Highland treasures

If dreams come true in Technicolor brilliance, Scotland it seems, does the best job of it - from Braveheart that draws on Scottish history to Trainspotting that taps into Scottish life and literary renaissance. With the most atmospheric and picturesque towns and villages, Scotland has a long tradition of attracting filmmakers from Hollywood and Europe. Its own film industry has produced such talents as Peter Mullan and Lynne Ramsay, whose films are characterized by a distinctively Scottish perspective.

John Grierson helped articulate the documentary genre, great film animator Norman McLaren taught in China, and two of the world's great auteur directors - Bill Douglas and Bill Forsyth - made their mark.

The ongoing First Scottish Film Festival in China, that ends on Monday, will screen 12 classic Scottish films at the China Film Archive. Themed Scottish Cinema of Dreams in China!, it will feature seven short films and five feature films from the early 1950s to the present.