Bafta pulls red carpet from under Scottish annual awards

Published on Monday 6 September 2010 17:12

SCOTLAND's film industry has lost the glittering highlight of its calendar following a shock announcement that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has cancelled the annual awards ceremony this autumn.

The red carpet event has become a major date in the Scottish arts diary, offering the film industry north of the Border the chance to showcase its talent and attract a glittering array of celebrities.

Instead, Bafta has announced it will host a "new and improved" ceremony in autumn 2011 featuring film, television and videogames produced in Scotland, covering a two-year period.

The organisation said: "One of the key decisions arising from the review was that all of our ceremonies should adopt consistent categories and criteria, whilst preserving and maintaining their distinct identity and purpose.

"In order to fully develop our new criteria and ensure that we deliver the best awards we possibly can, we will not host an awards ceremony in Scotland this autumn.

"Work has already begun on a fantastic new ceremony to take place in autumn 2011; this ceremony will cover work made over a two-year period, and will celebrate excellence in film, television and video games produced in Scotland."

Last night Ron Inglis, director of Regional Screen Scotland, the agency which aims to make cinemas accessible to as many people as possible, described the move as "damaging" saying he was concerned about the loss of the annual high-profile event.

"My main concern is the effect this could have on the film community in Scotland.

"Losing it could be quite harmful when film is under such threat from things such as the Film Council being cut.

"It is damaging that a high-profile elebration of Scottish film talent is not going to get a chance to showcase itself. These are very glamourous ceremonies, which get a lot of media coverage so losing it would be a concern."

But film critic Mark Cousins said he could see the logic of having the awards every two years.

"I think Bafta Scotland has improved a lot in recent years. I can see the argument for having it every two years, the way lots of smaller countries do as it gives time for a lot of really good stuff to be produced."

Bafta will continue to host its New Talent Awards, with the next ceremony taking place in the spring.

Formed in 1997, Bafta in Scotland's annual awards ceremony recognised the achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games. These Awards are separate from the British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Film Awards.