VERTICAL SCOTLAND

Connecting Scottish Storytelling with the Global Vertical Drama MarketVertical Scotland is an initiative from the Scottish Screenwriters Festival and Firewalker Pictures, created to connect Scottish writers, producers and intellectual property owners with the rapidly growing world of vertical drama.

Vertical dramas (also known as microdramas) are mobile-first scripted series typically told across 50–70 episodes of 60–90 seconds each. The format has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global screen industry, attracting audiences of millions and creating new opportunities for writers, producers and rights holders.

Our mission:

To ensure Scottish talent, Scottish stories and Scottish intellectual property are part of that conversation.

What we do

Discover Talent

Through open calls and pitching opportunities, we identify writers and creators interested in developing projects for the vertical format.

Connect Projects with Platforms

Vertical Scotland creates opportunities for selected writers to pitch directly to commissioners, platforms and industry professionals working within the vertical drama space.

Develop Scottish IP

We work with writers, producers, publishers and rights holders to explore adaptations and original projects for global audiences.

Build Industry Knowledge

Through the Scottish Screenwriters Festival, Scottish Producers Circle and industry partnerships, we aim to help Scotland understand and engage with one of the most significant emerging storytelling formats.

First Results

Our inaugural pitching session took place in June 2026 with Sandra Yee Ling, Head of Production at GammaTime.

Outcomes

12 submissions received
6 projects shortlisted
2 projects requested for further conversations

Perhaps most interestingly, the projects selected represented two different approaches to Scottish storytelling:

A Scottish writer creating a story capable of travelling internationally.
An international writer developing a story deeply rooted in Scotland for a global audience.

For us, this confirmed an important lesson:

There is no single route to success. Scottish stories can travel, and international audiences are interested in Scotland.

What are we looking for?

We are interested in:

Original vertical-first concepts
Romance
Mystery
Thriller
Fantasy
Contemporary drama
Adaptations of existing intellectual property
Stories with strong emotional hooks and compelling cliffhangers

Projects should be designed for:

50–70 episodes
60–90 seconds per episode
Mobile-first viewing

Interested in submitting a project?