That's a Wrap on LandxSea Film Fest 2024!
This year's Montrose LandxSea Film Fest, 13-15 September, was a roaring success! From incredible films to top-tier discussions, we didn't want the weekend to end!
A heartfelt congratulations to our two 2024 Award Winners, Finding Bo, which won the inaugural North Light Award for excellence in Scottish filmmaking, and Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, which won the Audience Award as decided by you! These two films highlight the connection of humans and animals with beauty, incredible storytelling, and a love for nature which could be felt across the cinema.
Thank you to all our sponsors, filmmakers, volunteers, and cinema-goers who helped to make LandxSea 2024 happen. The festival is a community, and we are so glad you are a part of it.
2024 Festival Wrap Report [PDF]
But LandxSea 2024 doesn't end here—let's keep the conversations going and build a better planet for our future. Want to stay in touch? To receive all the latest news, events, and updates, including screenings throughout the year, please sign-up for our newsletter or follow @landxseafest, and stay a part of the LandxSea community!
Welcome to the 2nd Annual Montrose LandxSea Film Fest!
LandxSea returns to The Montrose Playhouse this 13-15 September 2024 for a weekend full of inspiring films and thought-provoking conversations designed to spark a deeper connection with our planet. Over three packed days, we are proud to present an inspiring selection of 22 new films including World Premieres and Oscar-nominees, plus exciting guest speakers, lively discussions, and special family-friendly events which explore our intricate relationship with land and sea.
Please sign-up for our newsletter for all the latest news and updates and follow us at @LandxSeaFest on social media. We can't wait to welcome you to LandxSea 2024 for this unique celebration of our living planet. Get ready to connect, explore, and be inspired!
Big NightsFeature FilmsShort FilmsOther EventsSpecial Guests
Download the 2024 Festival Programme Guide [PDF]
BIG NIGHTS
Opening Night: Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
Scottish Premiere: In the remote Scottish Shetlands, a wild otter and a man form an unlikely bond that transforms both their lives. Ticket includes the Opening Night Welcome Reception, plus a discussion with the film's protagonists Billy and Susan Mail. ***More screenings added!*** More...
Closing Night: The Eagle with the Sunlit Eye
Scottish Premiere. Witness the dramatic reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle in Britain and the ensuing conflict within Scotland’s rural community, plus a discussion with filmmaker Ted Simpson. Afterwards, joins us for a nightcap to wrap-up the fest. More...
FESTIVAL FEATURE FILMS
The Battle for Laikipia
Scottish Premiere. Climate change and historical injustices ignite a conflict between Indigenous pastoralists and white ranchers in Kenya’s Laikipia County, highlighting the urgent need for reconciliation. Virtual Q&A with filmmaker Daphne Matziaraki. More...
The Bough Breaks
New Cut! Discover Alan Watson Featherstone’s inspiring efforts to restore Scotland’s ancient Caledonian forest and the pivotal role of rewilding in addressing the global environmental crisis. Q&A with filmmakers Caroline Strong and Danny Strong. More...
Chasing Time
UK Premiere: The team behind Emmy-award winning Chasing Ice returns for a final mission, closing a 15-year project with an unprecedented photographic record of the world’s melting glaciers. More...
Notes from Sheepland
UK Festival Premiere: Bursting with candid observations of lipstick-wearing, always-swearing, no-nonsense artist and shepherd Orla Barry, this is an intimate and amusing look into the life of an off-the-grid artist. Pre-recorded Q&A with filmmaker Cara Holmes. More...
Planet Wind
UK Festival Premiere. Join renewable energy pioneer Andy Evans on a global journey exploring offshore wind energy’s transformative potential and its role in our sustainable future. Virtual Q&A with the film's protagonist Andy Evans. More...
SEND KELP!
UK Premiere. Follow "Seaweed Nerd" Frances Ward as she embarks on an ambitious kelp farming venture off Canada’s west coast, discovering the immense potential of this miraculous organism. Virtual Q&A with filmmaker Blake McWilliam and the film's protagonist Frances Ward. More...
Song of the Sea
Kids Club. Embark on a magical journey with Ben and his sister Saoirse, the last Seal-child, as they navigate ancient legends and mythical realms to find their way home by the sea. All tickets £2. More...
X Trillion
Subtitled Screening: Fourteen women set sail on a 3,000-mile journey across the North Pacific to confront the plastic pollution crisis, aiming to transform both their lives and the planet’s future. Virtual Q&A with producer Verity Wislocki. More...
FESTIVAL SHORT FILMS
Shorts Programme: Sea Rising
These films offer powerful insights into the impacts of climate change on communities and landscapes including the urgent issues of rising sea levels and coastal erosion – all crucial concerns for Montrose. Q&A with filmmakers Dr. Saoirse Higgins, Jonathan Ford, and Alice Hughes. More...
Between Seas [Is-Land]
Islanders rally to protect Papay’s endangered coastline, using traditional methods to combat coastal erosion and safeguard their Orkney community. Q&A with filmmakers Dr. Saoirse Higgins and Jonathan Ford. More...
Cuban Bees: The Organic Revolution
Discover Cuba's commitment to organic beekeeping and its impact on bees, agriculture, and the ecosystem, featuring insights from Havana beekeepers and a comparative view from Scottish researchers. Q&A with filmmaker Daniesky Acosta. More...
Dùthchas—Community Forestry in Scotland
Kilfinan Community Forest’s woodland crofts model is revitalising native woodlands and communities, reshaping Scotland’s landscape post-Highland Clearances. Q&A with filmmaker Jaye Renold. More...
