For more about the Festival's impact, please see our 2023 Wrap Report.
MAKING WAVES
“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, 20 Sept 2024
AUDIENCE REACTIONS
Our Festival Survey captures the views from movie-goers. 98% of 2024 survey respondents in 2033 and 2024 rated the festival as 'excellent' or 'very good'. Here are some of the reasons why…
COMMUNITY & ATMOSPHERE
“I was pleasantly impressed by the sense of community that could be felt at the cinema.”
“The whole atmosphere and buzz of the Festival was exciting and fun, both in the venue, the bar, and the outside eco fair.”
“There was a good community feel to the whole experience, thanks to the way the venue is designed and the festival was organised.”
“Seeing so many local members of the community coming out to learn and share and embrace trying to save our beautiful planet.”
“The atmosphere in the cinema was extremely friendly—made so by the very welcoming staff. This was my first visit to the cinema, and it is wonderful.”
“It was lovely to see and meet such a diverse group of people who share the same agenda.”
FILM QUALITY & PROGRAMMING
“The quality of film was fantastic. A real buzz throughout the weekend.”
“Amazing films. Great to have such an opportunity locally.”
“Excellent films, important topics.”
“'Patrick and the Whale' brought fun to the topic. Fabulous end to the weekend. It gave me hope.”
“Just loved the concept, the range of films, the fact that many were Scottish premieres. All of the 4 films were wonderful.”
“The whole selection was great.”
ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING
“I thought the ‘Planet Wind’ discussions were great because they were from an expert on the topic featured and not just the filmmaking process.”
“Caroline and Danny Strong were very articulate, and their encouragement to not wait for permission to make change really resonated with me.”
“Loved the positive atmosphere. Expert guests provided excellent insights.”
“Was so nice to have perspectives from people who came from other countries.”
“It was always the icing on the cake to hear from the filmmakers themselves and have a much deeper understanding of their reason for making the film we had all watched. That made the film festival very special.”
“All the Q&As after each feature were amazing and informative.”
PERSONAL IMPACT
“I was so happy to attend an event that felt designed specifically for my needs. Climate and environment focused, but full of hope.”
“The films were very stirring and thought-provoking, even for my young children.”
“I felt inspired and in awe of the talent.”
“I had a great day in Montrose. The cinema and people I met made a positive impression, and I have made some future plans that are 100% inspired by what I have learnt.”
We also asked people how the programmes made them feel:
A TESTIMONIAL WORTH SHARING
One of the festival’s attendees shared his heartfelt experience in a letter printed in The Herald, highlighting the transformative role of LandxSea Film Festival in Montrose. His letter offers a powerful reflection on the festival’s impact and its unique place in Scotland’s cultural landscape.
Big gains for a small cinema
"I read with appreciation and interest the thorough article by Tom Wright (“Will Doctor Doom have a cunning plan to save our cinemas?”, The Herald, August 1). The box office at my local independent cinema, the still-new Montrose Playhouse, has definitely benefited from this summer's blockbuster movies.
The twin animations 'Inside Out 2' and 'Despicable Me 4' brought thousands of younger visitors to enjoy the wonderful seating and sound, and marvel at the intriguing architecture (the cinema was until very recently a swimming pool and there are various artefacts around the centre to spot from this previous incarnation).
These financial powerhouses enable the Playhouse, which is community-owned, to segue into a curated environment-focused film festival, LandxSea, from September 13-15. This is a sequel to last year's weekend-long combination of back-to-back relatively unseen films bookended by live Q&As with the filmmakers who are invited to attend and present their films in person. Last year, I was quite new to Montrose and attended the full weekend. I was blown away that a film festival could not only be hosted in a small town in north-east Scotland in the first place, but then go on to attract international filmmakers as well as political and business leaders (and sizeable audiences).
While suitable for all, the weekend is especially attractive to someone like me who is interested in ecology and environmentalism. And in answering the question of how independent film can draw together green ideas and push audiences to think differently and deeply? While 'Inside Out 2' played everywhere, the second LandxSea festival is unique and will enable audiences from across Scotland to enjoy Montrose and the wonderful Playhouse. It seemed to represent a fantastic example of the mix of big studio names and promotions for independent cinema, which Tom Wright rightly applauds."
~ Adam Poole, Montrose
See further reactions below from our online communities.
