Scotland’s screen industry is rich in talent but starved of support. It’s time to build the infrastructure that lets local creatives rise — not just serve says Maureen Hascoet

I came to Scotland for Outlander - I stayed for the local heroes.

Shortly after moving here from London, a community worker introduced me to a concept called local asset mapping.

Rather than imposing outside solutions, this approach identifies and empowers grassroots leaders to drive transformation from within. That idea stuck with me.

For the past six years, I’ve been doing my own version of it in the Scottish screen sector - particularly among independent filmmakers - and I've reached a sobering conclusion: the current institutions are not serving even the most enterprising creatively restless natives.

Scotland’s screen sector is still structured primarily as a servicing industry - providing infrastructure for productions coming from London or Los Angeles. That’s not inherently bad. It brings in short term revenue, builds crew experience, and supports local economies. But it’s only half the picture.

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The other half - creating and owning the intellectual property (IP) on home-grown productions - is severely underdeveloped. We’re hopping along on one leg, while the other withers.

This imbalance has real consequences. Culturally, it reinforces the myth that Scottish creatives are somehow less capable than their southern or American counterparts.

I've heard that one many times, sadly, from decision makers north and south of the border. Economically, it makes us vulnerable. When Hollywood sneezes — whether from strikes, looming tariffs, or production shifts — Scotland catches a cold.

If we want a sustainable screen industry, we need to build power at home.

That starts with supporting independent producers - the people who hold rights, drive development, and make........

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