Sisyfos Film Production

Scrappy Scottish teenager Gemma has never backed down from a fight. That was the way of life in the small-town, low-income housing scheme where she grew up, southeast of Glasgow. As Gemma use to say, scheme birds either get “locked up or knocked up,” so perhaps her path is set. But her grandfather, who raised her from infancy, won’t accept that.

Doing all he can to channel her energy away from the streets, he opens a boxing gym that he converts once a week into a pigeon show – something he believes will give Gemma and the local ex-cons a sense of purpose.

But is that enough action for Gemma? What will happen to her fire when the consequences go from minor to major? In a classic coming-of-age fashion, Scheme Birds asks what causes a person to change – and whether it’s ever too late to do so.

NATALEAH HUNTER-YOUNG Hot Docs 2019

Cast & Crew

Cast: Gemma, Joseph, Pat, Amy, John Paul, Maria, Sadie, Scott, Tadas
Director: Ellen Fiske, Elinor Hallin
Producers: Mario Adamson & Ruth Reid
Editor: Hanna Lejonqvist, SFK
Director of Photography: Ellinor Hallin
Music: Charlie Jefferson

Production Details

Format: Documentary
Year of production: 2019
Length: 86 min
Languages: English
Country of origin: Sweden, Scotland

Additional Info

Supported by:
Svenska Filminstitutet
Sundance Institute Documentary Fund
SVT
Konstnärsnamden / Swedish Arts’ Grants Committee
BFI
Creative Scotland
The Malik Bendjelloul Memorial Foundation
Region Uppsala, Kulturenheten, Louise Bown
Open Society Foundations
Just Films I Ford Foundation

In Association with:
Arte France
Unité Société et Culture Fabrice Puchault

Developed as part of:
STHLM DEBUT, a collaboration between Film Stockholm/ Filmbasen, Film
Capital Stockholm and Stockholm International Film Festival
EURODOC 2017

Premiere

Tribeca 2019

Festivals

Tribeca
Vancouver International Film Festival
Take One Action Film Festivals
FILM OHNE GRENZEN e.V.
LUCAS - International Festival for Young Film Lovers
Shetland Arts Development Agency
Bergen International Film Festival
Red de trabajadores/as audiovisualistas comunitarios RUT
Denver Film Society
Ânûû-rû âbora
Cork Film Festival
Jerusalem Film Festival
Riverfest Saginaw Film Festival
Zawya Cinema & Distribution
LA TROPA PRODUCE SLL (Cineuropa)
DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival
Hainan Island International Film Festival
Devolution Films
Festival Internacional de Cine de Tulum
Human Rights Human Wrongs AS
Filmklubben Chaplin
Vera Film Festival

Prizes

Tribeca Winner of Best Documentary Feature
Tribeca Winner of Albert Maysles New Documentary Director