FILMMAKERS & GUESTS
“An incredible collection of the best environmental films, it's hard to believe this festival is only two years old! The festival team offered exceptional support for exhibiting filmmakers. The Montrose Playhouse Cinema was a particular highlight with fantastic facilities and a professional, friendly team! A brilliant festival that celebrates environmental storytelling.”
~ Ted Simpson, director of The Eagle with the Sunlit Eye
“It was such a pleasure to share the film with the Montrose audience. I carry back a lot of warmth and love. Every film seeks its right audience and my film found it in Montrose.”
~ Nishtha Jain, director of The Golden Thread
“The Montrose LandxSea Film Festival created a unique space for discussing environmental solutions and fostering cross-cultural learning. It was a real privilege to see how the audience connected with the film and its themes, which are more important now than ever with the growing threat of climate change. I wish the festival and its amazing team continued success in the years to come.”
~ Daniesky Acosta, director of Cuban Bees: The Organic Revolution
“It is really encouraging to see more and more new environmental film festivals, like Montrose LandxSea Film Fest emerging. Our planet is on its knees, so providing platforms for debate and the sharing of ideas has never been more vital. It is lovely when festivals champion small indies like ours and help to get the message out. Our wee team were so excited that our rewilding story 'The Bough Breaks', had found its way into a programme of films, that promised to focus on the big issues. Great communication and hospitality! Our thanks go out to all the team and fellow filmmakers for an inspiring weekend.”
~ Caroline Strong, director, and Danny Strong, producer of The Bough Breaks.
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Our Sponsors and Partners are the heart of our eco-savvy, movie-loving community.
“The Coastal Erosion Summit held as part of the LandxSea Film Fest, and hosted by Hub Coordinator Kate Munro, was attended by 84 locals, and felt like the beginning of a very important conversation — one which needs to remain open and ongoing. We are currently in talks with Adaptation Scotland to arrange a meeting for locals with the Scottish Government to continue this conversation and facilitate community led action plans. The film, Storm Angus Experiences, which shares moving accounts of the winter storm devastation, also received its debut screening on the lofty Montrose Playhouse Screen and in Scotland’s smallest Cinema [the red phone box] — an incredible moment.”
~ Angus Climate Hub, 2024 Sponsor
“It is a huge privilege for Scotia Seeds to be able to sponsor Montrose LandxSea Film Festival. The marvellous range of films on offer open up the world to festival goers in a way that closely reflects our core values; the need to make space for nature to prop up faltering biodiversity and the importance of working together to minimise the grave effects of the changes to our climate.”
~ Fiona Guest, owner, Scotia Seeds, 2023 & 2024 Sponsor
PRESS & MEDIA
“When award-winning filmmaker Anthony Baxter first moved to Montrose, there wasn’t a cinema to be found between Dundee and Aberdeen. But now, thanks to the Angus town’s state-of-the-art, community-owned Playhouse, it’s become the ideal spot to host Scotland’s first ever climate-focused film festival. [...] A key element of the festival is making it available to all. After all, the climate crisis affects everyone on the planet.”
~ The Sunday Post
See the full list of press coverage here.
ONLINE COMMUNITIES
In 2023, we launched our new online communities, connecting people to the films and discussions at Montrose LandxSea Film Fest.
“Incredibly busy day with the @landxseafest in Montrose loved my loony dook wi the Montrose polar bears and todays films were awesome.”
“Full day yesterday and every film a winner. Powerful stuff and another whole day today
– starting with a wee paddle on the beach here... The full selection has been absolutely wonderful.”“Fabulous day of diverse films on Sunday at the lovely Montrose Playhouse
as part of the LandxSea film festival... on themes of family, memory, environment, nature, the oceans and the creatures that live in them.”“The cinematography was astonishing, following several groups of scientists in Greenland. The director Lars Ostenfeld wad aced with the reality of what it means to be devoting your life’s work (and death) for science.”
“Amazing closing film to the climate focused film festival here in Montrose – thank you.” “Amazing timing to be back in Montrose for this amazing film festival.”
“It was a revelation. Thank you so much for putting it together. (that language just doesn’t do justice to the hard work!)”
“It’s been a fantastic weekend so far. The discussions following the films have opened up new questions about climate. Can’t wait for today.”
““I’ve watched 9 fantastic films short and long with some superb Q&A’s after each film set. Every film a winner. Powerful stuff... The full selection has been absolutely wonderful.”
Join in at @LandxSeaFest #LandxSeaFest
Learn more about the Festival's impact in our 2023 Wrap Report.