25-28
ULTIMA THULE
ULTIMA THULE
Faclan 2017Fèis Litreachas Innse Gall The Hebridean Book Festival
An Dàmhair October
I SAW A MAN PURSUING
THE HORIZONSTEPHEN CRANE
”
“
FÀILTE GU FACLAN
2 0 1 72 0 1 7LEABHRAICHEAN/FILM/EALAIN/COMHRADH/CEOL
BOOKS/FILM/VISUAL ARTS/TALKS/MUSIC
In medieval geographies, Ultima Thule is a place
beyond the borders of the known world. Nowadays,
we tell ourselves that there are no such borders, that
there is no ‘unknown’ world. Yet we remain possessed
by it: the hinterland, the winter land, the empty space
beyond the horizon that can only be filled by our
imagination. For writers it’s an endless territory to
explore, revisit and reinvent. Perhaps ultimately we
still need these narratives; we still need somewhere
that is off the map.
Roddy MurrayFounding Director Head of Visual Arts & Literature
Grateful thanks to Creative Scotland, Comhairle nan
Eilean Siar, Acair, MG Alba, The Royal Literary Fund,
Elegant Chaos and Natural Retreats for their generous
assistance with this year’s rich and intriguing
programme.
2
25An Dàmhair October
2PM HIDDEN GIFTS: THE MYSTERY OF ANGUS MACPHEENICK HIGGINS FILM / 2004 / 25 MINSExplores the mysterious relationship
between artistic expression and
mental illness through the story of
Scotsman Angus MacPhee, who was
diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1946
and sent to the Craig Dunain
Psychiatric Hospital near Inverness.
3PMAGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD
A band of conquistadors searching
for El Dorado in darkest Peru find
the horror within themselves. An
unremitting and overwhelming
vision, not just of the colonial mind-
set but of the latent madness within
everybody. Herzog’s masterpiece.
WERNER HERZOG FILM /1 972 / 100 MINS
5PM EDGE OF THE WORLDMICHAEL POWELL FILM / 1937 / 81 MINSClassic film on the de-
population of one of
Scotland’s isolated, outer
islands as the younger
generation leave for the
mainland. Based on the
evacuation of St Kilda.
7PMBEYOND WORDSNEW WRITERS' ANTHOLOGY
The launch of the second publication
from the Western Isles
Writers’ Group.
(Gallery)
7:30PM
DAOINE NAN ÀITEPEOPLE IN PLACE
Murdo Macleod and Finlay
Macleod discuss the place of
photography in Acair's
publishing programme over
the last 40 years. Particularly
the work of Dan Morrison,
James McGeoch and Robert
Adam, and how each chose
to depict the faces of
Hebridean culture.
325 3An Dàmhair October
DiciadainWednesday
The launch of the second publication
from the Western Isles
Writers' Group.
(Gallery)
26
2PM
LOST HORIZONFRANK CAPRA
FILM / 1937 / 132 MINSA group of plane-crash survivors land
in the mythical Shangri-La, a valley
hidden deep within the Himalayas.
Rescued, they grow to love the
remote paradise, but all is not as it
seems. Selected by the Library of
Congress in 2016 as being "culturally,
historically, or aesthetically
significant".
5PM
ARRIVALS AND SAILINGS
Never-before-seen images and
fresh insight into the influences and
early life of a beloved, charismatic
artist whose work holds a mirror to
Scottish life, identity and industry.
THE MAKING OF GEORGE WYLLIE
JAN PATIENCE
7PM
LILY GREENALL
Workshop with Lily Greenall specifically
on the supernatural in Scottish fiction.
(Community Room) repeated on Fri 7pm
WRITING GHOSTS 1
4 DiardaoinThursday
An Dàmhair October
26DiardaoinThursday
An Dàmhair October
5
FÌOR THUATH : ABSOLUTE NORTH
A rare film of Icelandic life in the early 20th Century depicting modernity encroaching on traditional life.
Jessica Danz is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser. Known for her finely crafted, haunting
songwriting, she writes and performs solo material for combinations of voice, violin and piano, as well as creating
larger-scale ensemble works and live scores for theatre, dance and silent film.
6:30PM
FILM / SILENT / 1925 WITH LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT BY JESSICA DANZ
7PM
ICELAND
RAGNAR AXELSSON
Lushly austere, powerful images of Greenland, Iceland
and the Faroe Islands document vanishing lifestyles as
Axelsson (Rax) looks back upon the foundation of his
photographic passion and career.
