GROUNDED Calls for Community Climate Stories

A new national film festival is calling on communities across Scotland to tell their stories about land, place and the future of their communities.

GROUNDED, a touring film festival organised by Community Land Scotland, has launched an open call for submissions from filmmakers, community groups and first-time storytellers. The festival will explore themes including land reform, community ownership, climate action, biodiversity and community resilience, with screenings planned in communities across Scotland during autumn 2027.

Organisers are encouraging submissions of all lengths and formats, including documentaries, dramas, animations and experimental films. The festival aims to showcase stories that highlight the relationship between people and place, and the ways communities are responding to social, environmental and economic challenges.

The initiative has particular relevance for rural and island communities, where community ownership and local action are increasingly playing a role in shaping sustainable futures. Themes include community land ownership, local histories, climate and biodiversity, equity and access, and collective approaches to building resilience.

As communities across rural Scotland continue to develop local solutions to issues such as biodiversity loss, sustainable land management, renewable energy and community wellbeing, the festival offers an opportunity to share those experiences with wider audiences and inspire others to take action.

Entry to the festival is free, with submissions open until April 2027. Selected films will form part of a touring programme that will visit venues throughout Scotland, bringing together local voices and stories from across the country.

The festival is part of Community Land Scotland’s wider cultural programme, What Next for Scotland?, which uses creativity and community storytelling to explore the future of land and communities across Scotland.

The festival’s focus also aligns closely with the ambitions of Scotland’s Climate Week which is running this week. The themed week highlights the positive action being taken by communities, organisations and businesses across the country to address climate change and create a fairer, greener future. Through storytelling and film, GROUNDED aims to spark conversations about how communities are responding to climate challenges while strengthening connections to the places they call home.

Find out more

Community groups, filmmakers and aspiring storytellers interested in taking part can find full details and submission information through Community Land Scotland’s GROUNDED open call at GROUNDED: Open Call for Film Submissions – Community Land Scotland 

Submissions are free and open until April 2027.