In Muscat to participate in the seventh edition of the Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF), actor and musician Billy Boyd talked about the benefits of film festivals – such as how they can boost an emerging industry.
“I think it is important to have a festival because then governments will start noticing the interest and start supporting,” he said. “Those interested in films have to keep pushing and get noticed.”
Using Scotland as an example, he said, “Though we have film festivals, we don’t have an industry and it’s still so difficult to make a movie. So I feel it’s important to hold festivals.”
“In Scotland, we make some wonderful films and we don’t have an industry. I think it’s important to have things like this because just by having these festivals, the government will see things or we need to get an industry.”
When it comes to attending festivals, Boyd admits, “I don’t participate in a lot of festivals. I wish I could go for more but I always enjoy it when I do attend. I have started to do the famous festivals like the Toronto, Edinburg, Berlin.”
“They are wonderful but sometimes, like in the Cannes, they become something else. People are trying to sell their movies hard. It’s not sometimes love for films that you sometimes get in smaller festivals. I kind of enjoy going to them. Sometimes you get to see some wonderful films there and wonder why is this film not huge?”
In addition to music and acting, Billy Boyd is also passionate about traveling.
“I think travelling is one of the most important things we can do as human beings. A lot of the problems in the world happen when people don’t travel.”
“The more you isolate yourself, the more you see others as enemies. You have seen this happen all through history and time. When we travel we understand that all are basically human beings; we all have the same kind of internal emotions, drives and goals.”
“The more you travel the more you realise the world is small. We are all trying to get through.”
Speaking of Oman, where the MIFF took place, Boyd described it as “a beautiful place,” adding, “I really love this region and am definitely going to spend more time here. I find it incredibly interesting and love the spiritual side of it. I think there is something special about coming here.”
Currently, he is keeping himself busy with his band, Beecake, and with the development of an upcoming movie with friend and fellow Lord of the Rings star Dominic Monaghan.
You can view the full story at Times of Oman, and for more on Billy’s upcoming projects, you can follow his band on Twitter: @OfficialBeecake.
