And the Bafta goes to...bloke who runs wee mobile cinema
Honour for bringing film to Highlands and Islands
FOR decades it has provided a cinematic lifeline for some of Scotland’s remotest communities. And now the man behind the popular Screen Machine is to step into the limelight at this year’s British Academy Film Awards.
Iain MacColl, founding operator and driver of the mobile cinema, will swap the projection room for a starring role at tomorrow’s Baftas ceremony.
Mr MacColl tours the Highlands and Islands to bring films to isolated communities in the lorry that houses the cinema.
Tomorrow he will be centre stage as winner of the first ever Bafta ‘For the Love of Film’ competition. The 65-year-old, from Tighnabruaich, Argyll, is a well-known face as he clocks up hundreds of miles in the iconic blue-and-white pantechnicon, bringing blockbusters and arthouse films to more than 40 communities.
People across the UK were asked to submit applications for the new award on behalf of someone they felt should be recognised for their contribution to film.
A panel of industry experts chaired by Bafta’s Andrew Orr sifted through hundreds of applications.
Mr Orr said: ‘Iain stood out due to his long service and the wide-reaching impact of the Screen Machine, which has ensured that the cinematic experience is available to communities across the Highlands and Islands.’ From Arran in the south, to Westray in the north, and from the Hebrides to the Cairngorms, the lorry has clocked up 233,000 miles in the past 14 years.
Funded by Creative Scotland, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and box office takings, the 60ft vehicle converts into an 80seat, air-conditioned auditorium.
Operators do everything including driving, selling the tickets and welcoming visitors. The Screen Machine is in its 21st year and now has more than 30,000 visitors annually. Mr MacColl, who will be at London’s Royal Albert Hall, has been with the project since the start. Over the years he has taken the Screen Machine to the G8 summit at Gleneagles and twice to Bosnia. He said of his award: ‘Who would have guessed this wee guy from Tighnabruaich would be going up the red carpet at the Albert Hall? I knew I would love this job from day one and it’s true. I still love coming into a village to be greeted by waving and cheering.’
Mr MacColl has been known to dress up Abba-style for screenings of Mamma Mia! and to hand out kitchen roll at the end of a weepie, as in A Star is Born recently.
He said: ‘There’s lots of emotion, high and low. It tends to be my fault if the movie isn’t good.’
Mr MacColl travels to the Savoy Hotel in London with his wife Liz today and will get the Hollywood hair and make-up treatment before walking up the red carpet to the Albert Hall in his kilt.
‘I knew I would love this job’