Following the screening of the psychological thriller Strangerland on Monday at the opening of the 2015 British & Irish Film Season, Tuesday was the turn of comedies.

First up was Scottish Mussel, written and directed by Talulah Riley and also seeing her in the lead role. She played Beth, an English conservationalist in Scotland who is determined to protect the endangered Scottish Mussel from highland rivers and streams. Enter male protagonist Ritchie (Martin Compston), a chancer from Glasgow who initially sees a quick buck in poaching the mussels for their pearls, but then falls for Beth and her enrironmental protection ideals.

Along the way the film sees a number of other characters, including a number of criminals as well as Ritchie's layabout friends cum small-time crooks. On the other side of the fence are Beth's supporters who believe in her.

From her previous roles - she is probably best known for her lead roles in the two st Trinians films; she also featured in Pride and Prejudice and others - she has taken on an altogether different project, in leading it from behind the camera. During the post-screenign Q&A she recounted anecdotes of the making of the film, from the freezing cold Scottish river waters in October, and Health & Safety always on hand, to the pair of otters (not beavers!) who were most uncooperative and either stayed quiet in their cages or tried to escape over the highlands...

With the various sub-plots involving a fish farm, a wildlife sanctuary, cannabis plants, a Fish & Chip van, a convict, two teachers, a shop assistant, policemen and numerous criminals, the characters were all instantly recognisable and inter-linked seamlessly. The sound-track too was catchy, with The Proclaimers introduced to up the tempo when the "god guiys" started to come out on top, as well as for the underwater scenes.

With many questions from an interested audience, Talulah Riley stole the show with an obvious passion for her film work and her concern for the environment. She also revealed she is currently writing another script. Watch this space!

Second up on Tuesday evening was Man Up starring Simon Pegg and Ophelia Lovibond who accidentally meet on a blind date and hit it off. A hilarious romantic comedy set in London involving a rapid-fire dialogue and various scenes in pubs, clubs, bowling alleys, toilets...

Photo by Robin Jensen: Talulah Riley, Scottish Mussel; Geoff Thompson, BIFS Organiser