Documentary on the Scottish band to premiere at SXSW 2024.
Blazing Griffin, Adler Entertainment, Rock Action Records and Screen Scotland have completed post-production of MOGWAI: IF THE STARS HAD A SOUND and today released a teaser trailer and stills for the documentary about the Scottish band.
The documentary will have its World Premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, in March 2024.
MOGWAI: If The Stars Had A Sound is an exciting feature documentary following the independent Scottish band from their inception to the present day. The documentary is filmed and directed by Antony Crook and produced by Kyrie MacTavish (Super Special, Anna and the Apocalypse), along with Naysun Alae-Carew for Blazing Griffin, Marco Colombo and Mattia Della Puppa for Adler Entertainment. The film is produced with funding from The National Lottery through Screen Scotland. The film is Executive Produced by Antony Crook, Ray Black, Mark Thomas, Lauren Lamarr and Orian Williams.
Over 25 years and 10 studio albums—using brute sonic force mixed with subtlety and grace—Mogwai have defined their own musical genre and built a loyal following by staying true to their sound and true to their roots. The film takes us on a journey from their very beginnings, in the mid 1990s, to the band writing and rehearsing their tenth studio album in their hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 - a record made during lockdown. While at first seemingly impossible to make, they ultimately made history with it.
Antony Crook, acclaimed photographer and director, and long term Mogwai collaborator punctuated the film with moments of live performance and pre-recorded tracks capturing the essence of Mogwai’s near 30-year career.
Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite says, “We’re incredibly excited for people to see Antony’s film If The stars had a sound. It originally started as a short film around leaving Scotland to record in upstate New York in early 2020 but when the pandemic happened that all changed. Both ourselves and Antony persevered with the record and the film throughout the pandemic with the film growing throughout. Antony’s film tells the story of how we all came out the other side. I think he’s made something truly special.”
Director Antony Crook says, “I’ve been lucky to have worked with Mogwai for a long time, and I’ve always been moved and inspired by their music. They’ve created an amazing body of work and their music means so much to so many people. Getting the chance to tell the bands story was a huge honor for me. I wanted to make a film that the band deserve.”
Still from Mogwai: IF THE STARS HAD A SOUND, courtesy of Mogwai, Blazing Griffin, Adler Entertainment.
Mark Thomas, Screen Scotland’s Screen Officer (Un-Scripted) and executive producer on the film says, “Mogwai are one of Scotland’s most exciting and creative bands, their music extends across iconic albums, bombastic live performances, and lush film soundtracks. ‘If the Stars had a Sound’ is a cinematic journey into their near 30-year career, from Glaswegian ‘Young Team’, to beloved international artists with a number one album. Screen Scotland is proud to have supported Blazing Griffin in bringing director Antony Crook’s vision to screen and its forthcoming premiere at the 2024 South by Southwest Film Festival.”
Still from Mogwai: IF THE STARS HAD A SOUND, courtesy of Mogwai, Blazing Griffin, Adler Entertainment.
Watch the trailer
More information
About Mogwai
Mogwai are a Scottish rock and electronic band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite (guitar, vocals), Barry Burns (guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals), Dominic Aitchison (bass guitar) and Martin Bulloch (drums). Former members include John Cummings (guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard) and Brendan O’Hare (keyboards, guitar).
Since 1997, the band have released ten studio albums, with 2021’s As The Love Continues being a commercial and critical success, amassing a Mercury Prize nomination and winning the Scottish Album of the Year award.
They have also released multiple EPs and contributed the score to projects for Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.
About Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and tv industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow on Twitter and Instagram.
About Blazing Griffin
Blazing Griffin is a BAFTA-winning Glasgow-based digital entertainment company which specialises in storytelling across a wide range of platforms and mediums with a specific focus on video game development, film and TV production and high-end post production services.
About Adler Entertainment
Founded in 2013, Adler works in the production and distribution of film and audiovisual content. In almost ten years, it has distributed over 80 titles: from multi-million dollar productions to small gems of independent cinema. Since 2015, Adler has steadily ranked among the top Italian distributors in terms of box office numbers with over €30 million in box office sales since its foundation. In 2019 Adler intensified the distribution of titles, both Italian and international, not intended for cinemas and also started committing resources to content production. In the last 3 years has funded, developed or produced, more than 10 international and Italian projects.
About Rock Action Records
Rock Action Records is the Glasgow based independent record label established in 1996 by the band Mogwai.
Originally set up to allow the band to release their own music, the label has grown from its DIY origins of the mid-1990’s Glasgow scene to an internationally renowned and distributed label that after 25 years retains the ethos and independent spirit that defines Mogwai as a band.
Rock Action has been responsible for releasing music from a diverse range of artists both local to Mogwai’s hometown of Glasgow and internationally, counting many critically acclaimed albums in its catalogue. The label’s most recent output includes music from iconic Scottish artists Arab Strap, The Twilight Sad, Kathryn Joseph plus Mogwai themselves while supporting new artists Cloth, bdrmm and many more.
Media contacts
Jazmin Kuan Veng | [email protected]
Wez Merchant |[email protected]
Images are courtesy of Mogwai, Blazing Griffin and Adler Entertainment.