The 11th-century ruler of Moray who went on to be King of Alba, the Celtic kingdom that formed the heart of the Scotland we know today, for 17 years, is taking the fight to France.

The real Macbeth – not the Shakespearean version – is spearheading Moray's drive at the Cannes Film Festival to showcase the area to producers of movies, TV dramas and documentaries, and commercials, to come here and shoot.

And there are hopes that progress can be made in having a blockbuster movie made of the Macbeth story.

Moray is being put in the Cannes spotlight by the Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission, which features a different part of its region each year before a gathering of thousands of industry professionals, the biggest of its kind in the world.

Film commissioner Trish Shorthouse told 'The Northern Scot' this week that Cannes offered a golden opportunity to show off what Moray, and the Highlands and Islands, has to offer to producers and directors.

"Moray has stunning scenery, from hills to coast, historical settings and great transport links, especially with the airports at Inverness and Aberden," she added.

"We have been successful in attracting movie-makers to the Highlands. Films for which sequences were shot here include the 'Harry Potter' series; 'Stardust', with Robert deNiro; 'Waterhorse' at Loch Ness, and 'One Last Chance', featuring Kevin McKidd, which included scenes shot at Tomintoul. One of the 'Bond' movies also filmed scenes in the Highlands.

"We also had the 'Monarch of the Glen' TV series, and there have been lots of commercials. Scotland and the Highlands and Islands is well up in the list of film makers' favourite locations."

Ms Shorthouse said that the challenge was to shine the focus on Moray, and one of its cult heroes, Macbeth, was being adopted to do just that.

In the Cannes delegation will be Cameron Taylor, who, with colleague Alistair Murray in their Forres-based Seabridge tourism and heritage business, has already created a Macbeth Experience project, guiding visitors around locations connected to the King Macbeth story via the Internet and by mobile phone access.

They have co-written a book, 'On The Trail of Macbeth, King of Alba', which is due to be launched locally later this month – and have composed a movie 'treatment', an outline of an idea for a movie, to present to film-makers in Cannes.

Mr Taylor said fingers were crossed that it would attract interest. "In many ways the story of the real Macbeth is much more interesting than Shakespeare's version of the character," he added. "It is terrific that Macbeth is being used to create some momentum for Moray."

The special mission, which also includes council convener George McIntyre, is heading off next week, laden with smoked salmon from Lossie Seafoods, Buckie; haggis and black pudding from Macbeth butchers in Forres; and shortbread from Maclean's Highland Bakery in Forres.

This will be served up at receptions in Cannes being hosted by the main sponsor, Gordon and MacPhail, and their Benromach Distillery. Export manager Derek Hancock said: "It's an exciting opportunity for our local businesses, and for Moray as a whole."

Moray Council development officer Mhairi McIntosh is also making the trip. She is the film commission's local contact, and helps accommodate film and TV companies in accessing locations. "We can help them get in touch with property owners and estate owners, and getting access to places like distilleries or other key locations for shoots," she added.

Ms Shorthouse said: "If a producer wants the film at a harbour or castle, has special locations in mind, and needs permissions, we can get that through the council."

Going along as a lucky mascot is the Buckie Bear, from a business of that name in the coast town, which is being specially dressed in a tartan made by Johnstons of Elgin. He is lined up to find his way onto one of the red carpets for a movie premiere in Cannes.

To find out if he makes it, see the 'Cannes Connection' report in 'The Northern Scot' next week.

m.collins@northern-scot.co.uk

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