About the Palme-Dewar short film competition

In 2007 and 2008 the Heartland Film Society held its first Film Festivals in Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire, Scotland. Both of these events focussed on films made in Scotland or by Scottish film-makers. At both festivals Heartland Film Society, in partnership with Dewar’s World of Whisky, presented a short selection of films from the Scottish Screen annual selection.  The audience voted for their favourite film and the winning film-maker was presented with the ‘Palme Dewar’ certificate.

In 2009, the Heartland Film Society developed and launched the Palme-Dewar award as an open short film competition for films made either in Scotland or by film-makers based in Scotland. The first winner of the competition was Chris Dunne of ZMO Productions for his film ‘Dark Places in the Sunshine’.  You can read more about the film on the ZMO Productions website.

The Heartland Film Society has a history of success, winning the British Federation of Film Societies Best New Society Award in 2004. The Society was formed in 2001 to enable the showing of films on a big screen in an informal and friendly atmosphere. Each season, twelve films are shown between September and July and the Society aims to create a programme that appeals to as wide an audience as possible. There are old, new and foreign films, and always something a little thought-provoking. Whilst the Palme-Dewar short film competition finals are always held at Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery, almost all other film showings of the Heartland Film Society are now screened at the recently re-opened Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy.

As well as showing films, Heartland Film Society arranges at least one special event each year, as well as the Film Festival in the autumn.  Examples include ‘An Evening of Scottish Shorts’ (at which Robbie Allen from Scottish Screen gave an introduction to the making of short films); a ‘Silents are Golden’ evening that featured a selection of four silent films accompanied by local musicians; and ‘Summer in the Straths: An evening with Essie Stewart’, an evening of storytelling and Highland culture.

The Dewar’s Whisky company also has a history associated with film making, recording some notable advertising firsts including the first advertising film for whisky in 1898 and the first documentary on the making of Scotch whisky.

For more information about the Heartland Film Society Film Festivals and other events, please visit the Heartland Film Society website.

Peter Guthrie (Dewar’s) awards Chris Dunne of ZMO Productions with his prize in 2010

Peter Guthrie of Dewar’s (left) presenting Tony Pitchforth the 2008 Palme Dewar for ‘Breadmakers’

Winners of the 2007 Palme Dewar for ‘Ujbaz Izbeneki has lost his soul’

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