Geneva: European Broadcasting Union

Whilst filming the first series of OMC, waiting to be called onto set, I sat with my laptop preparing a pitch document for a children’s short film which the European Broadcasting Union and MG Alba were looking to commission.

To my delight, my film Dad sam Bith was chosen, though it soon grew arms and legs and became a much funnier and cheekier script than I could have imagined. This is the first time that I’ve had my own idea commissioned and has been a total learning experience for me, from meeting deadlines to working with Executive Producers.

Mac TV went on to produce the film which was directed by Catriona Lexy.

Fast forward and I am flying to Geneva for the Annual Screening of all the films made as part of this year’s project, films from Germany, Serbia, Ireland, Switzerland and Thailand as well as Scotland. It was a brilliant experience to meet other creatives who had gone through to same process as I had and it was amazing to finally see the films after hearing about them in their early stages at a script meeting in March.

After the meeting we wandered through a snowy Geneva down to the Lake and the Christmas Markets, before returning home the following day. Back to reality, which thankfully, is much cheaper than Switzerland.

I’m very proud of this little film and extremely grateful to have been given the chance to write for this project. Dad Sam Bith will be on BBC Alba on Christmas Day at 5.35 pm.

Dad Sam Bith.

Sunny skies on the way to Geneva.

The team outside EBU Headquarters.

The Drama team from Scotland, Germany, Ireland and Serbia

Catriona Lexy Campbell (Director) and Dòl Eòin Mackinnon (Filmmaker) enjoying Geneva’s Ferris wheel.