Scottish indie enjoying MIPTV and Med

A SCOTTISH, independent TV production company is reporting ‘a high level of interest’ in three of its productions being touted at a TV programmes marketplace currently being attended by some 20,000 broadcasters and producers from around the world.

Studio Scotland is attending MIPTV, in Cannes, in the South of France, with a drama-documentary, a documentary and a thriller.

Head of production, Deborah Forrest, reports: “Our drama-doc, ‘The Daniel Project’, has been ‘optioned’ for theatrical release next year. This is the end-of-the-world film, which ties in a number of ancient scrolls found in 1947 with today’s current affairs, and includes interviews with international politicians, scholars and experts.

“Meanwhile, a documentary, ‘Designed for Destruction’, about the worst British maritime disaster of the First World War, has excited interest from countries as far apart as France and Iran. And our Scotland-based thriller, ‘The Petersen Files’, is being pursued by both European and American broadcasters. Overall, interest in our ‘slate’ has been high.”

Studio Scotland was founded in Edinburgh 20 years ago, and has been headquartered in Fife for the last seven.

Added Deborah: “On Wednesday, at a whisky reception at the UK Indies Pavilion, many delegates were treated to Gaelic singing by BBC’s Amanda Millen, who’s on secondment to Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

“Our ‘office’ is based between Warner Brothers and Channel 4, overlooking the azure Med and is extremely busy. Still, somebody’s got to do it.”