UistFilm: Dùthchas

Audience Development Consultant

Aug 2022 - Dec 2022

Provided services connecting film partners and screening venues for a community cinema tour of the feature film Dùthchas.

A touching cinematic exploration of what it meant (and still means) to people who had to leave Berneray, the Hebridean island of their birth, to get an education, work, and live. This new documentary explores the effect this movement, especially of women, had on the Gaelic language and culture of the island. Previously unseen colour archive film of everyday island life in the ‘60s and ‘70s is woven with the words of today’s islanders and descendants and complimented by a soundtrack drawing on the rich traditions of Gaelic song.

This role brought together my extensive experience of collaborating with venues to present high quality archive films with a deep knowledge of Scotland’s community cinema networks. It enable the film’s directors Andy Mackinnon of UistFilm based in Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre in Lochmaddy, North Uist and Kirsty MacDonald of Gaelic language consultancy Comas Creative to reach more local people with the warmth of their beautiful film that doesn’t shy away from addressing the challenges of rural life historically and now.

IMAGES: UistFilm

Dùthchas film website