The End of the World
Scottish Premiere. Ali Aschman expertly intertwines personal grief with the looming threat of climate change, exploring the depths of human emotion and resilience. More...
Frontier Town
Scottish Premiere. As Fairbourne faces decommissioning by 2054 due to rising tides, its residents confront the harsh reality of becoming the UK's first climate refugees. Q&A with producer Alice Hughes. More...
Finding Bo
World Premiere. Photographer Karen Miller braves the Scottish elements to capture the lives of Mountain hares, exploring the delicate balance between nature and adventure. Q&A with filmmaker Rachel Sarah and the film's protagonist Karen Miller. More...
Nature Attack
Scottish Premiere. A bird’s hunt for crickets becomes a complex journey, symbolising broader themes of conflict, nature, and humanity’s impact. More...
Plan Z: From Lab Coats to Handcuffs
World Premiere. When the UK government ignores mounting evidence for climate breakdown, three British scientists turn to civil disobedience to warn the public themselves, risking arrest, a criminal record, and their professional reputations. Q&A with filmmakers Vladimir Morozov and Louisa Jones. More...
Puffling
Scottish Premiere. Teenagers Birta and Selma trade late-night parties for nocturnal puffin rescues, navigating the challenges of growing up on a remote Icelandic island. Q&A with the film's protagonist Selma Rún Scheving Jónsdóttir and producer Alice Hughes. More...
Sermersuaq—The Great Ice
UK Premiere. A Greenlandic hunter and a dedicated scientist join forces to protect the Arctic’s great ice sheet in this compelling short documentary on climate change. More...
Storm Angus Experiences
Free Event | World Premiere. A powerful community film project from Angus Climate Hub capturing the impact of recent storms in Angus, showcasing personal stories of resilience and adaptation. Part of the Coastal Erosion Summit. More...
SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
Bring your class to LandxSea!
Join us at The Montrose Playhouse on Friday, 13th September for our free Schools Programme. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to delve into current environmental issues, engage in stimulating discussions, and interact with filmmakers and experts. There are separate sessions for Primary and Secondary schools, both starting at 10:00 am. Reserve free spots for your class or group today. More...
MORE THAN MOVIES
Discover our diverse lineup of free events beyond the cinema, offering engaging activities for all ages.
Coastal Erosion Summit
Free Event. Address the urgent local climate issues threatening Montrose in this interactive forum. Includes a panel discussion with Dave Doogan MP and leading experts. More...
2nd LandxSea Eco Fair
Free Event. Explore local eco-friendly products, enjoy pop-up food and drinks, and find ways to get involved in local climate initiatives on Saturday 14th Sept. Bring your broken items for a fix at the Repair Café, get a bicycle tune-up, and join in family craft activities with The Clay Half. A family-fun day for all ages and abilities. More...
Montrose Beach Dook
Free Event. Take the plunge with our Sunday morning swim at Montrose Beach, and dive into fun alongside festival filmmakers and guests! More...
Red Phone Box Pop-Up Cinema
Free Event. Step into our iconic Red Phone Box pop-up cinema for a unique, one-seat experience featuring films with local context and global relevance. Enjoy short films, as well as the classic features Local Hero and Montrose-made You've Been Trumped. Experience the smallest cinema in Angus, offering big stories in a tiny space! More...
North Light Award
This new annual award celebrates the best in independent Scottish filmmaking and carries a £500 cash prize. The winner will be selected by a jury of film and environmental leaders and announced at the festival Closing Night. Finalists and Jury...
Take Action
Let the green spirit continue beyond the cinema! Be inspired by the films and ideas at LandxSea to take action. Connect with local partners, make an environmental pledge, or explore our film archive. Lights! Camera! Take Action! More...
More guests speakers and activities are still being added - sign-up for our newsletter for all the latest news and updates and follow us at @LandxSeaFest on social media.
Photo Credits: Duthchas: Community Forestry in Scotland-Joel Redman/If Not Us Then Who; Festival Audience-Anthony Baxter; Coastal Erosion Summit-Kate Munro; Beach Dook-Anthony Baxter; Red Phone Box photo from You've Been Trumped; North Light Award photo from Finding Bo-Michael Fleming; LandxSea team on Montrose Basin-Graham Black
Thank You 2024 Montrose LandxSea Film Fest Funders, Sponsors & Partners!
VENUE PARTNER
PREMIER
GRAND
NORTH LIGHT AWARD
sponsorship generously provided by
Lisa Kentgen
LEAD
CONTRIBUTING
ECO FAIR PARTNERS
Angus Climate Hub | Angus Council Waste Management | Buglife | Clay Half | Lofty Remakes | Quayside Restaurant & Fish Bar | Repair Café | Roamer Coffee | Strings 'n' Things | Turadh Distillery
FESTIVAL HOTELS
THANK YOU COMMUNITY ALLIES
2050 Climate Group | Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire Greens | Angus Climate Hub | Buglife | Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) |Glasgow Women’s Library | Greenpeace | Highlands & Islands Climate Hub | Inverclyde Community Development Trust | Lower Impact Living—Lil CIC | Paws on Plastic | Robert Gordon University Go Green | Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) | Scotland’s Towns Partnership | Scottish Wildlife Trust—Montrose Basin Visitor Centre | Sound | Udny Climate Action | University of Aberdeen Museums and Special Collections
SPECIAL THANKS
and everyone on the Montrose Playhouse team!
MEMBER OF
