Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews continues to grow with another significant increase in attendance and more sold-out events than ever before.
The 2024 festival ended on a high with a celebration of music in film with multi award-winning composer Alan Silvestri (Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) conducting the St Andrews Chamber Orchestra followed by the closing film Maggie Contreras’ debut feature documentary on female conductors Maestra.
Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews closed on Sunday with the Scottish Premiere of Maggie Contreras’ Maestra at the Byre Theatre with producers Melanie Miller and Emma West in attendance.
Films from over 11 countries screened across the 3-day festival which saw a dazzling array of international talent in attendance, including Joe and Anthony Russo, Harry and Tom Holland, Steven Soderbergh, Alan Silvestri, Casting Director Debra Zane, Donald Mustard (Founder of Fortnite and AGBO Partner), Chris Van de Kuyl (Co-Founder and Chairman of 4J Studios), Chris Young (Silent Roar, Producer), Anna Hints (Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, Director), Farhad Delaram (Achilles, Director), Rachel Lambert (Sometimes I think About Dying, Director) Melanie Miller and Emma West alongside industry heavyweights Gráinne Humphreys (Dublin International Film Festival Director), Josh Siegel (MoMA’s Department of Film Curator), Indigo Korres (SQIFF Director) and award-winning producer John Sloss (Founder and CEO of Cinetic Media).
Sands added live music to its innovative programme of film and gaming events and programme highlights included a masterclass with legendary composer Alan Silvestri at the award-winning Laidlaw Music Centre, where he treated students and audiences alike to a very special performance of some of his greatest works including music from Forrest Gump played by the St Andrews Chamber Orchestra.
Lauded filmmaker Steven Soderbergh was also in attendance at Sands for a first-time public Q&A with the Russo brothers, moderated by Deadline’s Mike Fleming, whose career he has supported since its inception with the film Welcome to Collinwood in 2002.
The festival saw record audience numbers with significant increase in attendance since last years’ event and were thrilled to introduce new audiences to quality film experiences with 22% of all attendees coming to the Byre for the first time. Audiences came from around the UK with around 48% of audiences coming from Scotland itself.
From our Festival Director, Ania Trzebiatowska
“Sands is all about connecting people who share a love for film. And it feels like this boutique and unique, three-day event is growing and developing into a very fine, young festival which Scotland can be very proud of. Sands 24 brought us so many magical moments but, for me, it’s all about the mix – the highest profile names in this industry have been rubbing shoulders with emerging talent and they’ve all been so generous in sharing their time and wisdom with the people of St Andrews and beyond. Including lots and lots of students, many of whom have curated events and volunteered their services to contribute to this year’s amazing success. I’m already planning for Sands 25!”
