Legend a winner at Scottish BAFTAs

Robert Carlye's directorial debut named best feature.

by Amber Wilkinson

Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson in The Legend Of Barney Thomson
Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson in The Legend Of Barney Thomson
Robert Carlyle's directorial debut The Legend Of Barney Thomson picked up the top movie award at the Scottish BAFTAs last night.

The film, which is released on DVD today, tells the story of a hapless barber who becomes an accidental murderer. It was named best film - beating 16 Years Till Summer and What We Did On Our Holiday - and also saw Emma Thompson walk off with the prize for best actress.

Carlyle was pipped to the acting prize, however, by newcomer David Elliot, who took home the award for his portrayal of an Edinburgh soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in Kajaki: The True Story.

Glaswegian Bill Paterson - who will soon be seen in the film adaptation of Dad's Army - won a special award for outstanding contribution to film and television. David Balfour - who has created props for films including Maleficent and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street - also won a special award for outstanding contribution to craft.

Callum Rice and Jack Cocker won the short film award for short film for Mining Poems or Odes, which sees an ex-shipyard welder from Govan reflect on how his life experiences have influenced his new found compulsion to write. The best animation award went to Ainslie Henderson's Stems, which explores the creation of animated characters.

The film winners are below:

Outstanding contribution to film and TV
Bill Paterson

Outstanding contribution to craft award
David Balfour

Film actor
David Elliot for Kajaki: The True Story

Film actress
Emma Thompson for The Legend of Barney Thomson

Feature film
The Legend Of Barney Thomson

Animation
Stems

Short film
Mining Poems or Odes

Share this with others on...
News

Expanding the possible Fernanda Salgado on fantasy, reality, Jan Švankmajer and Ana, En Passant

A burning thing Sneha Mehta and Teddy Stern on falling in love with Mumbai, and making Getar Hero

Nothing is impossible Paul Rowley on moving to New York, the Pulse massacre, and Gays Against Guns

‘The only thing that makes a story universal is emotions’ Warsaw’s Industry panel discuss reaching audiences abroad

The only thing worth saying Chuko and Arie Esiri on adapting Mrs Dalloway and making Clarissa

European Film Academy shortlist announced 68 features vie for nomination

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the London Film Festival and Newfest.



We're looking forward to the Belfast Film Festival, Halloween Frightfest, the Cheltenham International Film Festival and the Leeds International Film Festival.



We've recently brought you coverage of the New York Film Festival, Grimmfest, Beyond Fest, the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


London Winners announced


Tallinn Black Nights UK co-production joins Works In Progress


Warsaw What Belongs To Others takes top prize


Tallinn Baltic Competition, Rebels With A Cause and Critics' Picks titles announced


Dinard I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning named Best Film