Awardee’s short film qualifies for the 2023 Academy Awards

Screenwriter Hannah Kelso’s ‘Night of the Living Dread’ is long-listed for Best Animated Short

Dewar Awardee Hannah Kelso wrote the screenplay for ‘Night of the Living Dread’, a comedy horror that has now been longlisted in the Oscars Best Animated Short category.

Hannah received a Dewar Award in 2018, which helped support her MA Screenwriting studies at the National Film & Television School. Of her Dewar Award, Hannah said: “This industry is highly competitive but I am now in the right place and equipped with the right tools for the future”.

Congratulations Hannah – we can’t wait to see what you do next!

You can watch the trailer for ‘Night of the Living Dread’ below:

 

Read Hannah’s Awardee Profile
Watch Night of the Living Dread

2020 Awardee: Anton Ferrie

anton ferrie writer

"Without the Dewar Arts Award, I would never have been able to afford a Masters degree. Because of the endorsement from the Trust, I've been the beneficiary of an unparalleled network that has given me great opportunities to showcase my work, and has generated for me a roadmap of a career that wouldn't have been feasible otherwise."

Biography

Born to working-class parents in Glasgow, Anton originally embarked on a history degree before deciding his true talents lay in a more practical setting. He won a place to study acting at the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Determined to be versatile as a creative, he has worked across disciplines as an actor, live art producer, journalist, podcaster, and writer for an array of organisations.

Dedicated to elevating voices from the edges of society, Anton’s MLitt degree in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow has acted as a launchpad for the ongoing consolidation of this passion. He continues to work across creative mediums to tell stories, which strive to offer clarity to the chaos of human existence.

How the Award Helped

His Dewar Arts Award helped Anton continue his Masters Degree studies at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

anton ferrie writer

"Without the Dewar Arts Award, I would never have been able to afford a Masters degree. Because of the endorsement from the Trust, I've been the beneficiary of an unparalleled network that has given me great opportunities to showcase my work, and has generated for me a roadmap of a career that wouldn't have been feasible otherwise."

2019 Awardee: Calum Moore

"The Dewar Award has allowed me to grant my degree the time and dedication it requires without having to worry about finding funds for living costs. For this, I am incredibly grateful."

Biography

Calum is a writer-director who applied to the Dewar Arts Awards whilst living and studying in Glasgow.

In 2018, Calum gained a first class degree in English Literature from Stirling University, specialising in Creative Writing.  As part of his dissertation at Stirling University he was able to write his first play, ‘The King’s Child’, and chose to present this in full iambic pentameter.

Through this process, Calum discovered his desire to create a series of Verse Dramas, using the same poetic imagery and witticisms as traditional Shakespearean verse but with modernised language, references and relationship dynamics (a sub-genre of ‘New Verse’). From here, Calum spent six months working to achieve an ATCL in Directing at Acting Out Drama School in Edinburgh, for which he gained a Distinction. This proved extremely helpful in achieving a place to study on the Masters in Classic & Contemporary Text at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Calum has worked alongside Scottish Youth Theatre’s National Ensemble Project, has been an Assistant Director with Fizzgig Theatre, an ensemble member of the Dundee Troupe in the National Theatre of Scotland’s FUTUREPROOF Project, and a Free Fringe Performer with Some Kind of Theatre.  He has also served as a Theatre Teacher at the International Summer School for Teens.

How the Award Helped

Calum’s Award enable him to accept his place to study on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s MA Classic & Contemporary Text Programme (MACCT) as one of only four directing students.

Since the Award

Update January 2020:

Calum writes “the course has gifted me knowledge in Acting/Directing Technique, as well as lessons in Movement, Voice and Textual Analysis. It has granted insight into my personal strengths as an artist and given me the confidence in my craft to some day join the theatre directing industry professionally. Additionally, the MAACT programme grants its directing students the chance to lead their own creative projects – including a Movement-based Ensemble Project, a Realism Unit focussing on Chekhov’s Writing, the chance to direct a full modern Contemporary Production along with the opportunity to Assistant Direct for Professionals in the field.

Significantly for my own practice and artistic aspirations, our cohort will be spending a month residency at the Globe Theatre (January 2020). This grants us the chance to learn from professionals specialising in Shakespeare and Verse Drama and is thus an opportunity of a lifetime.

