Shetland Arts is delighted to announce that it has chosen a ‘runner’ for the Shetland to Ullapool leg of Hansel of Film. Donnie Nicolson will launch the relay in style by transporting films by Shetlanders in his 1972 MG Midget 1500 from Shetland to Ullapool, via Aberdeen.
Funded by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and by Creative Scotland, A Hansel of Film – Shetland to Southampton and Back is a relay of screenings of short films made by the public from all across the UK. It is part of the London 2012 Festival, a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration from 21 June and running until 9 September 2012 bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. Members of the public can get involved by submitting a film, volunteering to transport the films between venues, and/or attending an event. The films are relayed between participating venues by ‘runners’; that is, creative and energetic individuals who will employ whatever means of transport they can devise to get the right films to the right venue on time; individuals like Donnie.
Donnie in his 1972 MG Midget 1500. Photo by Billy Fox.
Donnie has had two liver transplants, one in 2002 and one in 2011, and volunteered to take part in Hansel of Film as a way of publicly acknowledging those involved in his medical care.He said: “I want to do this run as a kind of ‘thank you’ to all the medical staff involved in Scalloway, Lerwick, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as the blood donors and, of course, my two liver donors. I enjoy a challenge and a bit of fun, and this sounds like both!”
Shetland Arts’ Hansel of Film Project Manager, Kathy Hubbard said: “Donnie is exactly the sort of person we were looking for to launch the Hansel of Film Relay. He’s enthusiastic, resilient and determined, he clearly can rise to a challenge and has a tremendous sense of fun. We couldn’t hope for a better start to the relay than that.”
You can get involved with Hansel of Film by submitting a film, volunteering to become a runner and/or attending an event. Tickets for the events are free but booking is strongly recommended. The closing date for submitting films and volunteering to be a runner is May 18th. To get involved or for more information, please visit the website http://hansel2012.org
Hansel definition: ‘a gift to commemorate an inaugural occasion, the launching of a new boat, the birth of a child, a new home, new enterprise.’ John J Graham – The Shetland Dictionary.
