• FINIS TERRAE + LIVE SCORE On Tour - 12-16 September - a reimagining of Jean Epstein’s 1929 silent classic with a new, original score performed live by Edinburgh-based musician/composer Dan Abrahams and French drummer Philippe Boudot - book for all of the below tickets here

  • LandxSea Film Festival, Montrose - 12 September, 8.30pm

  • Birnam Arts, Dunkeld - 13 September, 7.30pm

  • Eden Court Cinema - 14 September, 7.30pm

  • DCA Dundee - 15 September, 7.30pm

  • Filmhouse, Edinburgh - 16 September, 7.30pm

• Cinetopia Networking Night - 24 September, 7-10pm at Little Picardy Bar

• Transmission: Youth Across Generations - a multi-event programme celebrating how youth culture has shaped identity, belonging and collective memory in Britain from the 1980s to the present, part of BFI Fan’s Rip It Up season. Kicking off with:

  • Patch It Up! A punk-inspired clothes customisation workshop - Filmhouse, Edinburgh - 30 September, 7pm

  • Poly Styrene: I am a Cliche - screening + Q&A with filmmaker Paul Sng - Filmhouse, Edinburgh - 30 September, 8.20pm

This week: A big shout out to volunteer writer / curator Mary McDonald for compiling this week’s edition of Recommends - there’s so much going on, plenty of reasons go out and support your local cinema and film community!

And lastly before we get into this week’s film events, a moment of acknowledgement for the losses of the ICONS Dolly Parton and Tim Curry 🙏

CINETOPIA CONNECT

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond!

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Bel + Q&A: In the summer of 2021, Kenyan-Scottish singer and songwriter Beldina Odenyo is on the cusp of stardom. Hailed as a fierce, uncompromising artist with a voice that can silence a room, she is working on her eagerly awaited debut album. In October, she headlines at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall. Barefoot and cloaked in black, Bel delivers a performance that leaves the audience spellbound. Bel tells the story of the artist behind that voice — and the sister determined to ensure Bel’s music will continue to live on after her death. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Louise Lockwood, producer Sarah Howitt and Bel’s sister Leah McAleer, hosted by Arusa Qureshi. 4 September, 6pm

  

• Awakenings + Discussion: Based on Oliver Sack’s 1973 memoir of the same name, Awakenings stars Robin Williams as Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy neurologist who lands a job at the New York Bainbridge Hospital looking after patients who are in a catatonic state as a result of a rare disease. The screening will be followed by an inclusive discussion with healthcare professionals and neuroscientists from the University of Edinburgh, inspired by the film’s themes of disease, care and recovery. Explore the science behind neurological disorders and how research findings can translate into meaningful change for patients. 5 September, 3.15pm

• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma: Filmmaker Kris (Hannah Einbinder) has been tasked with directing a film reboot of the popular Camp Miasma horror films, a slasher franchise losing its audience after many years of poorly put-together sequels. While researching her project, Kris tracks down the first film’s “final girl” Billy (Gillian Anderson) who lives on the site of the very summer camp where the films were shot. Their connection leads to an unexpected emotional and sexual bond that opens up Kris in ways she never could have anticipated, and leads the two into a world full of blood, lust, delirium and (little) death. Multiple screenings from 31 August

• Sleepaway Camp: From the grisly SFX to the fashionable short-shorts, from the nihilistic vibe to the truly unforgettable climax, Sleepaway Camp is no ordinary slasher... it’s an all-time cult classic. “Another film overtly referenced in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma through imagery is 1983’s Sleepaway Camp. Released to unfavourable reviews, this summer camp slasher has been reappraised in recent years, going on to garner a cult following and undoubtedly having one of the most memorable final shots in film.” - Raymah Tariq. 31 August, 5.55pm

  

• Lady: Lady Isabella (Sian Clifford, Fleabag) is a narcissistic aristocrat. But she’s lonely. She cons an opportunistic yet struggling director into recording everything she does - however, her infatuation with the limelight soon turns into something much more bizarre when she starts turning... invisible. Samuel Abrahams’ feature debut mixes mockumentary and magic to great effect, satirising the modern desire to feel seen alongside a heartfelt look at class, loneliness, filmmaking and womanhood. 1 September, 1.30pm

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Pressure + Live Broadcast Q&A: In this special preview screening, the film will be followed by a Q&A with writer-director Anthony Maras, writer David Haig, and star Andrew Scott broadcast live from Picturehouse Central. In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, Pressure follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice — launch the largest and most dangerous invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether. 2 September, 7.30pm

