Faclan 2017 FèisÅLitreachas Innse Gall The Hebridean Book Festival An Dàmhair 25-28 October ULTIMA THULE

“I SAW A MAN PURSUING THE HORIZON”

STEPHEN CRANE 2 FÀILTE GU FACLAN 2017 LEABHRAICHEAN/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 Murray Founding 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. AnDiciadain DàmhairAn October Dàmhair 33 Wednesday 2525 October 2PM HIDDEN GIFTS: THE MYSTERY AGUIRRE: THE 3PM OF ANGUS MACPHEE WRATH OF GOD NICK HIGGINS WERNER HERZOG FILM / 2004 / 25 MINS FILM /1 972 / 100 MINS Explores the mysterious relationship A band of conquistadors searching between artistic expression and for El Dorado in darkest Peru find mental illness through the story of the horror within themselves. An Scotsman Angus MacPhee, who was unremitting and overwhelming diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1946 vision, not just of the colonial mind- and sent to the Craig Dunain set but of the latent madness within Psychiatric Hospital near Inverness. everybody. Herzog’s masterpiece.

5PM EDGE OF BEYOND WORDS 7PM THE WORLD NEW WRITERS' ANTHOLOGY The launch of the second publication MICHAEL POWELL from the Western Isles FILM / 1937 / 81 MINS Writers' Group. Classic film on the de- (Gallery) population of one of Scotland’s isolated, outer islands as the younger generation leave for the mainland. Based on the evacuation of St Kilda.

7:30PM

DAOINE NAN ÀITE The launch of the second publication PEOPLE IN PLACE from the Western Isles Murdo Macleod and Finlay Writers’ Group. Macleod discuss the place of (Gallery) 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. 4 Diardaoin An Dàmhair Thursday 26 October

2PM LOST HORIZON FRANK CAPRA FILM / 1937 / 132 MINS A 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 THE MAKING OF GEORGE WYLLIE

JAN PATIENCE

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.

7PM

WRITING GHOSTS 1

LILY GREENALL

Workshop with Lily Greenall specifically on the supernatural in Scottish fiction. (Community Room) repeated on Fri 7pm Diardaoin An Dàmhair 5 Thursday 26 October FÌOR THUATH : ABSOLUTE NORTH 6:30PM 3 EVENTS - 1 TICKET - b£10 ICELAND FILM / SILENT / 1925 WITH LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT BY JESSICA DANZ

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.

7PM THE LAST DAYS OF THE ARCTIC b bb 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 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. 6 Dihaoine An Dàmhair Friday 27 October

12:30PM

THE MOUNTAIN CAFE COOKBOOK A KIWI IN THE CAIRNGORMS KIRSTEN GILMOUR With 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

2PM 2:30PM OFF THE MAPb FAITH IN HERE NATIONAL TRUST JAMIE EDMUNDSON FILM / 1958 / b26 MINS FILM /b2017b/ b10bMINS A 1950s travelogue to the most A short film by of remote inhabited islands in Britain, Art graduate about Kenny MacKay including North Rona, St Kilda, of Harris and his fight to get a road Mingulay, , and Iona. The Trust built to Rhenigidale, previously acquired Fair Isle in 1954, and St accessible only by boat or on foot. Kilda in 1957, shortly before this film The road finally opened in 1990. was made.

2:45PM THE GREAT WHITE SILENCE

HERBERT 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. Dihaoine An Dàmhair 7 Friday 27 October TÌREAN DEIGHE IS TEINE 3 EVENTS - 1 TICKET -b£10 LANDS OF ICE AND FIRE b b b BEYOND THE NORTHLANDS 5PM VIKING VOYAGES AND THE OLD NORSE SAGASb 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.

