Daniel Kelly

Daniel Kelly, a director from Paisley, is awarded the BAFTA Risman Scholarship to support his MA in Filmmaking at the University of the West of Scotland. His work explores themes of intimacy, class, gender, and sexuality. A 2024 graduate of the BA Filmmaking program at the University of the West of Scotland with First Class Honours, Daniel recently won Best Undergraduate Drama at both the RTS Scotland and RTS UK Awards. His short film Gas and Electricity premiered at the Glasgow Short Film Festival.

Daniel’s drive for filmmaking stems from the severe lack of authentic representation in Scottish cinema – particularly of the working-class communities he grew up in, who are often misrepresented through clichéd stereotypes or reductive, miserabilist storylines. His films aim to challenge those narratives and create space for new voices, often using a mix of non-professionals and trained actors.

He says: “Receiving this scholarship gives me the opportunity to take creative risks, experiment with different storytelling techniques, and continue growing as a person and filmmaker. I am very, very grateful.”