We can’t wait to present the World Premiere of the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab Short Films at EIFF this August! We’ve partnered with the National Film and Television School and The Sean Connery Foundation to bring you six short films created as part of the inaugural NFTS x Sean Connery Talent Lab.
These short films are Gowk (dir. Ryan Pollock), Nora Can’t Score (dir. Josefa Celestin), Lady Maclean (dir. Catriona Macleod), Twenty Twenty (dir. Alex Salam), Static (dir. Miranda Stern) and Checkout (dir. Mairead Hamilton).
These six bold and distinctive films will premiere to the public at EIFF’s prestigious showcase event with an invite list of key industry figures from across Scotland, the UK and beyond.
The NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab is a transformative 12-month talent development programme which provides a unique opportunity for 26 aspiring filmmakers across five disciplines (writers/directors, producers, cinematographers and editors) to create their own unique short films, made with the financial support and creative guidance of BBC Film. To ensure the programme is as accessible to as many people as possible, each of the 26 places have been substantially subsidised, with 70% of fees underwritten by the Sean Connery Foundation.
Located in Leith, Edinburgh, close to the expanding creative quarter under development by FirstStage Studios in partnership with Forth Ports and others, the participating filmmakers from across Scotland have embarked on a collaborative filmmaking journey which began in April 2024. Six dynamic filmmaking teams were assembled, gaining access to a first-class training curriculum, made up of seminars, hands-on workshops and mentorship opportunities. Dedicated guidance from renowned NFTS Heads of Department and prominent industry executives, including BBC Film, also enriched and enhanced the development and post-production process.
Each filmmaking team received a £25,000 production budget, with free access to cutting-edge equipment and unrivalled training facilities provided by NFTS Scotland. The tailor-made programme has been designed to further amplify the expertise of each participant in their respective craft specialism, allowing them to refine their skills and push the boundaries of creativity.
The programme was also designed to be part-time, enabling participants to strike a balance between other paid work and professional engagements. Aligned with the unwavering commitment of NFTS to promoting diversity within the industry, the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab is dedicated to providing a supportive and inclusive experience for disabled and neuro-divergent individuals, including those with conditions such as dyslexia, a cause close to the heart of The Sean Connery Foundation. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded an NFTS Diploma in Filmmaking.
Now, after an intensive 12 months, the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab has culminated in the creation of six short films that serve as powerful industry ‘calling cards’, offering an invaluable launchpad for the 26 talented individuals to make their mark on the world of film.
Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF, has said: “We are so impressed by the depth and range of films that have emerged from the exciting first year of this brilliant initiative, one which, like our own centrepiece Festival Prize, has been made possible by The Sean Connery Foundation and their generous support for meaningful film industry change. Under the expert tutelage of Chris Young and the many industry experts who have given up their time this past year to offer advice and mentorship, these filmmakers have emerged with bold, distinctive work that we are honoured to include in our programme and present to our audiences in August. The future of cinema is bright in the hands of this exciting new generation of Scottish and Scotland-based talent.”
Jon Wardle, NFTS Director said: “The first cohort of the Sean Connery Talent Lab has exceeded all expectations, not only in the calibre of their work, but in the boldness and ambition of their filmmaking vision. What they’ve achieved in such a short space of time is genuinely remarkable. It proves what’s possible when emerging talent is given the right support, mentorship and creative freedom. The selection of these six films for world premieres at EIFF is a powerful validation of the Talent Lab model. We are immensely grateful to the Sean Connery Foundation, BBC Film and all our Talent Lab partners. Their unwavering belief and commitment to nurturing the next generation of Scottish storytellers has been nothing short of transformative. This success simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Chris Young, Head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab commented: “I’m hugely proud of what our very first cohort of students have achieved this year. They’ve embraced every opportunity the programme has offered and their collaboration has been terrific. The high quality of these short films, reflected in their showcase selection for Edinburgh International Film Festival world premieres, demonstrates perfectly the profound importance of providing a platform for new voices in film, and the potential for expanding the filmmaking community here in Scotland. What an incredible beginning for the Talent Lab and for the future of Scottish storytelling on screen!”
On behalf of the Sean Connery Foundation, Stephane and Jason Connery have said, “The premiere of these first short films from the Sean Connery Talent Lab marks a powerful continuation of our father’s legacy—championing excellence, ambition, and opportunity in the arts. It’s especially meaningful to see this work take shape in Edinburgh, the city of his birth and the place he loved most. We are deeply grateful to the Talent Lab’s outstanding leadership and to our generous partners for supporting this new generation of cinematic talent.”
Still from Twenty Twenty dir. Alex Salam
This year we’ll also be hosting the second year of our Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence. The prize is decided on by an audience vote and funded by The Connery Foundation. Last year’s prize winner The Ceremony dir. Jack King received the £50,000 award and was later acquired by Film Republic.
Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.
Founded in 1947 when it was known as the International Festival of Documentary Films, Edinburgh is the world’s oldest continually running film festival. Helmed by CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.
Ridd is supported by the EIFF Board, led by Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; as well as Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio.
EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland.
