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David Smith

@davidsmithanddws.bsky.social
206 followers 288 following 70 posts

Personal account, worked in TV, recovering projectionist and lapsed media lawyer, now Director of Screen Scotland (but see first two words). Invernessian.

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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Want to get involved with @thetvfestival.bsky.social, that's Edinburgh TV Festival, then get yourself to Glasgow! Edinburgh TV Festival is holding a "town hall" meeting at the @channel4tv.bsky.social hub in Glasgow on 10th March, or Belfast on the 14th, or join online on the 18th. Details 👇
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Berlin Film Festival, after hours walk via Check Point Charlie...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Edinburgh in primary colours
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
A Glasgow sunset from the working week...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Don't think the Scottish Documentary Institute is on here, but the film they supported Theo Panagopoulos to make (with funding from Screen Scotland) won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. It's called The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing, it's beautiful. deadline.com/2025/01/sund...
deadline.com
Sundance Film Festival Awards Winners List: ‘Atropia’ Wins U.S. Grand Jury Prize Dramatic
Sundance Awards 2025: Film Festival Winners List
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Screen Scotland is funding this alongside partners. Is it your job? Would you want it to be? cultureforclimate.scot/were-hiring/
cultureforclimate.scot
We’re hiring - Culture for Climate ScotlandCulture for Climate Scotland
We encourage and equip individuals, organisations and strategic bodies to harness the role of culture in achieving the transformational change to an environmentally sustainable Scotland
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
If you have a vote in the @BAFTA film awards, before you cast it please watch MILK by Miranda Stern and THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY, WITNESSING by Theo Panagopoulos. Both are excellent, both deserve your vote.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Very good, took me a beat but very good.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Love that Bowie once stood and looked at the things I see each day.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
How did I not know David Bowie lived in Drummond Street, Edinburgh for a short period in the early 1970s. Grateful to @markcousinsfilm.bsky.social for telling me over a curry yesterday in Tuk Tuk on Drummond Street yesterday. www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/...
edinburghnews.scotsman.com
How David Bowie's famous Ziggy Stardust alter-ego was born in an Edinburgh flat
Today marks the eighth anniversary of David Bowie's death – but did you know the music icon’s most famous alter-ego was born right here in Edinburgh?
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Important new survey launched by Scottish Government: "seeking views on how culture & the arts are currently supported in Scotland & areas for change.” Scotland's screen sector needs to engage in this process as it's about Screen Scotland & Creative Scotland... forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com
Microsoft Forms
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Angus Robertson @angusrobertson.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
A landmark in Scottish broadcasting & the first ever high-end Gaelic drama series: An t-Eilean (The Island) on BBC Alba, BBC4 & iPlayer. More in Edinburgh Evening News www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news…
edinburghnews.scotsman.com
Gaelic drama goes international with The Island TV series
A landmark in Scottish broadcasting has been passed with the screening of the first ever high-end Gaelic drama series.
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Angus Robertson @angusrobertson.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
This is a shocking report and raises serious questions for the BBC and Ofcom. I will be seeking meetings with both. Scotland’s growing screen sector has been a success story in recent years and must not be undermined. deadline.com/2025/01/the-...
deadline.com
‘The Traitors’: BBC & Studio Lambert Accused Of Being Misleading About Hit Show’s Scottish Roots
The BBC has been accused over 'The Traitors' Scottish roots and whether it is meeting Ofcom regulations.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Quality Skandi Noir set in Harris? Yeah, on the evidence of the first episode I saw tonight that just might be what Black Camel + BBC ALBA/MG ALBA have delivered in An t-Eilean (The Island). Lots of intrigue in Ep1, good acting all round, ditto script, direction, post and music. Airs from the 14th
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
I'm in... pitchfork.com/news/the-wat...
pitchfork.com
The Waterboys Recruit Fiona Apple, Bruce Springsteen, and More for New Album
Life, Death and Dennis Hopper is a song cycle about the great actor, with Steve Earle, Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, and more among the other guests
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Edinburgh International Film Festival doesn't seem to have an account here yet, but they are open for submissions for the 2025 festival: www.edfilmfest.org
edfilmfest.org
Home - Edinburgh International Film Festival
78th edition 14 20 August 2025 Join us for the 78th edition, taking place from 14 – 20 August 2025  Submissions EIFF mailing list This is Edinburgh International Film Festival With an exciting program...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
Fair play, all round. If it works, it works.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
As with many films these days, it could easily have lost 20mins. As a horror it failed the "is it scary" test. Looked amazing but wafer thin. Have you seen Conclave?