My course is a full-time project, with classes and creative research tasks keeping me busy 7 days a week, and thus one I could not balance alongside extended working hours. The Dewar Award has allowed me to grant my degree the time and dedication it requires without having to worry about finding funds for living costs.
For this, I am incredibly grateful.”

Some Kind of Theatre Production of The Steampunk Tempest (2017)

Graduate in Directing from Acting Out Drama School (2019)

National Ensemble with Scottish Youth Theatre (2019)

SYT’s ‘Act of Repair’ (2019)

Futureproof | Radial (2018) from National Theatre of Scotland

Teaching with ISSFT

"The Dewar Award has allowed me to grant my degree the time and dedication it requires without having to worry about finding funds for living costs. For this, I am incredibly grateful."

2016 Awardee: Adam Murdoch

"To be selected was incredibly humbling, and not only validated what I had already achieved, but drove me to apply 110% of myself to my writing."

Biography

Adam’s passion for writing started from a very young age, when he would scribble random symbols and letters on scrap pieces of paper and then present his parents with his ‘stories’, insisting that they read them back to him. This love of storytelling quickly developed into a love of reading, as he devoured books and excelled at English in school.

Adam was accepted onto a course in English Literature at the University of Glasgow, but found this didn’t quite satiate his desire to tell stories as well as read them. He began instead to invest increasing amounts of time in one of his option courses, Film and Television. He switched to study this full time, and graduated with an MA (Hons) in Film and TV in 2015.

After graduation, Adam was determined to tell his stories through the screen. He applied and was fortunate enough to be accepted onto an intense, one year Screenwriting Conservatory program at the illustrious New York Film Academy, at the Manhattan Campus. There he wrote several pieces for both big and small screens, and also managed to sell a screenplay for production in Bermuda.

This was an excellent opportunity to learn and network at the hearts of the industry, but Adam has never lost sight of his Scottish roots. His ambition is to draw inspiration from his upbringing, and create stories weaved around his home country.

How the Award Helped

Despite working two jobs and hosting several fundraising events in the year between leaving University and starting at the Film Academy, Adam was unable to fully cover the cost of studying New York. Adam’s Award helped him to make up the shortfall, allowing him to fully focus on developing his skills on the course, and enabling him to make the most of this rare opportunity.

"To be selected was incredibly humbling, and not only validated what I had already achieved, but drove me to apply 110% of myself to my writing."

2015 Awardee: David Linklater

The Dewar Award has granted me the time and space to focus solely on my writing, for this I'm very grateful.

Biography

Hailing from Inverness, David is a writer of determination and distinction.

Moving from the Highlands to Glasgow in 2012, David applied for the HNC Professional Writing Skills course at City of Glasgow College.  Despite his lack of prerequisite qualifications, David’s impressive portfolio earned him a place on the course.

Having already self-published two books of poetry, David completed a third during his time on the course. He also performed a daring and spontaneous piece at the Creative & Cultural Skills Scotland annual conference, and won the class prize – awarded annually to the most outstanding student.

David went on to take an HNC Practical Journalism course in 2014 and was equally successful, contributing several pieces to publications and impressing with his versatility. In the meantime he continued to develop his career as a writer of prose and poetry, and was published in several respected poetry outlets.

David is an extremely capable journalist and an excellent prose writer, but it is his poetry that stands out. He creates work that rises above his peers and demands to be noticed.  In 2015, his prodigious talent was recognised by the University of Glasgow, who offered him an unconditional place on their illustrious M.Lit course, even without a degree level qualification.

David’s work has been published in Glasgow Review of Books, The Grind, ODOU, The High Flight and The Speculative Bookshop, amongst others. In 2016 he was shortlisted for a Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Award. 

“His poetry is sometimes rustic but never twee, youthful and contemporary without being naïve or following trends, and most of all extremely evocative.” John Clarke, Lecturer, City of Glasgow College.

How the Award Helped

David’s Dewar Arts Award supported him in his masters studies at the University of Glasgow, enabling him to progress his formal qualifications to postgraduate level.

The Dewar Award has granted me the time and space to focus solely on my writing, for this I'm very grateful.

