ENGAGE Plus

New filmmaking talent from around the world gathered in Edinburgh in June 2011 to take part in ENGAGE Plus, a unique collaboration opportunity for emerging screenwriters, producers and directors hosted by the Screen Academy Scotland at Edinburgh Napier University. 

Run for the past three years as a Europe-only event, thanks to the support of the EU MEDIA Mundus programme, this year thirty student or recently graduated film makers from as far afield as China and Canada met with their European counterparts for five days of masterclasses, workshops, screenings and project surgeries. The first ENGAGE Plus workshop coincided with the 65th Edinburgh International Film Festival which allowed the participants further opportunity for international networking. 

Speakers at the event included Bob Last, the producer of the Oscar-nominated Scottish feature animation ‘The Illusionist’, Oscar winning producer and marketing executive Mia Bays and James Hickey, the new CEO of the Irish Film Board. 

ENGAGE Plus is funded by the EU MEDIA Mundus programme and is led by Screen Academy Scotland in partnership with National Film School of Ireland at IADT, the Baltic Film and Media School in Tallinn, and Aalto University's School of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland together with Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada and the Communications University of China in Beijing. 

A few words about the programme from ENGAGE Plus and Screen Academy Scotland Director Prof. Robin MacPherson: 

“Film is a truly global medium so we are very excited to be bringing Canadian, Chinese and European film talents together to foster better understanding of our different screen industries and encourage new collaborations. I’ve no doubt that in due course we will see the fruits of these first encounters on cinema and TV screens around the world and further co-operation between our film and TV schools .”