quality films and bringing important issues to the fore, such as sustainability and the environmental challenges that we face.
It is encouraging to read the scope of your film festival in sharing environmental programming with audiences, connecting experts on the most pressing environmental issues, inspiring audiences to help bring positive change to our communities and environment.
I appreciate the dual benefits the film festival will bring, both in cultural impacts, as well as contributing to our goal to achieve net zero.”
~ Angus Robertson MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
How We Measure Impact: Our Programmes
At LandxSea, we believe a film festival can be more than just a weekend at the cinema.
We’re building a platform where cinematic excellence meets environmental action — where stories spark change, communities connect, and ideas ripple far beyond the screen.
Our impact is driven by four core programmes, each designed to reach different audiences and create meaningful, measurable outcomes:
-
Curated Film Programme: World-class environmental films that spark conversation, connection, and reflection.
We engage local and global audiences through powerful storytelling that opens up dialogue around sustainability, climate challenges, and bold solutions. -
Green Connect Programme: From inspiration to action.
This strand links audiences with experts, activists, and organisations — providing real tools and next steps through Q&As, panels, resource-sharing, and hands-on events. -
Filmmaker Development Programme: Supporting the storytellers who spark change.
We create opportunities for filmmakers to connect with audiences, build networks, showcase new work, and deepen the social impact of their films. -
Youth Programme: Inspiring the next generation of climate leaders and storytellers.
Through screenings, workshops, and hands-on projects, we engage young people in environmental thinking and creative expression.
Below, you’ll find a detailed look at each programme — including progress towards our impact goals and plans for the future.
We also measure our environmental footprint as we go — because walking the talk on sustainability matters. But we know this is just the beginning. LandxSea is always growing, evolving, and learning — and we’d love to hear from you as we shape what comes next. Drop us a note →
1. Curated Film Programme
World-class environmental films that spark conversation, connection, and reflection.
At the heart of LandxSea is a commitment to extraordinary storytelling. Our curated film programme invites audiences into vivid, urgent, and hopeful worlds — using cinema to explore our planet’s most pressing environmental issues and celebrate the people working toward solutions.
We bring together local voices and global perspectives to spark dialogue, deepen understanding, and inspire action.
What We Do
- Annual Film Festival
Our flagship event, the Montrose LandxSea Film Fest, showcases a diverse selection international environmental films, alongside filmmaker Q&As, expert panels, and community-led events. Hosted each September at the community-owned Montrose Playhouse, the festival also features outdoor happenings like our Eco Fair and the ever-popular Beach Dook.
Our Community Ticket Fund ensures broad access, with free and subsidised tickets available to youth groups, local residents, and people who might otherwise face barriers to participation.
- Year-Round Screenings
Beyond the festival, we continue to connect with our community through LandxSea Monthly — a regular programme of screenings and discussions, designed to keep environmental issues in the spotlight all year long.
Curated Film Programme Impact Goals
- After attending LandxSea events, audiences are more aware of environmental stories — and more engaged with the filmmakers and issues behind them.
Our Progress
Since launching in September 2023, LandxSea has produced 69 environmental film events, screened 84 films, and welcomed 86 guest filmmakers and environmental experts for audience Q&As. These events have engaged over 5,800 Montrose and Angus residents.
At the 2025 Festival:
- Screened 22 films from 14 countries
- Hosted 30 filmmakers and special guests
- 64% of films were directed by women, reflecting our commitment to gender parity.
- Curated a range of topics including climate migration, sustainable food practices, illegal mining, coastal erosion, language and nature.
The launch of our LandxSea Monthly programme in May 2025 provides more opportunities for audiences to engage with films and filmmaker throughout the year.
We’re building a strong, engaged local audience that’s curious, committed, and ready to take the next step — whether that’s starting a conversation, making a pledge, or launching a project of their own.
For more insights from the 2025 Audience Survey, see the 2025 Festival Wrap Report.
2. Green Connect Programme
From inspiration to action.
At LandxSea, films don’t just inform — they ignite.
Our Green Connect Programme bridges the gap between inspiration and action, giving audiences clear next steps to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
At every event, we work with filmmakers, activists, and local partners to ask: What can we do about this? The result is a growing ecosystem of conversations, collaborations, and real-world change — grounded in the environmental realities of Montrose and Angus, and connected to global challenges.
What We Do
- Facilitate talks, panels, and in-depth Q&As with experts and campaigners.
- Share actionable resources through our Take Action! community network.
- Provide entry points for deeper learning and participation — from policy to peat bogs.
