A north-east film maker is embarking on a triumphant return to the region with an award-winning film.
Lisa Marley, from Westhill, will bring Red Sky on the Black Isle to Aberdeen Film Festival next month.
The short documentary covers an incident which hit the headlines in 2014, where 22 birds of prey were found dead.
It was subsequently revealed the 12 red kites and four buzzards died after being poisoned.
The 25-year-old said she wanted her film to highlight the issue and added: “Centuries ago, red kites were persecuted almost to the point of extinction in this country.
“Their reintroduction to the Black Isle was incredibly important to the local community, so I couldn’t believe such a tragic loss hadn’t been more widely reported.
“The story is so compelling and full of intrigue that it really appealed to me, both as a wildlife lover and a filmmaker.
“Even now, two years on, the police are no further forward in determining who is behind this crime, and the case remains open.
“Having grown up in Scotland, I have always felt a strong connection to its wildlife and environment.
“I hope that, by sharing the story of the red kites on the Black Isle, others will be inspired to act to protect our native flora and fauna.”
The short work, which was awarded the Little Audience Prize at the Raptor Filmz Festival in Edinburgh earlier this year, will be screened at ACT Aberdeen on October 17.
Miss Marley said she was delighted to be a part of this year’s event.
She added: “The response to Red Sky on the Black Isle has been fantastic so far, and I’m really excited to be able to show it at home in Aberdeen.
“The city’s film-making scene has been growing in recent years, so it really is an honour to be part of the Aberdeen Film Festival.
“There’s a really diverse range of films being shown, so it looks like it’s going to be a very interesting event.”
The film will also be shown at the Hebrides International Film Festival, on Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra, from Wednesday to Saturday next week.
