Scottish filmmaker John Grierson is often described as “the father of documentary,” in deference to his important role in the development of non-fiction cinema across the first half of the 20th century. Grierson’s work brought him worldwide fame – ask any documentary film student, and they’ll likely know his name.
Less widely recognised however, is the contribution made by John Grierson’s sisters, Marion and Ruby, who were also documentary makers of great ability and vision. After starting out as their brother’s assistants, both Marion and Ruby made boundary pushing documentaries across the 1930s and early 1940s. Until recently however, their work was overshadowed by their brother’s legacy, their story left out of histories of cinema, and their films rarely screened.
This programme, co-curated by Invisible Women and the Scottish Documentary Institute, brings together work spanning almost a century made by Scottish women documentarians. Taking the story of the Griersons as a starting point, these films demonstrate how the sisters’ legacy resonates through time. Experimental aesthetics, hybrid forms and themes around invisible labour, lost histories and untold women’s stories, echo throughout this selection, drawing unexpected connections between past and present.
Northern Outpost (Jenny Brown and CJ Cayley, 1940, 15 min)
A charming introduction to the landscape and traditions of the Shetland Isles, beautifully shot by Jenny Brown (later Gilbertson).
Beside the Seaside (Marion Grierson, 1935, 23 min)
In this beguiling postcard, Marion Grierson experiments with innovative cinematic techniques to capture a woozy, sun-soaked day at the British seaside.
Water to the Wall (Becky Manson, 2025, 13 min)
An Orkney-set portrait of an island community through time, where the sea has always defined life.
Portrait of Ga (Margaret Tait, 1952, 4 min).
Although often underestimated in her lifetime, Orcadian artist Margaret Tait is now celebrated as one of Scotland’s foremost experimental filmmakers.
They Also Serve (Ruby Grierson, 1940, 8 min)
In this dramatized documentary, Ruby Grierson offers an empathetic and touching story centring the plight of a wartime housewife.
The Sound of the Wind (Maria Pankova, 2023, 17 min)
A Ukrainian refugee living in Scotland struggles to reconcile her new life with the experiences of her husband, serving thousands of miles away on the frontline.