THE first ever Scotland International Festival of Cinema is underway in Peebles.

The festival, which will see more than 50 films screened in the town, is welcoming filmmakers from all over the world – some visiting the Borders from America, Germany and Canada.

The Scotland International Festival of Cinema is the brainchild of Stephen Savage, Trinity Houston and Mhairi Calvey.

Festival director Mhairi said: "It's exciting and a little bit surreal.

"Because it's been such a long process."

The coronavirus pandemic caused some delays to the festival, however, this didn't stop the organisers from going ahead with their plans.

Producer and UK chairperson for the festival Vivien Reid said: "I think the main thing is that we have opened. The festival is running.

"We've all put all our of our hard work into it and now really it is about the community here and also the community around Peebles supporting [it] now."

A grand jury will be selecting its winning films during the festival and audience members will also get to have their say by submitting their votes in their festival programmes.

This year's grand jury is formed of Scottish actor Angus McFayden (Braveheart), Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction), Jonn Emmet Tracy (Yellowstone), Alan Parsons OBE, John McPhail, Ruth Paxton, Shauna Macdonald (Outlander), and Carol Morley.

Stephen and Trinity run the Idyllwild Festival of Cinema in California and joined with Mhairi to discuss the creation of a Scottish festival. It wasn't until the group spoke with Vivien – who is from Peebles – that the town was suggested as the home of the new event.

"Without Viv [Vivien] we wouldn't even be in Peebles," said festival producer and US chairperson Stephen. "She basically brought us this town.

"I had never even heard of Peebles, now I'm finding out how many famous people know Peebles.

"As I walk around town I can't believe this place is here."

The Scotland International Festival of Cinema has also been supported by a number of local businesses including Peebles Hydro – which will host the festival’s filmmakers event on Saturday night – and the Tontine Hotel which provided the red carpet for the festival.

For more information, and tickets, visit the Scotland Internaltional Festival of Cinema website.

Tickets can also be purchased from the Eastgate Theatre.

Festival schedule:


Today audiences can enjoy a range of films at the Eastgate Theatre from 12pm to 8.30pm.

Then on Friday the festival begins a series of seminars from 11am to 1pm, including a female filmmakers seminar. The day continues with further film screenings until 9pm.

On the final day of films, from 10am to 8pm on Saturday (April 23) audiences at the festival will be treated to a screening of Casablanca to mark the film's 80th anniversary and the festival's closing film will be Anthony Bueno's Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters, a look into the making of the original Ghostbusters – including never-before-seen interviews with cast members such as Dan Aykroyd (Ray), Ernie Hudson (Winston) and the late Harold Ramis (Egon).

And Saturday night Peebles Hydro, one of the festival's supporters, will host a closing night celebration.

Then on Sunday, April 24 the Scotland International Festival of Cinema award's ceremony will take place.