• Amyl and the Sniffers: Truth or Consequence: A concert film in which Amyl and The Sniffers, “Australia’s most explosive rock export” perform country-influenced versions of their songs, two unreleased tracks, and a cover of the Slim Dusty classic ‘Lights On The Hill’. It was recorded and filmed in front of an intimate and increasingly rowdy audience at El Coyote in Los Angeles, by the band’s long-time collaborator, John Angus Stewart. 31 August, 9pm

• Kiki’s Delivery Service (Subbed): It is a tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and fly off into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her new journey with her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside town, where her unique skills make her an instant sensation. 31 August, 3.15pm & 1 September, 2.40pm

  

• True Romance: Shy, lonely comic-book boffin Clarence (Christian Slater) meets Alabama (Patricia Arquette), his dream girl, during a triple bill of old kung fu movies at a local cinema. After a whirlwind courtship, violence erupts and the couple find themselves on the run from police and gangsters alike. Written by Quentin Tarantino, True Romance is a hip, hard-edged story of modern love – a fast-paced tale of romance surviving in a violent world. Multiple screenings from 31 August

• The Incomer: On an Orkney isle, siblings Isla and Sandy hunt birds and talk to mythical beings while fighting off outsiders. Their lives change when Daniel, an awkward official, arrives to relocate them. Winner of the NEXT Innovator Award at the Sundance Film Festival, debut film from director Louis Paxton delivers a “delightful and moving comedy about loneliness, connection, and the unknown.” - Paul Ridd. Multiple screenings from 4 September

AROUND TOWN:

• Auld Town Film Club Film Quiz: Come along to the second social pub quiz! Rounds will be filled with film, tv, pop culture and fandom related questions. THE VOLLEY | 6 September, 6.30pm

• DOCo#022: VIEHSCHAU: This month we are hosting a work-in-progress screening and feedback session of the film, “Viehschau” directed by Callum Boath
  The evening will begin with a screening of last month’s DOCMA film, #113_BOOOM! followed by Viehschau and an open feedback session.
  Come along, share your thoughts, and be part of the creative process. THE OUTHOUSE | 2 September, 7pm

• Expressing the Earth Film Screening: Set against the backdrop of Scotland’s landscapes and seascapes, eight artists and scientists offer interpretations of what is known as geopoetics – a movement exploring interdisciplinary ways of understanding the Earth and humanity’s place within it. After the screening, there will be a Q&A with the film’s director and producer. THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH | 6 September, 2pm

• The Hamlet Syndrome - Welcome to the screening of our DocuClub Edi, a part of the Docudays UA family. We will watch ‘The Hamlet Syndrome’, directed by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski’. A few months prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, five young women and men participate in a unique stage production that attempts to relate their war experiences to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. GRASSMARKETING COMMUNITY CINEMA | 2 September, 7pm

• The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire: “We’re making a film about an artist who didn’t want to be remembered.” Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich's debut feature is a 'post-biopic' of the revolutionary Martiniquan anti-colonial writer, Suzanne Césaire. The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire (2024) embraces the gaps of memory, opting instead to transmit the glorious messages that Suzanne left behind in her essays. Screening by Leith Kino, at ARGONAUT BOOKS | 5 September, 7pm

• Spanish Film Club x IberoDocs: La Singla: A documentary in search of a revolutionary deaf flamenco dancer who stormed the international stage before her sudden disappearance. This is the 1st screening of the Spanish Film Club Series, a collaboration between IberoDocs Film Festival and Edinburgh Council, that was made possible with the support of Pragda, SPAIN arts & culture, and the Secretary of State for Culture of Spain. MCDONALD ROAD LIBRARY | 2 September, 5.30pm

  

• Film Club - Solaris (1972): The Edinburgh ‘Like A Book Group But With Films’ Group meets every other Thursday to chat films and TV! Watch the film in your own time and join for a chat on the night. Solaris was Tarkovsky’s attempt to bring greater emotional depth to science fiction films; he viewed most Western works in the genre, including the recently released 2001: A Space Odyssey as shallow due to their focus on technological innovation. BENNETS BAR | 3 September, 7.30pm

  ---

Want your film event, screening, or opportunity featured for free in this newsletter? You can list it on Cinetopia Connect, it takes just a few moments to create a free profile! List your own or browse other upcoming film happenings in your area. ⬇️