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
Produced by Marissa Keating, the film has also been announced as part of the Sundance shorts selection for 2025.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
Also BAFTA long listed, The Flowers Stand Silently Witnessing by Theo Panagopoulos with the Screen Scotland backed Scottish Documentary Institute... www.scottishdocinstitute.com/films/the-fl...
scottishdocinstitute.com
The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing - Scottish Documentary Institute
Synopsis When a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers, he decides to reclaim the footage. This tender film essay questions th...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
The Outrun, Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger + @lauracarreira.bsky.social's 1st feature - On Falling all make BAFTA 2025 long lists & all backed by Screen Scotland. As was A Bear Called Wotjek from @iaingardiner.bsky.social on the Oscars long list... deadline.com/2025/01/baft...
deadline.com
BAFTA Longlists Revealed: ‘Emilia Perez’ & ‘Conclave’ Lead The Pack
‘Emilia Perez’ appears on 15 longlists, equaling the past record.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Big day for high end TV from Scotland, @macpherzone.bsky.social's excellent The Rig returns to Amazon Prime for an even more ambitious 2nd series (season? you decide!). Entirely shot in Leith, and with a cast led by Iain Glenn and Martin Compston it is a gripping yarn, good fun + it's got purpose...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Ash from Cinora (@ashonfilm on other platforms) has posted a fairly comprehensive, nuanced, and evenhanded review of developments in Scotland's screen sector across 2024. It's 20mins+ but I learned things from it, it's worth a watch... youtu.be/mUcq-3jh39c?...
youtu.be
Finding the good in the Scottish Screen Industry
YouTube video by Cinora
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Well you wouldn't want to stay, the drafts are terrible
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Aye, it's atmospheric. Had it to myself.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Eight A9 trips in two weeks. It's a road I've spent almost 35 years driving up and down. Today was the first time I took the time to visit Ruthven Barracks...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Another great festival for @lauracarreira.bsky.social's On Falling... deadline.com/2024/12/gote...
deadline.com
Göteborg Film Festival: Laura Carreira’s ‘On Falling’ Among Titles Set For Ingmar Bergman Competition
Göteborg Film Festival announced this year's Ingmar Bergman Competition titles.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Chap in the middle with the wee dog is my great great grandfather in Egypt in 1917. Second image was his postcard home at new year. He was a blacksmith in the army, and seems to have been in an artillery unit. Don't know if the dog made it back to Aberdeen (where that branch of the family is from).
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The Edinburgh Reporter @edinreporter.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
The Rig – Speaking to Iain Glen and Martin Compston When we last saw them, Magnus and Fulmer were being helicoptered to who-knew-where, as the first season of The Rig reached its devastating climax. While fans of the hit sci-fi series were sure to be delighted by the announcement that both…
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
The Rig – Speaking to Iain Glen and Martin Compston
When we last saw them, Magnus and Fulmer were being helicoptered to who-knew-where, as the first season of The Rig reached its devastating climax. While fans of the hit sci-fi series were sure to be delighted by the announcement that both characters would return for the second season, none were as pleased as Edinburgh-born Iain Glen and Line of Duty favourite Martin Compston, who reprise their roles of Magnus and Fulmer respectively.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Everything comes at a price, including access to markets. Something to think on in the new year ... www.screendaily.com/news/frances...