2012 Awardee: Allan Wilson

I am humbled by the faith that has been shown in my work and will...make the most of the time and freedom afforded to me by the Dewar Arts Awards

Biography

Allan is a talented writer with enormous potential. In 2010, his work was selected from hundreds of applicants to appear in an anthology of stories entitled The Year of Open Doors. The book was edited by renowned author Dr Rodge Glass, who sought to showcase the best in young Scottish writing. He describes Allan as “one of the finest young literary voices in Scotland”.

To develop his skills, Allan enrolled on the Creative Writing Masters Degree Course at Strathclyde University. In 2012, he released his debut collection of short stories, Wasted in Love. This received much critical acclaim, with broadsheet newspapers and established authors praising Allan’s technical ability, honesty and originality. The book was shortlisted for the Scottish Book of the Year 2012.

Based in Glasgow, Allan runs workshops and performs regularly at spoken word events.

“Allan takes risks with his writing. He does not opt for commercial, feelgood material, but instead explores the complexity of human relationships, in all their darkness and ambiguity. His use of language is judicious, sharp and powerful; he has already developed a disciplined editorial eye. He balances humour with shock, warmth with intensity, and as a result Wasted in Love has proven to be one of the best collections of short-stories published in Scotland in the last few years.” Alan Bissett

How the Award Helped

Allan received a Dewar Award to support the writing of his first novel, The Astronaut.

Since the Award

Shortlisted for the Scottish Book Trust Awards 2012

Review of Wasted in Love in The Scotsman

Allan Wilson performing live at Words Per Minute

Allan performing at Literary Death Match

Wasted in Love

★★★★ A compelling selection of short stories. The characters are vividly brought to life by Wilson’s powerful writing and terse dialogue.” Daily Express

“Out-Joyces Joyce with his celebration of the mundane. This is a writer who pays attention and writes with such vigilance and diligent compassion that you admire and hope for more.” The Scotsman

“Quite frankly, it’s a brilliant book, well crafted, authentic and necessary.” The Skinny

“reads like the real thing… a terrific debut anthology.” Tom Leonard

I am humbled by the faith that has been shown in my work and will...make the most of the time and freedom afforded to me by the Dewar Arts Awards

2012 Awardee: Gillian Park

Completing my Masters degree at the National Film and Television School is my number one priority

Biography

Gillian Park is a young screenwriter of exceptional talent and great promise.  She is a natural storyteller with a flair for comedy and a powerful, original voice.  Her work reflects her Scottish background with a warmth, vigour and authenticity, but she is equally able to push outside the confines of her own experience to explore different genres and areas of writing.

Born in Irvine, Gillian left school at 17 to do a HNC in TV Production at Glasgow Metropolitan College.  Whilst there she discovered a passion for writing, and after finishing her course she was accepted on a course of study at the RSAMD (now the RCS).  The short film she wrote and directed there was screened internationally at a number of festivals and went on to win several awards.  She graduated from her degree with first class honours.

After graduating, Gillian began working with a variety of production companies, but her dream was to study screenwriting at the National Film and Television School.  In 2012 she applied with a script set in Scotland and was successful, gaining an outstanding opportunity to hone her craft.  The fees and living costs in London proved challenging, however, and Gillian was awarded a Dewar Arts Award to support her in completing her MA and making the most of the opportunity she had strived for.

Agent: http://www.casarotto.co.uk/client/gillian-park–18650

How the Award Helped

Gillian received a Dewar Arts Award to enable her to complete her masters degree at the National Film and Television School, London.

Since the Award

March 2015 – Nominated for a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award: Writer, Flotsam

Trailer: The Last Resort written by Gillian Park (c) NFTS 2014

Completing my Masters degree at the National Film and Television School is my number one priority

2009 Awardee: Alan McKendrick

Thanks very much, I’m delighted… and am already looking forward to being able to embark on my project with support from the Award.

Biography

Freelance stage writer/director/translator Alan McKendrick, from Glasgow, already has a number of stage successes under his belt. His most recent stage work as writer/director includes The James Dean Death Scene, Finished With Engines and The Bad Drive Well. In 2006 he was winner of the Arches Award for stage directors (for The James Dean Death Scene) and the following year reached the final shortlist for the prestigious Meyer-Whitworth Award for the UK-wide best play by a new writer (for Finished With Engines).