Raised on an isolated farm in southern Iceland, Rax
became captivated by the brutal beauty of the North
Atlantic, its inhabitants and their environment. Faces of
the North established him as one of the leading
documentary photographers of our time.
8:30PM
THE SEABIRD’S CRY
THE LAST DAYS OF THE ARCTIC
ADAM NICOLSON
From one of the greatest nature writers we explore the pattern
of seabirds’ lives, their habitats, the threats they face and the
passions they inspire.
Adam Nicolson is a prize-winning writer of many books on
history, nature and the countryside including Sea Room, God’s
Secretaries and the acclaimed The Mighty Dead. He has
written and presented many television series and is the
proprietor and custodian of the Shiant Islands.
3 EVENTS - 1 TICKET - £10
27DihaoineFriday
An Dàmhair October
2PM
OFF THE MAP NATIONAL TRUST FILM / 1958 / 26 MINSA 1950s travelogue to the most
remote inhabited islands in Britain,
including North Rona, St Kilda,
Mingulay, Barra, and Iona. The Trust
acquired Fair Isle in 1954, and St
Kilda in 1957, shortly before this film
was made.
THE GREAT WHITE SILENCEHERBERT PONTING FILM / 1924 / 108 MINS
The compelling official film of the
1910 British Antarctic Expedition, led
by Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, on their
failed quest to become the first to
reach the South Pole.
12:30PM
THE MOUNTAIN CAFE COOKBOOKA KIWI IN THE CAIRNGORMS
KIRSTEN GILMOURWith the award-winning New Zealand chef
and owner of The Mountain Cafe, Aviemore,
which was voted Best Cafe in Scotland at the
2017 Scottish Food & Drink Awards. Kirsten
is also a contributor to BBC Radio Scotland’s
Kitchen Cafe.
(Harbour Room Restaurant)
£10 for lunch or free without lunch
Very limited places
6
2:30PM
FAITH IN HEREJAMIE EDMUNDSON FILM / 2017 / 10 MINS
A short film by Glasgow School of
Art graduate about Kenny MacKay
of Harris and his fight to get a road
built to Rhenigidale, previously
accessible only by boat or on foot.
The road finally opened in 1990.
2:45PM
27DihaoineFriday
An Dàmhair October
TÌREAN DEIGHE IS TEINE LANDS OF ICE AND FIRE
5PMBEYOND THE NORTHLANDSVIKING VOYAGES AND THE OLD NORSE SAGAS ELEANOR ROSAMUND BARRACLOUGH
On saga manuscripts, trolls and dragons jostle with explorers, traders,
and kings. To explore and explain them Barraclough travelled thousands
of miles on a journey to the far-flung corners of the Viking world.
Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough is Assistant Professor in Medieval
History and Literature at Durham University. She is one of ten BBC
Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers.
7PM WINTER IS COMING EPISODE 1 / GAME OF THRONES HBO / 2011 / 55 MINS
A faithful adaptation of the first chapters of George R
R Martin’s medieval fantasy, this introduces the setting
and main characters.
The title is the motto of House Stark. The episode
remains a top-polling favourite among fans of the
global phenomenon.
8:15PM
WINTER IS COMING: THE MEDIEVAL WORLD OF GAME OF THRONESCAROLYNE LARRINGTON
We explore sigils, giants, dragons
and direwolves in medieval texts;
ravens, old gods and the Weirwood
in Norse myth; and a gothic, exotic
orient in the eastern continent,
Essos. An indispensable guide to
the 21st century’s pre-eminent
fantasy creation.
7
3 EVENTS - 1 TICKET - £10
Limited number of free tickets or included with combined event ticket
9:30AM
28DisathairneSaturday
An Dàmhair October
CÀNAN AODAINN : LANGUAGE OF EDEN
FILM + DISCUSSION WITH WRITER JOHN MURRAY Ceòl ’s Craic’s filmed theatrical production is
an adaptation of John Murray’s landmark Gaelic
short story reinterpreted by playwright Iain Macrae
and directed by Duncan MacDonald. It is delivered
in partnership with MG ALBA and Creative Scotland.