CINETOPIA CONNECT

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Trainspotting - 30th Anniversary - 4K: Among the most popular, ground-breaking, and influential films of the 1990s, Trainspotting is back on the big screen to celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 4K, supervised by director Danny Boyle. 31 August, 5.20pm & 3 September, 5.50pm

• Beautiful Thing: 30th Anniversary - 35mm + Introduction: Reclaim the Frame presents this 35mm screening of Beautiful Thing introduced by Eilidh Akilade from Reclaim the Frame. A tender story of first love, belonging and growing up, Beautiful Thing follows neighbours Jamie and Ste as their friendship deepens into romance over the course of one long, hot summer. Alongside them are Jamie’s mum Sandra and friend Leah, two women with humour, struggles and stories of their own. 2 September, 8.10pm

  

• It Follows: Haunted by a lethal curse that passes from one sexual partner to the next, Jay finds herself trapped in a nightmare from which there seems to be no escape. As the mysterious force relentlessly stalks her, taking on ever-changing forms, she must uncover a way to break the cycle before it claims her life. David Robert Mitchell subverts familiar tropes of both the slasher film and the teenage coming-of-age story, transforming them into something uniquely unsettling. Blending dreamlike imagery, creeping dread and one of contemporary horror’s most memorable premises, he crafts a modern classic that is as thoughtful as it is terrifying. 1 September, 8.30pm

• Bitter Christmas: After her mother dies in December, advertising director Elsa immerses herself in work to cope. When a panic attack forces her to take a break, she decides to travel to Lanzarote with her friend Patricia. The story of these women run painfully parallel to that of a screenwriter and film director, exploring how art and fiction are often inseparably linked. Pedro Almodóvar explores the ethical limits of art and of an artist’s impact on the lives of those around them in this playful meta drama. Multiple screenings from 31 August

• Andrei Rublev: Andrei Tarkovsky’s expansive Russian drama focuses on the life of revered religious icon painter Andrei Rublev. Drifting from place to place in a tumultuous era, the peace-seeking monk eventually gains a reputation for his art. But after Rublev witnesses a brutal battle and unintentionally becomes involved, he takes a vow of silence and spends time away from his work. As he begins to ease his troubled soul, he takes steps towards becoming a painter once again. 6 September, 3.40pm

AROUND TOWN:

• DIY Animation Club: The DIY Animation Club is a space to gather together and play with images, movement, and sound. No experience is necessary to join–each of us is learning through experimentation! We share ideas, tips, and skills. We might be working on our own fragments of bigger projects, or spontaneous scrappy snippets together! GLASGOW ZINE LIBRARY | 1 September, 6.30pm

  

• Fun Films with Queer Families: Queer Families welcomes you to the 3rd year of this fun family film event! With short films for children and LGBTIQ+ families and community. A relaxed film event hosted by the Queer Families community group. Join us for short films, snacks and creative activities for all ages around storytelling, film, and community! BOILERHOUSE ROOM, THE HIDDEN GARDENS | 5 September, 1pm

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• Outwith Festival - DUMFERMLINE: Five days of art, film, music, theatre, and writing. From Short Film Night showcasing some of the most promising filmmaking talent from Scotland, a Masterclass in directing a feature film from writer/director Kevin Walls, to various film screenings + Q&A’s. The festival is community-minded and volunteer-led, and strives to celebrate Fife’s cultural heritage, support its economy, and enhance the wellbeing of its citizens. VARIOUS VENUES, DUMFERMLINE CITY CENTRE | 2-6 September

  

• LandxSea Film Festival - MONTROSE, ANGUS: Scotland’s Environmental Film Festival on the beautiful Angus coast. Three days of bold films, inspiring guests, conversation, community and action exploring our relationship with land, sea and the living world, and how we can come together to protect what matters. 11-13 September, Montrose

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Access Coordinator, London Short Film Festival: Salary: £8,880 (75 days @ £118.40 p/d). Term: Fixed-term October 2026 – February 2027. The Access Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the delivery of LSFF’s 2027 access project. They will work across programming, production, communications, audience engagement and workforce development to improve accessibility, support audiences with access requirements and help embed inclusive practice across the festival. Apply by 13 September

