American Cousins

Move on Up’s first feature film, won more than sixteen major international awards and was voted one of the top three Scottish feature films of all time in a poll by Scotland’s leading entertainment magazine, The List.

The film won BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR and AUDIENCE AWARD at the Milan International Film Festival; the only movie ever to win all three prizes. It also won two Scottish BAFTAs and was nominated for a UK BAFTA. It starred Shirley Henderson, Dan Heydeya, Gerard Lepkowski, Danny Nucci with a wee cameo from Vincent Pastore.

It was produced by Margaret Matheson, producer of the Oscar-winning Antonia’s Line and numerous British classics including Scum and Sid and Nancy. Three regular collaborators with Move on Up also worked on the movie: Screenwriter Sergio Casci, Director of Photography Jerry Kelly and Donald Shaw of top Celtic band Capercaillie, who scored the music. Plus we were lucky to work with more top Scottish Technicians like Andy Harris (Production Design) Lynne Aitken (Costume Design) Martin Bellshaw (Sound) and many many more.


“I was immersed in the warmth of Sergio Casci’s script and Donald Coutts’s direction. It’s a very funny, loveable charmer with a heart as soft and sweet as a Tunnock’s Tea Cake.”
Independent on Sunday

“A charming, charming film”
Michael Parkinson, Radio 2.

“Donald Coutts has captured some Bill Forsyth magic in American Cousins. A sly and self assured dramatic comedy which compares favourably with such quirky gems as “Local Hero”, “Comfort and Joy” and “Waking Ned Devine”.
Variety

Local Hero meets The Sopranos. The best British rom-com / culture-clash comedy in years, - but don’t take my word for it. See this film and you’ll be smiling at strangers in the street for the rest of the day. Utterly adorable.  *****
Hotdog

Heart-warming romantic comedy guaranteed to have you rolling in the aisles.
The Sun

"A charming and beautifully observed comedy."
Sunday Herald

"American Cousins is a real charmer. Gangsters, Scotland, fish suppers and automatic weapons, sweetly undeclared love… It sounds like Bill Forsyth territory but with more gumption and less whimsy.  Well-paced, atmospheric, immensely likeable."
Financial Times

Rose

This was a very scary television drama commissioned as part of BBC Scotland’s Two Lives slot. The writing commission was for a two hander, but we only ever saw “Mary” played brilliantly by Katy Murphy with the voice of “Rose” played by Alison Peebles only on the other end of the phone. It was described by the Herald newspaper as “A very efficient chiller”.
BBC Scotland

St Anthony’s Day Off

Much loved comedy drama centered around a random group of Scots Italians’ attempts to watch the 1994 World Cup Final between Italy and Brazil on TV, the first world cup to be decided by penalties, inspiring Scots Italian writer Sergio Casci to pen the script. It features a brilliant appearance from Ford Kiernan.
Mind the Gap for BBC Scotland

“..an absolute treat”
The Herald

 “I haven’t laughed as much all year. Pure genius.”
The Sunday Mail

“Elegantly paced and constructed… a beautifully-worked comedy, full of gleeful detail.”
The Scotsman

Dead Sea Reels

20 minute short, starring  the legendary Ian Bannen in what he claimed to be one of his favourite roles, it had the Sunday Herald’s Ajay Close “greetin’ on the settee”.  In it Bannen played a fatherly priest who befriends a deeply grieving father ( Murray Hunter). The film won Best European Short at the Vendome Film Festival and Best of the Fest at the Chicago Silver Images Film Festival.
Tartan Short for Scottish Screen and BBC Scotland

 “A quite exquisite and extremely thoughtful film, directed with his customary style by Don Coutts. It includes a performance by Ian Bannen which approaches exquisite perfection.” 
Scotland on Sunday