BAFTA Scotland is to establish an annual awards ceremony recognising excellence in the Scottish screen industries.

The organisation hosted a major ceremony every two years throughout the 1990s until the Scottish Media Group (SMG) withdrew their support for the event in 1999. SMG owns Scottish Television and Grampian Television. BAFTA Scotland Director Alison Forsyth believes that any issues SMG may have had are now past history and the time is right to re-establish the awards which will recognise not just film and television but related industries, including computer games.

"There is a sense of confidence and buoyancy in the industry and this is a way to celebrate it," she claims. "The industry is ready for an annual awards event and that was the view of the whole BAFTA Scotland committee. The awards will take place every November and recognise not just film and television but related industries, including computer games, and people who have made a significant contribution over the years."

No major sponsor has yet been announced to back the first event which is scheduled to take place in November 2004. Among the Scottish films that would have been eligible for awards this year were Young Adam, Solid Air, After Life, Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself and 16 Years Of Alcohol.

BAFTA Scotland does continue to stage New Talent Awards every two years which have recognised emerging filmmakers like producer Gillian Berrie, digital pioneer May Miles Thomas and writer-director Lynne Ramsay.