Scottish Screenwriters Festival

The Scottish Screenwriters Festival returns for its third year — bigger, sharper, and more connected to the industry than ever.
It’s where writers meet opportunity.

In just two years, the festival has become a key meeting point for Scotland’s screenwriting community.

This year marks a step change.

With our move to the Grand Central Voco Hotel in Glasgow city centre, we’re placing writers at the centre of the industry conversation — in a space that reflects the ambition, scale, and future of Scottish screen.

Expect deeper access, more meaningful connections, and conversations that go beyond theory into real pathways.

WHAT YOU GET

✔️ Industry-led sessions — real insight from people actively making and selling work
✔️ Practical craft & career strategy — not just inspiration, but direction
✔️ Direct access to decision-makers — producers, development execs, and collaborators
✔️ A serious writing community — peers who are committed, ambitious, and moving forward

WHO IT’S FOR

This festival is designed for:

• Writers developing their first serious projects
• Emerging writers ready to break in
• Established writers looking to reposition, connect, or scale

If you’re serious about writing for screen — you’ll be in the right room.

Previous speakers have included producer & chair of the British film commission Iain Smith (Mad Max, 5th Element, A Team), screenwriter Andrea Gibb (Mayflies, Miss Austen), producer Louise V Say (Shetland), directors Douglas MacKinnon (Sherlock, The Ridge, Anansi Boys, Good Omens), Matt Pinder, Michael Hines (Still Game, Man & Witch), John McPhail (Anna & the Apocalypse, Grow), broadcaster and author Darren McGarvey...

Focused.
Welcoming.
Ambitious.

No fluff. No gatekeeping. No wasted time.

Just honest conversations about how this industry actually works — and how you move within it.

Founded to create a clearer pathway into the screen industries in Scotland, the Scottish Screenwriters Festival exists to:

→ demystify the industry
→ connect writers directly with opportunity
→ build a stronger, more sustainable creative ecosystem

Now in its third year, it continues to grow as a space where writers are taken seriously — and where careers begin to take shape.

Full Festival Pass — £150 (incl. VAT)
Access to both days of the Scottish Screenwriters Festival

Includes:

• All sessions across two days
• Coffee & pastries on arrival
• Morning and afternoon hosted breaks
• Access to the full festival network

Designed as a focused, high-value experience for writers serious about their next step