- Invite audience commitments through our Green Pledge and Green Speak Out initiatives (on postcards, online, or in person)
Green Connect Programme Impact Goals
-
After a LandxSea event, audiences feel more connected to the issues, more motivated to act — and more likely to do something about it. They are:
- More aware of how environmental issues impact Montrose, Angus, and their own lives.
- Taking steps to learn, share, and advocate for change.
- Engaging in new behaviours — from greener lifestyles to volunteering or civic action.
Our Progress
In 2025:
- 89% of attendees reported feeling inspired to take action after attending a festival programme.
- Many committed to adopting new sustainable practices, such as making eco-friendly purchases, engaging with community partners, or advocating through local government.
- Provided Take Action resources at screenings, featuring local organisations offering attendees practical ways to support sustainability efforts.
- Audiences shared their intentions and commitments through initiatives like Green Pledge and Green Speak Out, amplifying the festival’s impact.
2025 Partnerships
LandxSea’s impact is built on collaboration. Visitors connected with campaigns and initiatives from over 35 local partners, including ProMo CIC, Culture for Climate Scotland, Angus Climate Hub, Scottish WildlifeTrust—Montrose Basin Visitor Centre, Ink & Quill Independent Book Shop, and Angus Council Waste Management.
Together, these partners — and many more — help turn our screenings into springboards for action. Because great films don’t end at the credits. They begin something.
3. Filmmaker Development Programme
Supporting the storytellers who spark change.
At LandxSea, we know stories don’t just reflect the world — they shape it.
That’s why we’re committed to supporting environmental filmmakers at every stage, helping them amplify their impact, grow their networks, and bring bold new perspectives to the screen.
From spotlighting new works to hosting industry events and launching awards, we’re building a space where artists and advocates connect, collaborate, and thrive.
What We Do
- Showcase powerful new films — often for the first time in the UK or Scotland
- Provide platforms for emerging voices, especially from underrepresented communities
- Create meaningful moments of connection between filmmakers and audiences
- Celebrate excellence through the LandxSea Awards, launched in 2024
- Coming at future festivals:
- First Cut: Works-in-Progress — a platform for in-development environmental films
- Impact Film — a new discussion series exploring the role of storytelling in social and environmental change
We’re also proud to be part of the international Green Film Network, connecting our filmmakers with a global community of festivals, peers, and partners.
Filmmaker Development Programme Impact Goals
- After participating in a LandxSea event, filmmakers are more connected — to audiences, to the region, and to a wider network of opportunities.
Our Progress
Since September 2023, LandxSea has supported 78 filmmakers from across Scotland and around the world, showcasing their work in Montrose and creating opportunities for direct audience engagement, press exposure, and partner connections. We've received enthusiastic feedback from filmmakers about the warm welcome, thoughtful programming, and real impact of the festival
At the 2025 Festival:
- Presented 2 World Premieres and 8 Scottish Premieres.
- Gave a platform to 2 first-time directors, highlighting new and diverse voices.
- Presented two awards:
- North Light Award — a £500 juried prize honouring excellent in Scottish environmental filmmaking.
- Audience Award — celebrating crowd-favourites chosen by festival-goers.
Whether it’s their first screening or their fiftieth, we want filmmakers to leave LandxSea feeling seen, supported, and inspired to keep telling stories that matter.
4. Youth Programme
Inspiring the next generation of climate leaders and storytellers.
The future belongs to young people — and LandxSea is here to help them shape it.
Our Youth Programme introduces children and teens to environmental storytelling in creative, accessible ways. From screenings and Q&As to youth-made films and free ticketing initiatives, we’re opening up space for young changemakers to learn, imagine, and lead.
Whether it's a first festival visit or a first short film, we want every young person who engages with LandxSea to feel empowered, informed, and part of something bigger.
What We Do
- Host tailored Schools at the Festival screenings with post-film Q&As.
- Partner with local educators and environmental experts to align events with climate literacy goals.
- Run a Youth Ticket Fund to remove financial barriers to participation.
- Offer free submissions to Young Filmmakers — giving emerging creators a platform to share their stories.
- Curate family-friendly screenings through our Kids' Club strand
Youth Programme Impact Goals
-
After engaging with LandxSea, young people feel more informed, inspired, and connected — to film, to the environment, and to their community. They are:
- More aware of how cinema can be a tool for environmental learning
- Better informed about local and global environmental issues
- More connected to peers, artists, and partners working in their area
- Encouraged to tell their own stories and explore creative activism
Our Progress
In 2025, we prioritised engaging young audiences by:
- Providing over 50 complimentary tickets to youth under 18 across festival screenings, ensuring accessibility for all.