3 EVENTS - 1 TICKET £10 FREE DRINK & BREAKFAST ROLL
BRISEADH NA CLOICHE
10:30AM
AN LEABHAR LIATH THE LIGHT BLUE BOOK500 YEARS OF THE EROTIC IN GAELIC VERSE PETER MACKAY
Winner of the Donald Meek Award 2016, this collection of
bawdy, erotic and transgressive Gaelic song and verse
mines a long tradition back to the age of Ossian. ‘… Much
works by innuendo rather than explicit detail … to balance
the more risqué material we include some relatively gentle
love poems.’
Peter Mackay is from Lewis. He is a lecturer at the
University of St Andrews and is the author of Gu Leòr /
Galore, From Another Island and Sorley MacLean. He is
one of ten BBC Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers.
11:30AMLITREACHAS NA TÌRE THE GAELIC LANDSCAPE IN LITERATURE JOHN MURRAY
Travel in your mind to Duncan Bàn Macintyre’s Beinn Dòbhrain, Sorley
Maclean’s Hallaig and the Caithness and Sutherland of Neil Gunn.
Photographs, maps and place-names immerse us in the landscapes which
songs, poems and tales have described over the ages.
John Murray is a former Director of Landscape Architecture at Edinburgh
University. His first book Reading the Gaelic Landscape was published in 2014.
8
28DisathairneSaturday
An Dàmhair October
SCOTLAND MAPPING THE ISLANDS
1:30PM
CHRISTOPHER FLEET
Featuring some of the most beautiful and
significant maps from the National Library
of Scotland’s collection, covering
population, place-names, defence, civic
improvement, natural resources,
navigation, and leisure and tourism, the
story of Scottish islands from the earliest
maps to the most up-to date techniques
of digital mapping.
Christopher Fleet is Senior Map Curator
in the National Library of Scotland with
particular responsibilities for
digital mapping.
OS CIONN NA TÌRE
INTO THE UNWILD PATRICIA & ANGUS MACDONALD: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH AEROGRAPHICA PARTNERSHIP
3PM
Forensic aerial views: The Aerographica
Partnership specializes in the research, record
and interpretation of cultural landscapes using
aerial photography and art projects. Its imagery
is exhibited, published and held in public and
private collections internationally, in both fineart
and editorial contexts
Angus Macdonald BSc PhD FSA(Scot) Hon
FRSGS is Professor Emeritus and former Head
of the School of Arts, Culture and Environment of
the University of Edinburgh. Artist-photographer,
Patricia Macdonald BSc PhD FRSE FSA (Scot)
FRSA Hon FRSGS Hon FICS is researcher in
environmental history, perception and
iconography (and Honorary Fellow at the
University of Edinburgh).
OVER LAND2 EVENTS - 1 TICKET - £8
2PM
THE HEBRIDEANCOLOURING BOOKEILIDH MULDOON
A magical book-making session that takes
you on a colouring-in journey around the
islands. Learn how to create your own fold-
out concertina book full of drawings and
colourful pictures. (Martin's Memorial Hall)
9
28DisathairneSaturday
An Dàmhair October
GU H-ÀRD GU TUR HIGH ALTITUDE HIGH LATITUDE
3 EVENTS 1 TICKET £10
THE EPIC OF EVERESTJOHN BAPTIST LUCIUS NOEL
FILM / 1924 / 87 MINSThe third attempt to climb Everest saw the
deaths of two of the finest climbers of their
generation, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine.
Did they reach the summit? Filmed in brutal
conditions with a hand-cranked camera, the film
captured images of breath-taking beauty
and historic significance revealed
by the BFI restoration.
4:30PM
UP AND ABOUT: THE HARD ROAD TO EVEREST
7PM
DOUG SCOTT CBEOn 24 September 1975, Doug Scott and Dougal
Haston became the first Britons to reach the summit
of Everest. Scott went on to become one of Britain's
greatest ever mountaineers, pioneering new climbs in
the remotest corners of the globe. He tells his story
from his birth in Nottingham during the darkest days of
war to the summit of the world.
8:30PM
DARK MATTER THIN AIRHIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH LATITUDE GHOST STORIESMICHELLE PAVER
A ghost story to chill and thrill...Like Touching the
Void rewritten by Jack London, Thin Air is a heart-
freezing masterpiece. (Amanda Craig THE
OBSERVER)
Michelle Paver’s first books were for younger readers
The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, followed by
Gods and Warriors. Her ghost stories for adults,
Dark Matter and Thin Air have been UK bestsellers
and won massive praise from reviewers and readers.
