Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Scheme Birds (2019)

Film Lens

Scheme Birds
Scheme Birds is a documentary that focuses on Gemma, a teenage girl living in Jerviston, Motherwell, Scotland. The film presents her life in a poverty-stricken area, shaped by her mother's abandonment due to drug addiction. It captures the grim circumstances of her upbringing and the environment surrounding her public housing scheme. Written and directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin, this film marks their feature film debut. The documentary is produced by Mario Adamson and Ruth Reid, with editing by Hanna Lejonqvist and cinematography by Ellinor Hallin. The film's title reflects the specific public housing scheme where Gemma resides, emphasizing the socio-economic context of her life.

Why Watch

  • Meet Gemma, a teenage girl from Jerviston, Scotland.
  • See the impact of public housing on Gemma's life.
  • Follow the film's journey to the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

Did You Know

The film premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
Scheme Birds won the Best Feature Documentary award in 2019.
Gemma's mother abandoned her at birth due to drug addiction.

Perfect For

Documentary enthusiastsSocial issuesScottish culture