The Jorge Sanjinés Award for Best Dramaturgy
The Jury’s Statement: The remarkably simple but strong story of a newlywed and the harsh reality of life in a Scottish fishing town impressed us with its attention to detail and extremely well written dialogue.
Synonpsis of ‘Guttin’ Quines’: Jeannie, a young woman from a farming background, has recently married and moved to
a remote fishing town on Scotland’s East Coast. The rhythms of her new life are foreign and unforgiving. With her husband often away at sea, Jeannie feels isolated and struggles to fit in with the tight-knit, weathered community. Used to the land’s steady pace, she’s unsettled by her new lifestyle. Her retreat into solitude is interrupted by Maggie, her brash mother-in-law, who insists that Jeannie work gutting fish at the harbour. Thrust
into this world of cold hands, sharp knives, and shared graft, Jeannie slowly adapts. As she works alongside Maggie, she begins to see beyond her tough exterior and discovers a woman shaped by grief and resilience. Through their growing bond, Jeannie finds strength, connection, and a deeper understanding of her place in this new life.
Duncan Forbes is a passionate and devoted director interested in representing characters and narratives not commonly explored in films. Duncan believes in fostering a spirited and collaborative dynamic on set and throughout production, to encourage collaboration and bring out the best of all crew members involved. Duncan was inspired to create Guttin’ Quines because of his family, as he comes from generations of Fisherfolk. Duncan’s previous work includes directing documentary shorts, such as ‘Selkies’ and narrative fiction films, most recently ‘Mr. Balloonhead Man’.