10
THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND TALK
28DisathairneSaturday
An Dàmhair October
10PM
INTO THE OTHERWORLDHALLOWEEN CLUB NIGHTFancy dress, cocktails,
DJ set, late licence
HYPERBOREALANDS OF THE NORTH 23 SEPT – 4 NOV
This exhibition showcases the work of three
acclaimed photographers, Ragnar Axelsson,
Alex Boyd and Chris Friel, whose work
focuses on the North. Axelsson and Boyd
document the communities of Greenland,
Iceland and the Faroe Islands in their works
‘Faces of the North’ and ‘Dark Mountains |
Silent Islands’, while Friel’s introspective work
‘After’ concentrates on the landscapes of the
Outer Hebrides. In association with the
Flow Festival of Photography.
FORRADH : SLY COOKINGCATRIONA BLACK
An exhibition of linocut illustrations of Gaelic Words and
Expressions from South Uist and Eriskay, collected by
Fr. Allan McDonald, revealing the sophistication of a
language full to the brim with folklore.
EXHIBITIONS11
THU26/10
WED25/10
HIDDEN GIFTS: THE MYSTERY OF ANGUS MACPHEE
AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD
THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
BEYOND WORDS
DAOINE NAN ÀITE. PEOPLE IN PLACE
Nick Higgins 2004
(25min)
2PM
3PM
5PM
7PM
7:30PM
Werner Herzog 1972
(94 mins)
Michael Powell 1937
(81 mins)
New Writing book
launch.
Main Gallery
Hebrideans in
photography. Murdo
Macleod and Finlay
Macleod
LOST HORIZONFrank Capra 1937
(132 mins)
2PM
5PM
7PM
ABSOLUTE NORTH
ARRIVALS AND SAILINGSThe Making of George
Wyllie – Jan Patience
WRITING GHOSTSWorkshop with Lilly
Greenall.
Community Room
ICELAND1925
(Silent film, 25 mins)
with live
accompaniment by
Jessica Danz6:30PM
FACES OF THE NORTH / LAST DAYS OF THE ARCTICIcelandic photographer
Ragnar Axelsson
7PM
THE SEABIRD’S CRYAdam Nicolson
8:30PM
FRI27/10
OFF THE MAP1958
(26 mins)
Travelogue of Scottish
Islands
2PM
1924 (108 mins)
Record of Captain
Scott’s expedition to
the South Pole.
THE GREAT WHITE SILENCE
2:30PM
FAITH IN HERE2017 (10 mins)
A film about a Harris
man's fight to get a
road built to
Rhenigidale.
2:45PM
7PM
WRITING GHOSTS IIWorkshop with Lilly
Greenall.
Community Room
THE MOUNTAIN CAFE COOKBOOK
A Kiwi in the
Cairngorms: Kirsten
Gilmour - 2 course
Lunch for £10 12:30PM
EXHIBITIONSHYPERBOREA : LANDS OF THE NORTH3 Photographers (Gallery)
Faces of the North: Ragnar Axelsson
Dark Mountains | Silent Islands: Alex Boyd
After: Chris Friel.
FORRADH : SLY COOKINGCatriona Black (Café Bar Exhibition)
Sat 6pm - Acair 40th Anniversary reception and
exhibition launch
23 SEPT - 4 NOV
SAT28/10
HIGH ALTITUDE HIGH LATITUDE
THE EPIC OF EVEREST 1924 (88 mins)
Official film of the
Mallory & Irvine
expedition
4:30PM
7PM
UP AND ABOUTThe Hard Road to
Everest
Doug Scott CBE
DARK MATTER, THIN AIRHigh Altitude, High
Latitude Ghost Stories
Michelle Paver
8:30PM
HALLOWEEN CLUBNIGHT
CALENDAR OF EVENTSBRISEADH NA CLOICHFilm based on John
Murray’s short story
9:30AM
AN LEABHAR LIATHThe Erotic in Gaelic
Song & Verse: Peter
Mackay
10:30AM
LITREACHAS NA TÌREThe Literature of the
Gaelic Landscape
John Stuart Murray
11:30AM
MAPPING SCOTLAND’S ISLANDS
OVER LAND
Christopher Fleet
1:30PM
INTO THE UNWILDPatricia & Angus
Macdonald, University
of Edinburgh /
Aerographica
partnership
3PM 10:30PM – 1AM
LANDS OF ICE AND FIREBEYOND THE NORTHLANDSViking Voyages & the
Old Norse Sagas
Eleanor Rosamund
Barraclough 5PM
WINTER IS COMINGGame of Thrones:
Ep.1 (2011)
Free- ticket
required 7PM
WINTER IS COMINGThe Medieval World
of Game of Thrones
Carolyne Larrington
8:15PM
LANGUAGE OF EDEN HEBRIDEAN COLOURING BOOK WORKSHOP
Create your own fold-
out concertina book
(Martin's Memorial) £3
2PM
Free - no ticket
required
Faclan ÒGA SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
14
DINOSAURS, DUCKS,HARES AND TORTOISESALISON MURRAY
P1 - 3 ENGLISH Alison will read from Hare and Tortoise and Dino Duckling and show how
to create expressive picture book characters with line, mark making and
colour. Children will get a chance to create their own version of a
character from one of Alison’s stories.
