Introducing The Bella Picture Dome
We’re extremely excited to unveil a brand-new addition to out 2025 event: The Picture Dome Festival, an on-site cinema and film festival experience that will offer attendees an exciting new cultural dimension alongside the music and live entertainment the festival is renowned for!
Funded with support from EventScotland, the Picture Dome has been developed alongside Film Hub Scotland. The carefully curated programme will showcase a diverse mix of short films from across the world through a partnership with Glasgow Short Film Festival & Discovery Film Festival, family favourites, music documentaries, Gaelic language cinema and late-night feature-length classics.
Scotland’s leading celebration of short-form cinema (Glasgow Short Film Festival) will present a vibrant programme of curated shorts. From comedies to family-friendly features, the international selection spans storytelling from Estonia, the Czech Republic, France, Spain and more. It’s a rare chance to experience creative filmmaking from around the globe, right in the heart of the Highlands.
Dundee Contemporary Arts’ Discovery Film Festival has also curated a heart-warming family programme, including their much-loved Shorts for Wee Ones and Shorts for Families, expect a selection of colourful films perfect for Belladrums young audiences.
Additional highlights include Out Loud, from Gaelic singer Kim Carnie who is no stranger to Belladrum as both a solo artist and member of Mànran. The documentary follows Kim as she reflects on her own journey with identity and sexuality, meeting LGBTQ+ individuals and activists from around the world.
Also showing will be Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands, written and narrated in part by musician Carla J. Easton, again, no stranger to Belladrum having last performed alongside The Vaselines in 2024. This documentary shines a light on the overlooked women who shaped Scotland’s music scene across the decades, combining rare archive footage, personal stories, and powerful commentary. It’s a celebration of trailblazers past and a rallying cry for the next generation of female talent.
‘Runrig: There Must Be A Place’ will feature on Friday afternoon and tells the story of Runrig – a tale of ups and downs, twists and turns, tears of joy and heartbreak. Packed with never-before-seen footage and photographs from the band’s private archives, it charts the unlikely rise of a ragtag band of friends who would go on to become Scotland’s House Band: Runrig.
There’s a selection of Gaelic language movies across the weekend including new short film Marram, directed by Elspeth Turner and Robbie Jones, shot in Berneray, North Uist and in Edinburgh. It stars Dolina Maclennan, Daibhidh Walker and Ewan James Armstrong, featuring a transcendent score by Gaelic electronica duo, WHYTE.
Other Gaelic showings include 2 animated short-films by Scottish BAFTA winner Catriona Black, Pìobairean Bhòrnais and Calum Noah.
For those seeking cinematic escapism after dark, the Picture Dome promises plenty of late-night fun. Visitors will enjoy screenings of beloved Scottish classics including Local Hero and cult favourite Highlander following the festival’s main stage headliners. Then, on Saturday evening a mass singalong of Mamma Mia!
Early morning sessions will see a family focus including animated movie favourites Finding Nemo, and iconic Scottish Disney Princess, Merida, in Brave.
In a festival first and in keeping with the movies theme, SkyUp Academy will be based in the Walled Garden throughout the weekend and giving attendees the chance to learnhands-on filmmaking skills and techniques. As part of the fun, a selection of short films created by festivalgoers across the weekend while visiting SkyUp will premiere in a special showcase at the Picture Dome on Saturday afternoon, bringing new voices and creative talents straight to the big screen!
Dougie Brown - Producer, Belladrum:
We are delighted to launch this exciting new addition to our already eclectic and packed programme at Belladrum Festival. The Picture Dome Festival will be an incredible new experience for festival goers where they can lose themselves in the world of film from stunning animations to movie classics to family blockbusters and exciting new Scottish and Gaelic movies.
Rebecca Edser – Head of EventScotland:
We are delighted to be supporting Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival through our National Events Funding Programme, allowing them to bring the Picture Dome Cinema to their 2025 event. This brand new element of the festival is fantastic addition to their 21st birthday event and will help to reinforce Scotland’s reputation as a leading tourism and events destination. With a lineup already showcasing some of the best Scottish pop and traditional acts and much more, I’m sure visitors from the local Inverness community, the surrounding areas and beyond will have plenty to enjoy at this milestone celebration for Belladrum.