- Engaging pupils from local primary schools and colleges at our Schools Programme, featuring Scottish premieres of Future Council and Lowland Kids. Post-film discussions tied global themes to local issues, including Kelly Ann Dempsey, Angus Council’s Team Leader Environment & Climate Change, and Clemence ‘CC’ Currie, Scottish youth activist and star of Future Council.
- Hosting the Enchanted Cinema, where family audiences created live sound effects and music to animated classics Where the Wild Things Are and My Neighbour Totoro, fostering an early appreciation for cinema sound.
Our Youth Programme is still growing — and we’re committed to expanding it in 2026 and beyond. Because when we support young people to engage with storytelling, nature, and each other, the ripple effects go far beyond the cinema.
Sustainability in Practice
Walking the Talk.
At LandxSea, sustainability isn’t just something we screen — it’s something we live.
From the way we print our programmes to how our guests travel to Montrose, we’re constantly working to reduce our environmental footprint and model better practices for events, partners, and audiences alike.
These are the choices we make to keep our carbon impact low and our values front and centre:
- Zero Waste Initiatives: Prioritising reusable, recyclable, sustainable, or biodegradable materials at all events.
- Local Sourcing: Partnering with local businesses to minimise transport emissions.
- Food & Drink: Supporting local caterers, promoting plant-based options, and actively reducing food waste.
- Conscious Travel: Encouraging low- or zero-carbon travel for audiences, filmmakers, and guest speakers.
We know there’s always more we can do — and each year, we review and improve our sustainability practices across the board.
For metrics, please visit our Sustainability page.
Access & Inclusion
2025 Highlights
- 52 free tickets provided through our Community Fund to young people, schools, community partners, and those facing financial barriers.
- 25% of festival events were free, including the Sea Change Community Workshop, author talks, screen printing, and the Montrose Beach Swim.
- 100% of film screenings were subtitled.
- Live captioning introduced for the first time, with all Q&As and ‘in conversation’ events captioned on screen.
- Accessible programme materials provided in multiple formats for the first time (HTML, tagged PDF, Word, plain text, EPUB) for screen readers and low-vision users, and text-to-audio added to our website.
- All events hosted at Montrose Playhouse, a fully accessible venue with step-free access, wheelchair spaces, hearing loops, Changing Places facilities, and free companion tickets.
- Quiet spaces, clear signage, and trained staff and volunteers supported a welcoming and inclusive festival environment.
We know accessibility is an ongoing journey, and we remain committed to listening, learning, and improving.
Learn more about our efforts on our Access & Inclusion page.
Future Goals
What’s Next for LandxSea.
The coming year promises exciting new opportunities to inspire action and foster conversations around environmental issues:
- In January we'll be announcing the appointments of our new Trustees and Festival Committee Members.
- Continuing to curate an exciting programme of inspiring and impactful environmental and people-centred films throughout the year through our LandxSea Monthly strand.
-
We will continue to improve access, inclusion, and environmental sustainability efforts across both the festival and our activities throughout the year.
- Planning more youth-oriented and interactive family-friendly events for our 2026 festival, working closely with local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of environmental changemakers.
- Opening film submissions for next year’s festival in February - spread the word to filmmakers!
We’re committed to growing not just in size, but in impact, reach, and relevance. Together with our audiences, partners, and filmmakers, we aim to keep telling stories that matter, and turning them into action that lasts.
2025 Sponsors & Partners
A heartfelt thanks to our eco-savvy, movie-loving community for their generous support.
Make Your Impact Today
Want to be part of what’s next? Join us.
Whether you’re an individual, an organisation, a funder, or a festival-goer — there’s a role for you in the LandxSea story.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Donate
Support the LandxSea mission by making a donation. Your contribution helps us keep screenings accessible, expand our youth programming, and continue hosting world-class environmental films and events in Angus. Montrose LandxSea Film Festival SCIO is a Registered Charity in Scotland (SC053626).
Volunteer
Join our dedicated team of volunteers and help bring the festival to life. Whether you’re welcoming guests, assisting filmmakers, or supporting events behind the scenes — we’d love to have you on board.
Make a Green Pledge
Add your voice to our growing movement for change. Through our Green Speak Out initiative, you can share your personal commitment — from reducing plastic to joining a community garden. Every action matters.
Attend
Our screenings and events happen all year round. Be part of the conversation — and the community — exploring climate, conservation, creativity, and justice.
- Sign-up for our Newsletter →
- Follow us @landxseafest for the latest updates
Photo credits: Graham Black, Anthony Baxter, Rachel Caplan, Montrose LandxSea Film Fest.