Gillian Berrie

In 1996 Gillian co-founded Sigma Films with director David Mackenzie, writing and producing serial award-winning shorts, 'California Sunshine' and 'Somersault'.

Alongside, Gillian gained experience in numerous film and television roles, ie Casting Director on Ken Loach's 'My Name is Joe' (for which Peter Mullan won the Palme D'or in Cannes) and Lynne Ramsay's legendary 'Ratcatcher'.

Casting experience on the aforementioned led Gillian to create the charity, 'Starfish' which then became 'Jumpcut', which morphed into 'Short Circuit', and 'Big Fish Casting' which segued into Kahleen Crawford Casting

Gillian then produced many of David Mackenzie's films including: Last Great Wilderness, Hallam Foe, Young Adam, You Instead (aka Tonight You're Mine), Perfect Sense, Starred Up and the biggest film ever to be make in Scotland, Outlaw King. She was also heavily involved in the post-production, festival, UK/US theatrical release and Oscar campaign for Academy Award Nominee 'Hell or High Water'.

Gillian recently exec-produced the critically acclaimed Pilot and 2nd episode of the Disney/ FX series, 'Under the Banner of Heaven' for which Andrew Garfield was nominated for an Emmy (2022). She also just completed post-production for Apple Films on 'Tetris' starring Taron Egerton, and is currently delivering her first short 'Hunger' as writer and director.

Gillian has numerous projects in development and has just directed her first short film, 'Food for Love'.

Sigma's films regularly premiere at A-List festivals and have received over 150 awards internationally, including the Prix de Jury in Cannes for Red Road, and the Silver Bear in Berlin for Hallam Foe, as well as numerous BIFA and BAFTA nominations and awards.

At the Scottish BAFTA New Talent Awards in 2002 Gillian won the BAFTA for Outstanding Achievement.

In order to create a vibrant hub for the film community in Scotland, Gillian founded the 65,000 square ft state of the art, Film City Glasgow in 2004. Since then it has been a full house of productions and film-makers.

In 2012 she founded 'Jumpcut', the UK's one and only, intensive, mentor-led Summer School to provide a fast-track for youngsters into working in the film industry. This project was a runaway success. Over 75% of the participants went onto working in the industry. It ran for two years and won several awards.

She also co-produced the multi-prize winner 'Dear Frankie' and Jonathan's Glazer's 'Under the Skin' (which won 23 awards and received 110 nominations).

Gillian also produced several features for first time feature film directors, including David Mackenzie, Colin Kennedy, Andrea Arnold, Morag MacKinnon and Ciaran Foy, as well as numerous additional shorts including the lauded I Love Luci.

Over the years, Gillian co-produced with Denmark's Zentropa many times, including 'Wilbur (Wants to kill himself)', 'Dogville,' 'Manderlay', 'Brothers', 'Dear Wendy', 'Donkeys' and 'After the Wedding'. Her most successful collaboration was 'Advance Party' a fast-track-first-time-director project which included Andrea Arnold's 'Red Road' which won 6 BAFTA'S (5 Scottish and Carl Foreman awards) 2 BIFA's, the Cannes Prix de Jury, and many other awards.

In 2012 Gillian won 'Tastemaker of the Year' at the Scottish Style Awards for her contribution to the Screen Industries. Previous winners are James McAvoy, Vivienne Westwood and KT Tunstall.

In 2014 Gillian received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of West of Scotland for her contribution to film, culture and the arts.

Over the years 2014 to 2018 Gillian devoted several years to strategic and intensive lobbying for additional funding and support for the Screen sector in Scotland which resulted in the government doubling its investment and the creation of the enormously successful 'Screen Scotland'.

Gillian continues to contribute to the next generation of Scottish film-makers through Short Circuit, which is in its 3rd year and has so far given the first opportunities in film-making to hundreds of new-comers and produced dozens of short films and feature film development.

Short Circuit is Scotland's hub for filmmaking talent, supporting the creative and professional development of new and emerging writers, directors, and producers.

Over three years, Short Circuit's film commissioning strand 'Sharp Shorts' will award over £0.4m in funding across 27 filmmaking teams, creating opportunities for Scotland's most exciting emerging new screen talent.

'Sharp Shorts' has become one of Scotland's most diverse creative initiatives, with representation across the Year 1 participants as follows:

Female - 75%, LGBTQ+ - 28%, BAME - 44%, Disabled - 17%, Disadvantaged background - 44%

The first batch of short films are screening internationally at festivals: SXSW, BFI Flare, EIFF, Dinard, LSFF, Berlin, with multiple awards. In particular, Sean Lionadh's short 'Too Rough' has won 11 awards to date.

The 'First Features' strand, with a fund of over £300,000, will support 30 new writers, directors, and producers, enabling Scotland-based filmmakers to take a career-defining step towards making their debut feature.

(First Features supported projects to date: 20, with 5 currently being contracted. We intend to fund an additional 5 projects by Mar 2023).

A broad range of further training and events, including 'Producer Accelerator' and 'Convergence', will engage with nearly 3,000 filmmakers across Scotland.