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped Alan to spend a period of time on a creative attachment with the renowned Schaubuehne Theater, Berlin.

Since the Award

Having spent a period of time in Berlin, Alan writes that his “original intention was to…consolidate upon my already-extant skills as a playwright, director and translator. I believe that …this was ultimately achieved on a personal level.” The fruit of this time in Berlin began to appear some months after his return to Scotland, which includes the possibility of his own work being translated into German and him working with a German director on a German-English stage translation.

Thanks very much, I’m delighted… and am already looking forward to being able to embark on my project with support from the Award.

2009 Awardee: Elisabeth Ingram

I am delighted to accept this Dewar Award…. My MLitt in Creative Writing, and the short story collection I am working on during it, would absolutely not be possible without this Dewar Award.

Biography

Born in Sutton Coldfield, Elisabeth studied English Literature at Harris Manchester College, Oxford’s smallest and most progressive college for mature students, where she won an English Literature scholarship. In 2004, Elisabeth won the McDonough Prize and graduated in 2005. After leaving University Elisabeth focused on writing short stories, with the aim of pursuing a postgraduate creative writing course.

Elisabeth moved to Glasgow and in 2008 joined the competitive MLitt in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. She co-edits the Glasgow University online creative writing journal www.fromglasgowtosaturn.com. In 2009, she founded the Glasgow Student Short Story Prize, with the aim of supporting and promoting other new writers across the city.  The prize is guest judged by A. L. Kennedy, and an anthology of the winners, edited by Elisabeth, will be published in mid August.  To find out more: http://glasgowstoryprize.blogspot.com/.

Elisabeth has a blog at iluvwords.blogspot.com about her year of reading dangerously, “an impossible challenge I set myself, to read a book a day, for a year …”. Ultimately she plans to expand this blog into an online journal for more experimental writing.

While a postgraduate, Elisabeth has had a short story published in the annual showcase of the best in Scottish contemporary writing, New Writing Scotland.  ‘Green Line’ appeared in the 2009 anthology In the Event of Fire.  She will also be published in the upcoming MLitt anthology Hunger, with another short story, ‘Moment of Silence’. Elisabeth is considered to be a talented writer with great potential. As well as writing, Elisabeth designs jewellery and keeps a photographic and design blog of her work, for more information see elisabethingram.blogspot.com.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped towards the costs of the MLitt.

Since the Award

During a successful year in which she graduated with an MLitt with Distinction, Elisabeth founded the first ‘Glasgow Student Short Story Prize’ which was judged by A L Kennedy. An anthology of the winning entries was published in paperback and online.  She continued to co-edit the online Glasgow University creative writing journal ‘From Glasgow to Saturn’. In 2010 Elisabeth was runner-up in the prestigious Curtis Brown Prize.  She continues to write and be published.

I am delighted to accept this Dewar Award…. My MLitt in Creative Writing, and the short story collection I am working on during it, would absolutely not be possible without this Dewar Award.

2008 Awardee: Lynsey Murdoch

I am absolutely delighted to formally accept the award .. for the completion of my film ‘Eat Me’.

Biography

Hailing from Cambuslang, Lynsey has been given an Award to concentrate on writing and producing her film ‘Eat Me’, about a young Scottish woman suffering from an eating disorder. As a past sufferer of bulimia, Lynsey knows a lot about the fear and obsession that can inhabit someone with an eating disorder.

Lynsey has proven writing and acting talent and was described as a ‘… new star of Scottish Theatre in the making’ for her performance in ‘Mad Cow’ at the Arches Theatre in Glasgow. In 2006 she was selected by the Playwright’s Studio Scotland for their mentoring scheme. During that time, Lynsey impressed by her commitment and the way in which she found her own voice and unique way of telling her story. Lynsey’s forte is in portraying issues which are affecting young people in society today, with an acute sense of observation and humour.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is supporting Lynsey as she develops as a writer and performer

Since the Award

Lynsey describes the experience of writing and acting in her short film ‘Eat Me’ as “an absolute turning point” in her career.  The film was shot in May 2009 and completed later that year. It will be submitted to film festivals in the UK and worldwide.

I am absolutely delighted to formally accept the award .. for the completion of my film ‘Eat Me’.