Three Gaelic short films, created for FilmG, triumphed at this year’s Scottish Youth Film Festival (SYFF), with Iomlaineachd (Perfection) securing a second award as the prestigious Best Film for the entire 13-18 category.

Iomlaineachd (Perfection) by Parker Dawes, which had already won Best Film in the -18 FilmG competition earlier this year, claimed another victory at SYFF. The film, which explores the concept of perfection and the beauty of imperfection, was awarded Best Live Action Film in the 13-18 category before being named the Best Film overall for the age group. At just 17 years old, Parker is a multiple FilmG award-winner and was named a ‘Rising Star’ by The National Lottery at last year’s London Film Festival.

In the 13-18 Documentary category, three of the four shortlisted films were also FilmG winners, with Aillse Sealladh Marsaili by Sgoil Lìonacleit winning the award at SYFF. This film, which won the FilmG Choice Award at FilmG, powerfully documents Marsaili’s moving experience of battling cancer as a teenager in the Western Isles.

An Glaoine Nan Draoidh (The Druid’s Stone) by Sophie Smith from the Highlands was recognised as the winner of the 13-18 Animation category. Sophie, a nominee for this year’s FilmG Rionnag Award, impressed the judges with her creative storytelling and animation skills. This meant that a FilmG film won each award in the 13-18 categories at SYFF.

Murdo MacSween, Project Director of FilmG, said: “Sometimes Gaelic films can feel like they exist in a kind of bubble, firmly within our own sector. Seeing films created by young people in Gaelic be recognised nationally amongst shortlists of English language films is hugely inspiring and everyone at FilmG is proud of Parker, Sophie and the team at Sgoil Lìonacleit.”

Margaret Cameron, Director of Content at MG ALBA added: “It was a great pleasure to see Gaelic short films, both nominated and winning in these categories.  MG ALBA needs young Gaelic-speaking talent to be ambitious and FilmG has been a fantastic platform for these filmmakers”.

The films were judged by Into Film’s Youth Advisory Council and the winners were revealed at the 10th Scottish Youth Film Festival, held at Armadale Academy, West Lothian, on 4 and 5 October 2024. You can find out more about the Scottish Youth Film Festival at www.syff.scot/festival