Film policy in practice: a case study of Scottish Screen’s funding schemes

Moraes, Ana Luisa Siqueira de (2016) Film policy in practice: a case study of Scottish Screen’s funding schemes. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis examines cultural policy for film in Scotland, from 1997 to 2010. It explores the extent to which the industry is shaped by film policy strategies and through the agency of public funding bodies. It reflects on how Scottish Screen, Scotland’s former screen agency, articulated its role as a national institution concerned with both commercial and cultural remits, with the conflicting interests of different industry groups. The study examines how the agency developed funding schemes to fulfil policy directives during a tumultuous period in Scottish cultural policy history, following the establishment of the Scottish Parliament with the Scotland Act 1998 and preceding the Independence Referendum Act 2013. In order to investigate how policy has shaped the development of a national film industry, a further two case studies are explored. These are Tartan Shorts, Scotland’s former flagship short film scheme, and the Audience Development Fund, Scotland’s first project based film exhibition scheme. The first study explores the planning, implementation and evaluation of the scheme as part of the agency’s talent development strategy. The outcomes of this study show the potential impact of funding methods aimed at developing and retaining Scottish filmmaking talent. Thereafter, the Scottish exhibition sector is discussed; a formerly unexplored field within film policy discussions and academic debate. It outlines Scottish Screen’s legacy to current film exhibition funding practices and the practical mechanisms the agency utilised to foster Scottish audiences.

By mapping the historical and political terrain, the research analyses the specificity of Scotland within the UK context and explores areas in which short-term, context-driven policies become problematic. The work concludes by presenting the advantages and issues caused by film funding practices, advocating what is needed for the film industry in Scotland today with suggestions for long-term and cohesive policy development.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Film policy, Scottish film policy, cultural policy, Scottish film industry, British film industry, film funding, Scottish Screen, Scottish cinema, film studies, film funding schemes, Tartan Shorts, film exhibition, talent development, film in Scotland, creative industries, audience development, arts policy, public funding, Scottish Film Council, Creative Scotland.
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1993 Motion Pictures
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts
• Supervisor's Name: Boyle, Prof. Raymond and Doyle, Prof. Gillian
• Date of Award: 2016
• Embargo Date: 30 November 2020
• Depositing User: Dr Ana L. S. Moraes
• Unique ID: glathesis:2016-7615
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 24 Nov 2016 15:35
• Last Modified: 03 Jun 2024 10:09
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.7615
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/7615