• BFI Film Academy Scotland Coordinator: Salary: £25,178.40 per annum, pro-rata. Term: Fixed term for 3 years, 30 hours per week. As our BFI Film Academy Scotland Hub Coordinator, you will be the dedicated point of contact for our Year-Round Membership and Alumni programmes — coordinating workshops, masterclasses and networking events, offering one-to-one guidance, and helping to build a connected community of young filmmakers across Scotland. Apply by 16 September

• Library and Learning Assistant, British Film Institute: Salary: £31,554 - £33,477 per annum. Term: Fixed Term, 41 hours until until 31 March 2027. The Library and Learning Assistant will support the Library and Learning Manager in the provision of a proactive frontline service for all visitors to the Reuben Library.  The role will undertake general library duties, such as basic cataloguing, shelving, tidying, processing and other stock maintenance and provide administrative support for learning activities in-venue at BFI Southbank. Apply by 1 September

• Director of Open Collections & Commercial Intellectual Property, British Film Institute: Salary: £85,000 per annum. Term: Permanent, 41 hours per week. You will bring expertise in rights, licensing and partnership development, alongside a commitment to widening access to culture and heritage. Just as importantly, you will be an inspiring people leader, able to build strong relationships, lead change and bring others together around a shared vision. Apply by 15 September

• Screen Commission Officer, Screen Scotland: Salary: £36,953 Term: Fixed term for 18 months, 35 hours per week. Screen Scotland is looking for a knowledgeable & proactive Screen Commission Officer to support productions and attract inward investment. Apply by 18 September

  

• Engagement Officer, Screen Education Edinburgh: Salary: £32,000 per annum, pro rata. Term: Fixed term, 24 hours per week. As our Engagement Officer, you will be SEE’s visible presence in the communities where our programmes are delivered - North Edinburgh and Leith, South East Edinburgh, and South West Edinburgh. Apply by 16 September

• Senior Editor, Edinburgh International Festival: Salary: £40,500 to £45,000 per annum Term: 35 hours per week. Work with the Audiences and Programming Teams to ensure that the marketing, reporting and contextualising materials we produce across printed and digital outlets best represents the artists and artworks we present, particularly in classical music, and the distinctive audience experience we want to offer. Apply by 14 September

• Volunteer at Equipment Share @ The Film Cult: The Film Cult Equipment Share project provides professional grade filmmaking equipment to hundreds of indie projects each year. We are a volunteer run project, which allows us to provide kit for our community for a couple of quid per item!
  Benefits of volunteering for this project:
  • Learn & get familiar with professional film equipment
  • Meet and chat to local indie filmmakers and see what they are getting up to
  • Learn maintenance, PAT testing, and electrical safety
  • 50% solidarity discount on your own projects
  • Support the continuation of the project!

• Volunteer Assistant Graphic Designer, PRIFF UK: This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to gain experience, grow their portfolio, and be part of a passionate team behind an international film festival. Apply by 15 September

FUNDING & SUPPOR:

• Teacher Development Fund: Partnerships of arts organisations and primary schools work over two academic years to help teachers build the skills and confidence to use arts-based approaches in the primary classroom. Together, they create arts-rich and equitable classrooms where every child can thrive. £165k available per project. Apply by 11 November

• Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards: Visual artists and crafts makers can apply for funding of £500 and £1000 through local authority partners across Scotland. The purpose of these bursaries is to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development. Apply by 20 October

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 1 December

• Bridging the Gap - Development Training & Funding: Bridging the Gap is dedicated to Scotland-based new and emerging voices with fresh ideas for short documentaries. New and emerging Scotland-based filmmakers are invited to submit their short documentary idea. Apply by 9 September

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• The TripleC Scotland DDN freelancer programme: A 6-month initiative, funded by Screen Scotland, providing high level support to early and mid-level offscreen deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent (DDN) freelancers working in screen industries. The programme offers practical training (six online sessions), career support and advice, a bespoke CV workshop or mentoring, and an opportunity to network with industry at a hybrid networking event. Two members of the cohort will also be able to apply for a paid placement with a production company or post house for up to four weeks. Apply by 11 September at noon

• BFI Film Academy Scotland Hub Free Membership: Free filmmaking training, networking opportunities and support for 16-25s anywhere in Scotland interested in the creative, technical and business sides of the screen industries. There’s no deadline and no cost; you can join at any time.

