That the Parliament congratulates the Shepherds of Wildlife Society on what it sees as its significant contribution to the production of the feature-length documentary, The Last Keeper, which explores the reportedly complex and contentious debate over Scotland’s land use; understands that the production, which was directed by the wildlife conservationist and human rights activist, Tom Opre, was shot over 18 months and captures diverse perspectives, including those of rewilding advocates, land reformers, crofters, scientists and gamekeepers, and showcases the challenges faced by rural communities; acknowledges that its UK premiere was on 25 April 2024, with a screening in the Parliament in June; applauds its success at international film festivals, where it has won 10 prominent awards, including Best Documentary at the Paris World Cinema Festival; notes that the film is now available on Amazon Prime, with a one-hour version to be broadcast on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands worldwide, and recognises what it sees as its critical focus on the social and environmental consequences of land-use changes, providing a platform for constructive debate on Scotland’s future.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Pam Gosal, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Douglas Ross, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells, Tess White, Elena Whitham, Brian Whittle