screendaily.com
France’s streamer levy has injected €1bn into the industry in three years, says report
In 2021 France introduced a 20% levy on the annual turnover of the US streamers to invest in the French film and industry
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Those crazy socialists... www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Sue Gray given peerage as Labour seeks to rebalance Lords
Senior civil servant stepped down from role as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff amid tensions in Downing Street
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
the debate needs to be had, it needs to be across the UK, + all its communities. We need clever, knowledgeable + passionate people like Marina+Richard engaged in it, unpacking it on @trientertainment.bsky.social for us, but this time I am not sure they got it right, were fair to a non London POV.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
they hear Lisa Nandy talk about the lack of diversity in British TV and they immediately frame "diversity" through their lens, which is not necessarily hers or mine. 2025 is going to be a big year for thinking about the future of the BBC, with Charter renewal kicking off in the spring...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
a job on someone else's show. Yes the BBC needs urgent investment, a license fee that makes more & better outcomes possible but when I hear London based TV folk brandishing "British programmes" as a stick to beat up the platforms I think they mean "we liked it better when we controlled it all"...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
it's not. They then talk about how the US platforms hoover up value (subscriptions+ads) back to the USA, but that's what London has done to the rest of the UK since the early 2000s. That's made London where you have to be in the UK if you want a viable market for your ideas rather than...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
too often the first question from the commissioner is, "can you make it in Scotland?" or Wales or the North East. There's less uniquely or distinctly from those places as a result on UK network PSB telly. I could be wrong but too often those inside London equate London with, "the country", when...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
I don't think Lisa Nandy was attacking TV, just highlighting that it's become too narrow & centralised. Yes there is production work in clusters like Glasgow, but that's increasingly on "Scottish qualifying" shows that someone in London developed & owns. When they sell it to the BBC...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Fascinating to hear Marina+Richard lay into Lisa Nandy for saying UK telly needs to feel more like "the country", more relevant & connect with people. Most British TV is bought & owned in London, that's what Nandy was pointing towards, it's too middle class & London... @trientertainment.bsky.social
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Went to Dundee & the DCA today with the remarkable @fi-milligan-rennie.bsky.social to meet 100+ new filmakers from Blackness + Longhaugh primaries. All part of Screen Scotland's work to deliver "film + screen" as an expressive arts subject in Scottish schools. Lots of talent, and a full cinema!
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Lots of coverage in @screendaily.com.web.brid.gy this week focused on Scotland, from New appointments @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social to the announcement from Screen Scotland about a doubling (and then some) of short film production opportunities in Scotland: www.screendaily.com/news/screen-...
screendaily.com
Screen Scotland sets aside £1.2m for four talent development initiatives
The initiatives are aimed at short films and those on the cusp of a first feature.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Waverly Station a few minutes ago...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Big news for 2025 & beyond. A replacement for Sharp Shorts, new "Second Sight" shorts, new big/ambitious shorts at £90k each from Screen Scotland, new creative short opportunities across Scotland. This is the biggest ever investment in shorts production in Scotland... www.screen.scot/news/2024/de...
screen.scot
Screen Scotland more than doubles opportunities for new & emerging filmmakers in Scotland
Screen Scotland has launched four film talent development initiatives designed to expand opportunities for filmmakers in Scotland to make short films or develop their first feature film.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Stay tuned to Screen Scotland's Instagram for news on the future of short film production in Scotland. Short Circuit/Sharp Shorts replacement, but also a lot more than that. It's the next step in the Strategy we published in March, and it's all about Scotland's future as a film making nation.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Here's a good, pre Christmas story from Screen Scotland's Instagram account, about Parker Dawes (still in school, showing considerable promise) and his first TV commission - backed by MG Alba, BBC Alba, the EBU and Screen Scotland.... www.instagram.com/p/DDZ69AsqRl...
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
That's some trailer. I'm in... youtu.be/mcvLKldPM08?...
youtu.be
28 YEARS LATER – Official Trailer (HD)
YouTube video by Sony Pictures Entertainment
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Damian Barr @damianbarr.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
A reminder to please pay your freelancers before popping off for the holidays otherwise Santa won’t visit you and you will be doomed to live in a forever-winter with no Christmas and Mr Tumnus will be turned to stone.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Great to see @markcousinsfilm.bsky.social's A Sudden Glimpse of Deeper Things on this list, should have been much higher up though. It's in my Top Ten for the year... www.theguardian.com/film/2024/de...
theguardian.com
The 50 best films of 2024 in the UK: 50-31
A creepy Hugh Grant, Daniel Craig as never seen before, a gangster trans musical and a fascinating insight into the Taliban help kick off the countdown of the year’s best flicks
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Tash @tashajagger.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
For @lwlies.com I wrote a piece on MediCinema and the incredible work they do, all while highlighting the therapeutic powers of films in the cinema setting ✨ It’s one of the favourite things I have written in my 7 years of film journalism✨ lwlies.com/articles/how...
lwlies.com
How MediCinema brings the magic of movies to hospital patients
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Was lucky enough (thanks Katy) to be in the audience for the Wynton Marsalis gig that IWC recorded for Sky Arts at the Edinburgh International Festival. Watched it again tonight after a weekend of heavy events/emotions. A reminder that humans are fucking awesome. iwcmedia.co.uk/shows/up-lat...
iwcmedia.co.uk
Up Late with Nicola Benedetti | IWC Media
IWC was formed in 2004, and we've been making a huge range of hit TV programmes out of our Glasgow and London offices ever since.
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David Smith @davidsmithanddws.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
France rebuilt Notre Dame in five years. Meanwhile...
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