MON 30 OCT 1.45PM, TARBERT LIBRARY TUES 31 OCT 10AM, AN LANNTAIR
SILVER SKINJOAN LENNON
S1 - 3 ENGLISH
Join Joan Lennon as she talks about the inspiration for her novel,
shares writing tips, and looks at some of the issues that past,
present and future share. Silver Skin was shortlisted for the 2017
Scottish Teenage Book Prize.
THURS 2 NOV 1.15PM, TARBERT LIBRARY FRI 3 NOV, TIME TBC NICOLSON INSTITUTE
WALKING MOUNTAINJOAN LENNON
P4 - 7 ENGLISH
Join Joan Lennon as she introduces her latest novel Walking
Mountain, looking at where this story of impending disaster and
unlikely friendships began, and how she went about inventing a
strange future world that is fantastic and familiar at the same time.
WED 1 NOV 2PM, AN LANNTAIR THURS 2 NOV 10.30AM, TARBERT LIBRARY
15
GRANAIDH AFRAGA MÒRAG ANNA NICNÈILL
P5 – 7 GAELIC
Morag Ann MacNeil will read an extract from her new novel,
‘Granaidh Afraga’ before answering questions from the audience. A
creative writing activity with a Hallowe’en theme will follow, in
which pupils will be encouraged to create their own scary characters.
TUES 31 OCT 2 – 3PM, AN LANNTAIR WED 1 NOV 10.30 – 11.30AM, TARBERT LIBRARY
AN TRIÙIR AGUS LUBAG MAOILIOS CAIMBEUL
S1 – 3 GAELIC
Myles Campbell will talk about the book 'An Triùir agus Lùbag' and
read a bit from it. He will also describe some of his other writings
and examples of flash fiction and there will be a writing activity for
the pupils.
TUES 31 OCT 1.15 – 2.15PM, TARBERT LIBRARY WED 1 NOV 10 – 11, AN LANNTAIR
LEUGH IS SEINN LE LINDA MACLEOD
P1 – 3 GAELIC
Join us for a fun-filled Gaelic reading session with stories, songs
and puppets for early-years pupils with Linda MacLeod. Linda will
be reading ‘Montaidh agus Mìlsean’ by Gayle Clark. Supported by
Comhairle nan Leabhraichean.
FRI 3 NOV 10.30 – 11.30AM, TARBERT LIBRARY FRI 3 NOV 2 – 3PM, STORNOWAY PRIMARY
TICKET PRICESFaclan Festival Pass*
Films
Authors' Events
Combined Event Tickets
Hebridean Colouring Book workshop
(not included with festival pass)
School Events - Free, booking essential
£65/£60
£4/£3
£6/£5
£8 or £10
£3
WWW.LANNTAIR.COM [email protected] 01851708480WWW.LANNTAIR.COM [email protected] 01851708480
Sràid Choinnich, Steòrnabhagh, Eilean Leòdhais, HS1 2DS
An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DS
Natural Retreats, a proud sponsor of Faclan 2017, is a unique leisure and travel company offering extraordinary
experiences at a selection of stunning coastal, countryside and wilderness locations around the world.
NATURAL RETREATS OFFER
Explore. Dream. Discover. Go somewhere to remember. Get 10% off a stay of two nights or longer at Lews Castle by Natural Retreats during Faclan. Book your stay at
www.naturalretreats.com or call 01625 416430 using code HEBBOOK2017
*Faclan Pass Holders get a 10% discount on food in the Café Bar,
filter coffee or tea for £1, and receive an invitation to the writers'
reception on Friday night.
Pass-holders will also have an area of reserved seats.
All other seats will be unreserved.