EPISODE 1 / GAME OF THRONES 7PM WINTER IS COMING 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. Limited number of free tickets or included with combined event ticket

8:15PM

WINTER IS COMING: THE MEDIEVAL WORLD OF GAME OF THRONES CAROLYNE 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. 8 Disathairne An Dàmhair Saturday 28 October CÀNAN AODAINN : LANGUAGE OF EDEN 3 EVENTS - 1 TICKET £10 bFREE DRINK & BREAKFAST ROLL

9:30AM BRISEADH NA CLOICHE 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.

10:30AM AN LEABHAR LIATH THE LIGHT BLUE BOOK 500 YEARS OF THE EROTIC IN GAELIC VERSE PETER MACKAYb

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.

LITREACHAS NA TÌREb 11:30AM 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 University. His first book Reading the Gaelic Landscape was published in 2014. Disathairne An Dàmhair 9 Saturday 28 October

2PM

THE HEBRIDEAN COLOURING BOOK EILIDH 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)

OS CIONN NA TÌRE 2 EVENTS - 1 TICKET - £8

OVER LAND 3PM INTO THE UNWILD

PATRICIA & ANGUS MACDONALD: 1:30PM UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH AEROGRAPHICA PARTNERSHIP

SCOTLAND Forensic aerial views: The Aerographica MAPPING THE ISLANDS Partnership specializes in the research, record and interpretation of cultural landscapes using CHRISTOPHER FLEET aerial photography and art projects. Its imagery is exhibited, published and held in public and Featuring some of the most beautiful and private collections internationally, in both fineart significant maps from the National Library and editorial contexts of Scotland’s collection, covering population, place-names, defence, civic Angus Macdonald BSc PhD FSA(Scot) Hon improvement, natural resources, FRSGS is Professor Emeritus and former Head navigation, and leisure and tourism, the of the School of Arts, Culture and Environment of story of Scottish islands from the earliest the University of Edinburgh. Artist-photographer, maps to the most up-to date techniques Patricia Macdonald BSc PhD FRSE FSA (Scot) of digital mapping. FRSA Hon FRSGS Hon FICS is researcher in environmental history, perception and Christopher Fleet is Senior Map Curator iconography (and Honorary Fellow at the in the National Library of Scotland with University of Edinburgh). particular responsibilities for digital mapping. 10 Disathairne An Dàmhair Saturday 28 October

GU H-ÀRD GU TUR 3 EVENTS 1 TICKET £10 HIGH ALTITUDE HIGH LATITUDEb

4:30PM THE EPIC OF EVEREST JOHN BAPTIST LUCIUS NOEL FILM / 1924 / 87 MINS The 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.

UP AND ABOUT: THE 7PM HARD ROAD TO EVEREST DOUG SCOTT CBE On 24 September 1975, Doug Scott and Dougal 8:30PM Haston became the first Britons to reach the summit of Everest. Scott went on to become one of Britain's DARK MATTER greatest ever mountaineers, pioneering new climbs in the remotest corners of the globe. He tells his story THIN AIR from his birth in Nottingham during the darkest days of HIGH ALTITUDE, war to the summit of the world. HIGH LATITUDE GHOST STORIES MICHELLE PAVER THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND TALK

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. Disathairne An Dàmhair 11 Saturday 28 October

10PM

INTO THE OTHERWORLD HALLOWEEN CLUB NIGHT Fancy dress, cocktails, DJ set, late licence

HYPERBOREA

LANDS OF THE NORTH EXHIBITIONS 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 . In association with the Flow Festival of Photography.

