Dundee film Schemers has already bagged an award following its premiere in Edinburgh at the weekend.
The film, based on the life of Dundonian Dave McLean, follows a group of local boys as they try to put on big-name gigs in the city and break into the music industry.
The group somehow manage to attract heavy metal icons Iron Maiden to the Caird Hall before the band hit the big time in 1980.
The gig, which became the stuff of local legend, was a launch pad for McLean’s career, leading him to work with the likes of Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Roxy Music, Pearl Jam and Oasis.
It landed the Edinburgh International Film Festival Audience Award — which is voted for by cinema-goers attending public screenings.
Eligible films are selected from across the EIFF programme by the Artistic Director.
We are delighted to announce that Schemers is our 2019 Audience Award winner! ?
Congratulations to the cast & crew of this fabulous Dundee-set film!
& Thank you to our #edfilmfest audiences for casting your votes. pic.twitter.com/dbHYCojSIa
— Edinburgh Film Fest (@edfilmfest) June 30, 2019
McLean, who produced and co-wrote the film, said even getting it into the festival was a surprise.
He said: “It was a bit of a shock to get into the Edinburgh International Film Festival be honest.
“We thought we might have a wee chance but to get the news was great and to sell out the show on the first day was amazing.
“To then win an award is just surreal.
“There was a standing ovation at the end of the screening so I knew that people liked it.
“We’ll be showing the film in Dundee at the DCA on July 19 so that will be good to bring it back to the city.
“Dundee is a great city and I’m proud to tell everyone that’s where I’m from, so I’ll be banging the drum big time for the city everywhere I promote this movie.
“We had to re-shoot a few scenes six months after the initial shoot and also write some new scenes (using a different team).
“It cost quite a bit, but it’s great to see the film on the big screen.”
we WON ? schemers just won the audience award at @edfilmfest can't thank every single person who voted enough and massive thanks to the festival for showing the film ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TwO6DIyvL4
— Sean Connor (@_sean_connor_) June 30, 2019
The film has received mostly positive reviews from critics following the first screenings on Saturday and Sunday, although few gave it a glowing appraisal.
One described the film as a “witty and energetic love letter to the city of Dundee” but another says the plot “hardly breaks new ground” adding it “inhales Irvine Welsh and exhales unevenly”.
A number of famous Dundee faces got involved in filming across the city.
McLean added: “It was great to get local celebrities on board during filming.
“To have people like Kit Clark (who plays my dad) and the musician Saint Andrew, who I worked with many years ago, was brilliant.
“I used to manage Kit’s band Very Important Men and promoted Saint Andrew and the Woolen Mill a few times with John Gibson. I still remember these gigs as the best times ever.
“I was chuffed to get local heroes like (Dundee United footballer) Dave Bowman in the film too. Kevin McCabe (street poet) is funny, Kyle Falconer (The View frontman) is also in a few scenes. I wanted more local faces but sometimes availability was a problem.”
The production had its international bow in Japan on Sunday at the Mt. Fuji-ATAMI film festival.
If bought by a distributor in the UK it may then reach cinemas across the country.
