Community engagement is a core activity of the archive, as we want to share the collection with as many people as possible and celebrate Shetland’s rich moving image heritage! Here you can learn more about the various projects undertaken by the Shetland Film Archive over the years, from community screenings to creative projects.

Shetland on Film Online Programme
When Covid-19 prevented in-person film screenings, the archive premiered a collection of newly digitised 1950s and 60s films in a free, online live stream event. Archive clips were presented with recorded introductions from local heritage experts and the families who donated the original material.
13/May/21
Postcards from the Past
The archive teamed up with Shetland Arts at Bonhoga Gallery to present a journey through bygone Shetland in a series of short archive films. These included: repainting the south light on Fair Isle, crofting on Papa Stour, building of the bridge to Tronda and a boat trip around Scalloway harbour.
5/Feb/21
Up Helly Aa Online Programme
With Covid-19 lockdown preventing Shetland's fire festivals from going ahead in 2021, Shetland Film Archive teamed up with Promote Shetland to present a selection of films showcasing local fire festivals from 1969 to the present day.
26/Jan/21
The Crucible
Working with Islesburgh Drama Group, SFA material was used as part of a production of The Crucible (Arthur Miller) in November 2019. Here the film wasn’t the point of interest on its own - it had to work alongside actors, costumes, and sets to communicate a story.
14/Nov/19
From Sheep to Sock: Shetland Wool Week 2019.
For Shetland Wool Week, Shetland Film Archive presented a short programme of curated material from its collections at the Shetland Museum and Archives; following the journey of wool from the sheep to beautiful knitted garments.
28/Sep/19
Screenplay: Made at Home.
In September 2019, the Shetland Film Archive presented a film programme as part of Screenplay, the annual film festival run by Shetland Arts. Curated by Maya Darrell-Hewins, the programme featured the best of Shetland's great outdoors from the 1940s to the 1970s.
31/Aug/19
Oot and Aboot Tour: From Time To Time At Sea
A film tour of venues outwith Lerwick, organised in partnership with Shetland Arts. This programme of films from Shetland and Orkney included a contemporary artist film by Ruth Maclennan; a classic Margaret Tait short film; and material from the Shetland Film Archive.
17/Sep/18
UHI MA Music and the Environment
During their annual residential programme, students studying the University of the Highlands and Islands Music and the Environment Masters Degree explored the relationships between sound and historic images, using this as inspiration for pieces of music.
17/Sep/18
Ebb Tide
Ebb Tide was a filmmaking project produced by Shetland Film Archive and Shetland Arts as part of the cultural programme accompanying the XX Commonwealth Games. Eight artists and filmmakers produced short films inspired by an artefact or story with a link to both a Commonwealth country and Shetland.
24/Jul/14
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