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• Amazon Prime Video to significantly increase UK spend

• Screen Scotland, the Fringe Society plot Edinburgh content event for August 2027

• “Saying you’re working with AI is like saying you have an STD,” argues Tilly Norwood creator

• New angel investment pilot launched for Scotland's film and TV sectorp

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• IberoDocs / 16-26 September / Edinburgh, Oban, Aberfeldy, Dundee

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

• Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival / 1-9 October / Edinburgh

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

Beyond the festival, it's a big month for documentary: from a searing look at the dark-side of social media , to a Cuban Revolution retrospective in Glasgow, Everybody to Kenmure Street and more. For cinephiles looking for vintage horror, there’s Renais at GFT, Murnau at Lauriston Castle, Hitchcock at the Grosvenor, and a 4K restoration of Modesty Blaise for its 60th anniversary.

Cinetopia returns in September with FINIS TERRAE on tour across Scotland - Jean Epstein’s silent classic with a new, original score performed live, and a season of coming-of-age films through the decades in Transmission: Youth Across Generations - for which we a relooking for young programmers.

Read on for our full picks across Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond.

Want your film event, screening, or opportunity featured for free in this newsletter? You can list it on Cinetopia Connect, it takes just a few moments to create a free profile! List your own or browse other upcoming film happenings in your area. ⬇️

CINETOPIA CONNECT

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond!

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SPECIAL

The Edinburgh International Film Festival returns 13–19 August with an outstanding programme of world, international and UK premieres, alongside conversations with some of cinema's most celebrated filmmakers and actors. This year's festival showcases the very best in contemporary Scottish and international filmmaking, from directorial debuts and acclaimed auteurs to thought-provoking documentaries and exciting new voices. Below are just a few of the films and events we're most looking forward to, but with so much on offer, we'd encourage you to dive into the full programme and discover your own festival favourites.

10 FILMS TO SEE:

• The Incomer: Opening Night film and winner of the NEXT Innovator Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Louis Paxton’s “delightfully strange, distinctively dark comedy” follows two oddball siblings living on an isolated Scottish island whose lives are disrupted by the arrival of a nervy council official from the mainland. 13, 14 & 15 August.

• I Want Your Sex: UK Premiere. Following its Sundance debut, Gregg Araki’s first feature in over a decade is a “hilariously brash, sexy and provocative” new film starring Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman and Charli XCX, exploring desire, power and art through an unconventional relationship. 17–19 August.

• Sheep in the Box (箱の中の羊): UK Premiere. Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda returns with “a richly emotional, thoughtful and beautifully realised story” of two grieving parents whose lives are transformed by a humanoid robot version of their lost son. 14 & 15 August.

• The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman: World Premiere. A “vivid, immersive and visually striking portrait” of the legendary creator of Mad magazine, exploring its far-reaching influence on culture through reflections from Terry Gilliam, the late Stan Lee and Robert Crumb. 16–18 August.

• Her Private Hell: UK Premiere following its Cannes premiere. Nicolas Winding Refn’s first feature in a decade is “a ravishing, trippy new journey into neon-soaked hell,” as young actresses become targets for the vicious killer Leather Man while a vengeful soldier searches for his missing daughter. 16 & 18 August.

• The Best Summer: UK Premiere following its Sundance premiere. Tamra Davis offers “an unfiltered immersion into archival footage of the electric 1995 Summersault festival,” featuring iconic performances and candid interviews with Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, Bikini Kill, Sonic Youth, Kim Deal and more. 17 August.

• Douglas Gordon by Douglas Gordon: UK Premiere following its Berlinale premiere. Edinburgh-based filmmaker Finlay Pretsell creates “an immersive portrait” of Turner Prize-winning Scottish artist Douglas Gordon, where “fragmented visuals, intimate conversations and moments of dark humour” reveal the collision of creativity, vulnerability and public persona. 17 August.

• Extra Geography: UK Premiere following its Sundance debut. Molly Manners’ “charming, fresh and spiky coming-of-age comedy drama” follows two teenage girls with their own shared language and offbeat ideas of growing up as their friendship is put to the test. 15–17 August.

• Mission: World Premiere. Scottish filmmaker Paul Wright returns with his first feature since For Those in Peril, reuniting with George MacKay for one of the festival’s key Scottish premieres. 15–18 August.

• Bel: Closing Night film. Louise Lockwood’s moving portrait of Kenyan-Scottish musician Beldina Odenyo brings this year’s festival to a fitting close, celebrating an extraordinary artist and her lasting legacy. 19 August.

