The Best of the Rest

Scheme Birds

Ellen Fiske, Ellinor Hallin
Screening time  
07.10. / Wednesday, 17:00 - 19:00 Ticket

There are few prospects for young people in the Scottish town of Motherwell, where the working-class community has never recovered from the closure of the steelworks in 1997. That was the year Gemma was born, and she lends her perspective and voice to this candid coming-of-age documentary full of swearing, drinking and fighting, and the occasional moment of beauty. Knocked up or locked up: for Gemma and her neighbourhood friends, these would appear to be the only options available here. Yet leaving – as her parents did when they left her behind as a baby with her grandfather – is not anything she would consider. In the midst of violence and sometimes painful harshness, her grandfather offers her opportunities to channel her anger and frustration. He gives her boxing lessons and teaches her the rudiments of pigeon racing. When a tragedy occurs in her circle of friends shortly after the birth of Gemma’s son, the moment seems to have arrived for her to take control of things.

Ellenfiskeellinorhallin

Ellen Fiske

Ellen Fiske is a writer, producer and director. She graduated from the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2015. Director of the award-winning Scottish short films Keep Me Safe and Lone Dads. Scheme Birds (2019) is her feature debut.

Ellenfiskeellinorhallin

Ellinor Hallin

Ellinor Hallin is a director and cinematographer. As a DOP she has worked with drama and documentary for HBO, Zentropa Sweden and SVT to name a few. Scheme Birds (2019) is her directorial feature debut.

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Scheme Birds

Sweden, Scotland
2019, 87'

Directed by:
Ellen Fiske, Ellinor Hallin

Screenplay by:
Ellen Fiske, Ellinor Hallin

Cinematography:
Ellinor Hallin

Edited by:
Hanna Lejonqvist SFK

Music:
Charlie Jefferson, Loki, Jim Sutherland, Christoffer Meier

Producers:
Mario Adamson, Ruth Reid

Produced by:
Sisyfos Film Production AB, GID Films

Festivals & Awards:

Tribeca Film Festival 2019 – Best Documentary Feature, Best New Documentary Director; Denver International Film Festival 2019 – Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary; Sidewalk Film Festival 2019 – Best Documentary Feature; Cinema Eye Honors Awards 2020 – nomination; Cork International Film Festival 2019; Dokufest 2019; Edinburgh International Film Festival 2019; Hot Docs Sydney Film Festival 2019; Biografilm Festival 2019; Underhillfest 2019; DocPoint 2019; Melbourne International Film Festival 2019; AricaDoc 2019; Screenplay Film Festival 2019; Cormorán Film Fest 2019; Lucas International Children's Film Festival 2019; Flahertiana 2019; Bergen International Film Festival 2019; Zürich Film Festival 2019; Vancouver International Film Festival 2019; Astra Film Festival 2019; Ânûû-rû Âboro 2019; FRONTDOC 2019; Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2019; Tulum International Film Festival 2019; FIPADOC 2019; Budapest International Documentary Festival 2019; Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival 2020;

Contact:

Syndicado Film Sales
121 Beaconsfield Ave.
M6J 3J5 Toronto, Canada
T. +421949635890
E. aleksandar@syndicado.com