Opening Shot: Cairngorm Community Cinema has partnered with Astar Media to provide this exciting opportunity.
Cairngorm Community Cinema is proud to be one of three partner organisations selected to collaborate with Astar Media on Opening Shot - a national film development and production programme. Funded by Screen Scotland through their Talent Builder Initiative, with support from National Lottery funds and the Scottish Government, this programme aims to nurture brand-new creative voices from outside Scotland’s central belt.
WHAT IS OPENING SHOT?
Opening Shot x Cairngorm Community Cinema is a programme for first-time filmmakers in REGION. It’s a space for complete beginners to take their first step into filmmaking.
Four applicants will be selected to take part in structured workshops and receive production funding and support to make their short film. Opening Shot helps you turn an idea into a film of around five minutes in length. You’ll get hands-on support through every stage - from developing your story to screening your finished work at a community cinema screening.
Applicants must be 18+ and not currently enrolled in any full-time education. No previous filmmaking experience is required, and you’re never too old to give it a go!
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We want to hear from people with bold, original ideas for five-minute long short films. These could be live-action or more experimental works. (Documentary ideas are not eligible for this opportunity - other Screen Scotland programmes support those.)
You don’t need to own a camera or know how to write a script - we’ll help you with all of that. What matters most is your story and your enthusiasm to bring it to life. We are actively looking for people who have great ideas but who have never made a film before.
WHAT KIND OF STORIES ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
In short - there’s no set formula. We’re open to all kinds of ideas, whether your project is a piece of fiction or something more experimental.
Good stories make people feel something - whether that’s joy, fear, heartbreak, curiosity, or a new perspective.
Our short films are designed to be made on a smaller budget - a chance to let creativity thrive within simple setups. Think about ideas that work beautifully with just a few characters and locations. But don’t worry, we don’t expect you to know how much anything costs, so if your idea excites us, we’ll help you craft it into a shape that’s realistic to shoot within the allocated budget - that’s the magic of filmmaking.
INFORMATION SESSION
Astar Media will host an online information session on Wednesday 26th August at 5pm, where you are invited to come along and learn more, ask questions and prepare to submit an application. While this session is free, please use this link to book your place
Registration Link:
WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE
If your project is selected, you’ll receive:
• A £1,500 participation fee - we know that taking part might mean taking time off work for workshops, filming, or editing, and we want to make sure no one is left out of pocket for the time they dedicate to the programme.
• A series of practical filmmaking workshops covering storytelling, scriptwriting, visual style, production planning, and working with crew.
• Mentoring from experienced filmmakers.
• Support and guidance throughout every step of the process.
• A community screening event of your completed film.
• A production budget of £3,000 to cover all the costs related to your shoot.
KEY DATES
Application Dates
Sunday 21st September at midnight – Application deadline
Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September – Shortlisted Filmmaker interviews.
Thursday 1st October – Selected Filmmakers notified.
WORKSHOP DATES
All selected filmmakers will take part in a series of workshops led by our Programme Director. The workshops will take place in Aviemore and run from 10am-5pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and applicants should be available to attend all of the workshops listed below: If you live in an area with poor public transport links and you’re worried about getting there, we can help arrange transport to ensure you are able to take part in person. We can also help with childcare or other access costs that help enable participation.
The sessions will introduce you to the fundamentals of filmmaking, while giving you space to explore and experiment with your ideas in a supportive environment.
Sat 10th October - Introduction to the programme and story crafting skills.
Sat 17th October- Turning ideas into scripts.
Sat 7th November - Camera skills Workshop
Sat 14th November - Editing workshop
Sat 5th December – Scheduling & Budgeting.
Sat 12th December – Producing & Directing.
Shooting / Editing / Delivery:
Film Shoot and Editing Period: 13th December – 1st March 2026 (your film shoot and edit period will take place at a time that suits you within this period).
Film Screening: Saturday 13th March 2027
LEARNING AND MAKING TOGETHER:
Each of the four selected filmmakers will write and direct their own short film, but you’ll also work as part of each other’s crews. That might mean helping out with props, holding a boom mic, or even making the sandwiches on someone else’s shoot. This hands-on collaboration is a key part of the experience - it gives you a full picture of how filmmaking works and shows just how essential teamwork is. Think of all those names that roll past in the credits of a film or TV show - filmmaking is a collective effort, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
You can apply if you meet the following criteria:
• Are aged 18+.
• Are not a current student in formal education.
• Have an idea for a short film you’d like to develop and make.
• Have not yet had the chance to make a funded film.
• Can make yourself available for the workshop dates.
• Live on a full-time basis within one of these postcodes: PH20, PH21, PH22, PH23, PH24, PH25, PH26. Successful applicants will be asked to share proof of address.
HOW TO APPLY
The application form can be filled in online via this link, or you can pick up and drop off hard copies at LOCATION.
Applying is simple - we want the process to be as easy and accessible as possible.
You can apply by answering the questions in writing, or by submitting your application in another form if that’s easier for you. Instructions are available via the online application form.
All we need from you is:
• A short summary of your film idea. Tell us what happens and who the main character is / characters are.
• A few sentences about you and why you’d like to take part.
That’s it - you don’t need a script or any filmmaking experience to apply.
If you have any questions or need help to complete your application, please reach out, we’re happy to support you at any stage.
Contact us: openingshot@astarmedia.scot