Your Honour selected for 2023-2024 Close Up Initiative

We are delighted to announce ‘Your Honour’ has been chosen for the 2023-2024 Close Up Initiative.

Close Up provides a training and development program that runs for 8 months for documentary filmmakers from Southwest Asia and North Africa. They support filmmakers from diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

Set in turbulent Turkey after historic elections, 'Your Honour' follows Efruz, a pioneering trans student completing her law degree. Guided by an "imaginary judge," she embarks on an emotional journey, questioning if her dreams are worth the battle against a country plagued by injustice.

The documentary is directed by Bircan Birol, a documentary filmmaker based between Scotland and Turkey.

'Your Honour' is funded in development with Screen Scotland.

Bircan said:

"I am so happy to be part of this year's Close Up cohort. Creating a feature documentary is a lengthy journey, particularly when it's your first time and initiatives like Close Up are there to help you every step of the way.

"I can't wait to meet with the fellow filmmakers from the region and the Closeup team!"

Further information

You can find out more about Your Honour here.

Bombito founder Reece Cargan heading to PFM with feature 'Always Crashing in the Same Car'

Bombito founder Reece Cargan will be heading to PFM next week with director Paul Sng from LS Films.

The Production Finance Market (PFM) is the annual two-day financing event for film. Run by Film London in association with the BFI London Film Festival, they will be pitching feature film ‘Always Crashing in the Same Car’.

When a disgraced, alcoholic doctor meets a pregnant teenager suffering domestic abuse, they embark on a relationship which could lead to redemption, but at devastating cost to them both.

Written by Dorothy Jane Stewart, ‘Always Crashing In The Same Car’ follows the story of Yvonne and Cheryl, two lonely and damaged people trapped in very different situations, who find hope, solace and redemption in each other.

The script of the project won the prestigious WScripted Cannes 2023 Screenplay List - in association with Mubi for the best unproduced screenplay by a woman or non-binary writer.

You can find out more about ‘Always Crashing in the Same Car’ here.

Reece Cargan selected for Film FastTrack Programme

Bombito founder and producer, Reece Cargan, has been selected for this year’s cohort of the Film FastTrack Programme.

Funded by Screen Scotland, the participants were chosen following an application and interview.

Joining Reece in this year’s cohort are producers Amy Jackson, Paul Murray and Ken Petrie.

Paul Murray, Amy Jackson, Ken Petrie, Reece Cargan, credit Eoin Carey

Reece on being selected for Film FastTrack

“I am really thankful to Screen Scotland for the continued support and the team at TRC. I’m really looking forward to working with Julia, and learning from the other producers and building a network. I appreciate the time I am going to have to dedicate towards building my slate with the financial and business support that underpins FastTrack.”

Reece Cargan, credit Eoin Carey

About Film FastTrack

Film FastTrack is a two-year development programme, funded by Screen Scotland and delivered by Glasgow-based training organisation TRC. It was designed with course leader Julia Short to help advance the careers of Scotland’s Film Producers.

Film FastTrack will enable the selected producers to focus on and to develop their slate. Delegates will benefit from monthly check-ins, training sessions as well as a combination of in person and online masterclasses. These masterclasses include teaching on script development, finance, business coaching, and negotiation sessions.

You can find more about Film FastTrack and this year’s cohort here.