Scottish Screen has come under attack in the Scottish press once again, this time on allegations of cronyism in the way Lottery cash has been doled out for making films. The film agency’s CEO, John Archer, has denied the allegations and says their system for awarding grants is beyond suspicion.

According to reports appearing in The Scotsman newspaper, Scottish Screen has ploughed more than £1.5 million of lottery cash into films made by its own committee members and their relatives. The paper says, six film-makers with close links to Scottish Screen have had their productions financed by lottery cash.

The paper describes the agency as a "beleaguered quango, criticised for using public money to back a string of box office flops", whilst pointing out that the agency has insisted it had been "scrupulously thorough" to prevent any conflicts of interest when handing out the grants.

However, the newspaper maintains that Scottish Screen’s own annual report, to be published next month, will show how it has left itself open to charges that it is operating a culture of cronyism.

Scottish Screen took over the administration of a £3 million-a-year lottery fund from the Scottish Arts Council last April. Of five major films chosen to receive lottery grants of about £500,000 in the last year, two are being produced by Scottish Screen committee members, the paper says. A third is being made by the daughter of film producer Paddy Higson, who was a board member until two months ago.

Earlier this year, The Scotsman revealed how a £24,000 development grant was paid by Scottish Screen towards a film directed by the wife of the quango’s £71,000-a-year chief executive, John Archer, but the newspaper states "There is no suggestion that Mr Archer or any other member of Scottish Screen has influenced the decision on any grant for their own benefit."

Reportedly, one leading Scottish film producer has told The Scotsman he believed the influx of lottery millions had turned the public agency into a "cartel and a clique".
Scottish Screen has recently discussed at board level how it can deal with conflicts of interest in the awarding of lottery grants and is considering the appointment of an executive producer.

John Archer insisted the system for handing out grants was beyond suspicion. "There is no bias towards anyone who sits on our committees", he said.

The films which have been given SS funding

Scottish Screen has put £2.4 million of its 2000/01 lottery budget into five major films, all being produced in Scotland. According to the Scotsman, three are being produced by members of Scottish Screen’s committees or their relatives:

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING is described as a "laidback slacker" movie. It won an award at the Berlin Film Festival and its release is imminent. It was funded by FilmFour and received a £400,000 lottery grant from Scottish Screen towards its £1.5 million budget. The film, directed by Saul Metzstein, 30, and written by 26-year-old Jack Lothian, tells the story of a group of young nightshift workers in Glasgow.

MAGDALENE stars Vanessa Redgrave and is directed by Peter Mullan, whose earlier film, Orphans, won widespread critical acclaim. It is based on the story of a young woman who is a victim of rape and abuse after she is forced to work in the notorious laundries run by the Magdalene order of nuns.

The film was given the maximum £500,000 grant available to Scottish Screen which was then boosted by an extra £150,000 to stop the production being moved to Ireland. It has also received £600,000 in lottery money from the Film Council and is being shot in Dumfries and Galloway.

MORVERN CALLAR is the second feature film by director Lynne Ramsay, 31, whose first two short films and her first feature, Ratcatcher, all won awards.

The film is based on the novel by Alan Warner about a girl from Oban who flees abroad after discovering the body of her suicidal boyfriend. It has a £5 million budget funded in part by the BBC and is being filmed in Glasgow.

The other films to receive funding are The Flying Scotsman which received £500,000 and tells the story of cyclist Graeme Obree, and Fly Me To Dunoon, starring Eddie Izzard, which also has a £500,000 grant.