A FILM maker has told of his delight after winning a host of awards at festivals around the globe following the release of his latest film, which was shot in Dumbarton.

Scott McMillan’s The Bridge scooped the title of best horror short film at the Canary International Film Festival, best micro short film at the Yak International Film Festival, and the 25-year-old was awarded best young director at the bi-monthly Reale Film Festival.

The Bridge, fittingly released on Friday, January 13, is a ghost story based on a well-known myth surrounding Overtoun House in Dumbarton.

Scott told the Reporter that he is thrilled to see his movie, which was shot in Dumbarton and directed by a Bankie, being played on screens across the world.

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: [Photo: Richard Cooper][Photo: Richard Cooper] (Image: Richard Cooper)

Scott, 25, from Clydebank, said: “I got the email to say I’d won on Christmas Day so that was a good wee Christmas present. Each of the film festivals I’d entered require you to submit an entry with the results then determined by a jury panel.

“It’s nice when they do come back and tell you you’ve won or even that you’ve just been selected as it means your film will be shown in-person at their events around the world.

“My film has now been shown in a number of countries including India, Serbia, Portugal, Budapest, America, and Singapore.

“I wasn’t able to attend any of the events this time around but if there are any local events in the future then I’d definitely be going along.

“It’s crazy, I’m honestly so thankful to the cast and crew for taking a chance on the film as it’s paying off.”

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: [Photo: Richard Cooper][Photo: Richard Cooper] (Image: Richard Cooper)

Reflecting on the past few months Scott said it is incredible to see his film played on screens around the globe as it is a dream of his to see the Scottish film industry put on the map.

He said: “When it comes to film people always mention going to Hollywood and places like that but I’ve always thought ‘why have Hollywood when we can create Scoty-wood?’”

“A big thing is to ensure our films, not just my own films are shown everywhere in the world. So, to even have my film based on a Scottish myth shown in other countries, is incredible.

“It makes me feel like we’re making progress.”

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: [Photo: Richard Cooper][Photo: Richard Cooper] (Image: Richard Cooper)

The 25-year-old says he is now looking forward to the future and that he is already working on his next big project.

Scott plans to shoot a non-fictional movie about the Clutha disaster which took place on November 29, 2013 when a police helicopter crashed into The Clutha pub in Glasgow city centre.

All three members onboard the helicopter and seven patrons of the pub were killed, thirty one more people inside the building were injured.

He explained that the script was written in 2015 by Susan Sims, one of the lead actresses in ‘The Bridge’.

He added: “I’m planning to make a few wee short horror films throughout 2023 but my next big project is a survivors story of the Clutha disaster.

“The Clutha Trust has given us their blessing for the film. Susan wrote the script based on her late father’s account of the night.

“He used to tell the story so she wrote it into a script in 2015. I’ll always make horror films but that disaster was a real-life horror and we have a duty of care to be sensitive, accurate, and respectful in our creation of this film.

“We’ve taken a number of steps to ensure that we do just that with the biggest being getting the blessing of the Clutha Trust.

“We’re hoping to have it finalised for the 10th anniversary of the disaster which is in November this year.”

View the trailer of The Bridge by going to YouTube HERE.