Year Zero and Tartan Features Newsletter: A Midsummer Nights Scene

Scotland's original Distributors, Creators, Promoters and Provocateurs of DIY Cinema and Features.

This is Cinema Freedom.

Summer has been a busy old time for us with a flurry of activity in all areas. Here's a little rundown of what has been keeping us and the alumni occupied over the last few months. It really has been busy: working with new partners, setting up an international exhibition network, making and promoting new films; to being asked to provide evidence towards the establishment of the new Screen Unit at parliament. It has been busy.... but at the heart of Year Zero there will always be Tartan Features, and here's a round-up of what has been happening with them. By being a curated catalogue of like minded films and filmmakers these films will continue to help promote one another again and again.

TF8 - Teenage Superstars. TS' summer started well with its anti red-carpet cinema launch. DIY legend Jowe Head of Post-Punk pioneers Swell Maps and Television Personalities performed a blistering 60 minute set to finish the night off. Future screenings will include Filmhouse Edinburgh, DCA Dundee, Glasgow and many more. A later DVD release will then bring the story to the highstreet and then fully infiltrating the mainstream with a BBC screening, taking it to the front rooms of the country.

TF7 – Bend Don't Break. Alex Harron fully embraced the DIY Cinema Distribution ethos by premiering his fantastic American Football documentary at Dundee's DCA, to a packed and delighted audience. Alex had already taken his latest short, The Racer to EIFF earlier in the summer making for a fantastic few weeks of sunshine and excitement. And he's got even more plans for helping the indie world for later in the year.

TF16 – Darkness Comes. David Newbigging released his debut feature to the world via Amazon to great acclaim. 4 and 5 star reviews were more than deserved for this Independent Horror classic. A DVD release will follow with some screenings throughout the year. David's other film, Benchmark 6 provoked some controversy earlier in the summer and appeared as a preview at The Southside Festival, alongside Mark Cousins. Expect even more excitement and news later in the year.

TF14 – Far From the Apple Tree. The predicted stardom of lead actor Sorcha Groundsell came to pass with the phenomenally successful release of Netflix's The Innocents, which she also starred in. A fantastic result for Scotland, showing the amazing talent within the acting community, and a great help for our film which has resulted in some great promotional opportunities.

TF18 – Death of a Vlogger. Scots Indie Filmmaking legend Graham Hughes released the trailer for his third feature last month, setting the stage for its release early next year. Its a fantastic film which Tartan Features is proud to be associated with and have under its banner. His previous Tartan Feature, .. A Spectacular Suicide will receive a special edition DVD later in the year.

TF9 – Con Men. Director R Paul Wilson had his second feature, Isolani screened at Raindance last year and its Scottish premiere this summer to great fanfare. He will be sure to go on to bigger and better things, and best of luck. This is what Tartan Features is all about...Not selling OUT, selling IN.

TF5 – Where Do We Go From Here? Speaking of going on to bigger and better things.... The star of Tartan Features alumni - John McPhail (and Lauren Lamarr) with the great and rightful success of Anna and the Apocalypse. Proof if ever that DIY filmmaking has a place in our film industry. And there will soon be very exciting news for their Tartan Feature....Kepe an eye out for his amazing film.

TF16 – Ribbons. Gregor Barclay and Colin Bell finished their marvellous experimental feature film, Ribbons. A fantastic achievement, smashing the belief that you can't have quality and speed. The shortest shoot time for a Tartan Feature yet = 4 days! A trailer will soon be released and will shine a light on a new breed of exciting Scottish Indie Feature Filmmakers. All pushing the same message: Micro Budget Features have a valid place in the career path of emerging filmmakers. And demonstrable success by our own films.

TF6 – Big Gold Dream. One of the original Tartan Features and still going strong. A film which demonstrated DIY features can achieve critical acclaim and be screened on national television without having to adhere to the rules. After a small US release in the summer it will appear as part of the Rip it Up National Museum exhibition, which it helped inspire with a tie-in cinema screening.

And later in the year we can reveal TF19, TF20 and TF21