FORRADH : SLY COOKING CATRIONA BLACK

An exhibition of linocut illustrations of Gaelic Words and Expressions from and , collected by Fr. Allan McDonald, revealing the sophistication of a language full to the brim with folklore. WED THU FRI 25/10 26/10 27/10

ABSOLUTE NORTH HIDDEN GIFTS: THE LOST HORIZON ICELAND THE MOUNTAIN CAFE MYSTERY OF ANGUS Frank Capra 1937 1925 COOKBOOKb MACPHEE (132 mins) (Silent film, 25 mins) A Kiwi in the with live Cairngorms: Kirsten Nick Higgins 2004 accompaniment by Gilmour - 2 course (25min) Jessica Danz Lunch for £10 2PM 2PM 6:30PM 12:30PM

AGUIRRE: THE ARRIVALS AND FACES OF THE OFF THE MAP WRATH OF GOD SAILINGS NORTH / LAST DAYS 1958 Werner Herzog 1972 The Making of George OF THE ARCTIC (26 mins) (94 mins) Wyllie – Jan Patience Icelandic photographer Travelogue of Scottish Ragnar Axelsson Islands

3PM 5PM 7PM 2PM

THE EDGE OF THE WRITING GHOSTS THE SEABIRD’S CRY FAITH IN HERE WORLD Workshop with Lilly Adam Nicolson 2017 (10 mins) Michael Powell 1937 Greenall. A film about a Harris (81 mins) Community Room man's fight to get a road built to Rhenigidale. 5PM 7PM 8:30PM 2:30PM

BEYOND WORDS THE GREAT WHITE New Writing book SILENCE launch. EXHIBITIONS 1924 (108 mins) Main Gallery HYPERBOREA : LANDS OF THE NORTH Record of Captain 3 Photographers (Gallery) Scott’s expedition to Faces of the North: Ragnar Axelsson the South Pole. 7PM Dark Mountains | Silent Islands: Alex Boyd 2:45PM After: Chris Friel. DAOINE NAN ÀITE. WRITING GHOSTS II 23 SEPT - 4 NOV PEOPLE IN PLACE Workshop with Lilly Hebrideans in Greenall. FORRADH : SLY COOKING photography. Murdo Community Room Macleod and Finlay Catriona Black (Café Bar Exhibition) Macleod Sat 6pm - Acair 40th Anniversary reception and exhibition launch 7:30PM 7PM SAT 28/10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS LANDS OF ICE AND FIRE LANGUAGE OF EDEN HEBRIDEAN COLOURING BEYOND THE BRISEADH NA CLOICH BOOK WORKSHOP NORTHLANDS Film based on John Create your own fold- Viking Voyages & the Murray’s short story out concertina book Old Norse Sagas (Martin's Memorial) £3

Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough 5PM 9:30AM 2PM HIGH ALTITUDE HIGH LATITUDE WINTER IS COMING AN LEABHAR LIATH Game of Thrones: The Erotic in Gaelic THE EPIC OF EVERESTb 1924 (88 mins) Ep.1 (2011) Song & Verse: Peter Official film of the Mackay Mallory & Irvine

expedition Free- ticket required 7PM 10:30AM 4:30PM

WINTER IS COMING LITREACHAS NA TÌRE UP AND ABOUT The Medieval World The Literature of the The Hard Road to of Game of Thrones Gaelic Landscape Everest Carolyne Larrington John Stuart Murray Doug Scott CBE

8:15PM 11:30AM 7PM OVER LAND MAPPING DARK MATTER, THIN SCOTLAND’S AIR ISLANDS High Altitude, High Christopher Fleet Latitude Ghost Stories Michelle Paver 8:30PM 1:30PM

INTO THE UNWILD HALLOWEEN CLUB Patricia & Angus NIGHT Macdonald, University Free - no ticket of Edinburgh / required Aerographica partnership 3PM 10:30PM – 1AM 14 Faclan ÒGA SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

DINOSAURS, DUCKS, HARES AND TORTOISES ALISON 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 SKIN JOAN 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 MOUNTAIN JOAN 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 b b MÒRAG ANNA NICNÈILLb

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 LEb 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, PRIMARY TICKET PRICES Faclan Festival Pass* £65/£60 Films £4/£3 Authors' Events £6/£5 Combined Event Tickets £8 or £10 Hebridean Colouring Book workshop £3 (not included with festival pass) School Events - Free, booking essential

*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.

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