  

  SPECIAL EVENTS NOT TO MISS:

  In Conversation: Ewan McGregor: One of Scotland’s biggest global stars returns to EIFF to reflect on an extraordinary career spanning film, television and theatre, from his breakout role in Trainspotting to Moulin Rouge!, Big Fish, Star Wars and beyond. 14 August.

• In Conversation: Bruce Dern: One of the most accomplished and versatile actors of his generation discusses a remarkable career spanning more than six decades, from Coming Home and Nebraska to his latest role in EIFF World Premiere Northbound. 17 August.

• Industry Talk: Christine Vachon: One of the most influential producers in contemporary independent cinema, Christine Vachon (Carol, Past Lives, May December, Boys Don’t Cry) discusses a trailblazing career championing bold subjects, queer voices and fearless independent filmmaking. 14 August.

• Bridging the Gap Shorts: Presented by the Scottish Documentary Institute, this annual showcase premieres a new collection of short documentaries from some of Scotland’s most exciting emerging filmmaking talent. 18 & 19 August.

• Girls on Film: Live at EIFF: Hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith, this live edition of the award-winning Girls on Film podcast features four Q&As with the women behind some of this year’s standout festival films, including Extra Geography. 15 August.

OTHER FILM EVENTS AND FESTIVALS TO CHECK OUT IN AUGUST:

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Bouchra + SQIFF Intro: Hosted in partnership with Scottish Queer International Film Festival, this special screening of Bouchra will feature an introduction from SQIFF programmer Huss. The inventive debut feature follows a queer Moroccan filmmaker living in New York as long-buried conversations with her mother in Casablanca begin to reshape her life and creative practice. Blending animation, documentary and autofiction, Bouchra is a visually striking exploration of identity, family and belonging. 7 August (regular screenings from 8 August).

• Cinema Rediscovered on Tour: Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Cinema Rediscovered returns to Filmhouse with a handpicked selection of newly restored classics, forgotten gems and cinematic rediscoveries. This year’s programme includes Danger: Diabolik, Queen Kelly, Pastor Hall, Obsession and African Jim, offering audiences a rare chance to experience these beautifully restored works on the big screen. 7–13 August.

• Falastin Film Festival: The Falastin Film Festival returns to Filmhouse with a vibrant four-day programme celebrating the geographic, linguistic and experiential diversity of the Palestinian people. Organised by a volunteer-run collective of Palestinians and allies, the festival brings together screenings, discussions and special events showcasing powerful contemporary and historic Palestinian cinema. 27–30 August.

• Castration Movie Chapter III.II: Junior Ghosts – Premorphic Drift; a Fragmentary Passage: Louise Weard’s sprawling and ambitious Castration Movie project returns to Filmhouse with this feature-length excerpt ahead of the anthology’s full premiere later this year. A labyrinthine exploration of gender, identity and transition, the film follows a young woman determined to stop her partner from transitioning, unfolding as a provocative and formally inventive work from one of contemporary cinema’s most distinctive new voices. From 28 August.

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• A Dairy Story + Q&A: Should a newborn dairy calf be separated from its mother? That’s the question at the heart of this thoughtful new Scottish documentary following a pioneering farm in south-west Scotland that became the first in Europe to make a commercial cow-with-calf dairy system viable. Expanding beyond animal welfare to explore climate, sustainability and our relationship with nature, the screening will be followed by a special Q&A featuring the film’s subjects David Finlay and Charles Ellett, alongside Peter Stevenson (Compassion in World Farming), chef Fred Berkmiller (L’escargot Bleu) and Charlie Buchanan-Smith (The Free Company). 4 August, 7.30pm

  

• Tony (Preview): One of the year’s most anticipated biopics, Matt Johnson’s Tony explores the formative years of legendary chef, author and broadcaster Anthony Bourdain. Inspired by Bourdain’s memoir Kitchen Confidential, the film follows a 19-year-old Bourdain (Dominic Sessa) as he stumbles into the chaotic world of a Provincetown restaurant kitchen, setting him on the path to becoming one of the most influential culinary voices of his generation. Also starring Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall and Antonio Banderas. 9 August, 4.40pm.

• Rocker 'Brella Fella + Tim Vine Q&A: British comedian and king of the one-liner Tim Vine brings his joyfully eccentric musical comedy to the Cameo for a special screening followed by a live Q&A. Written, directed by and starring Vine, Rocker 'Brella Fella follows Sam Salono as he returns home to save his family's struggling umbrella business, unfolding through 26 original songs packed with the comedian's trademark puns, surreal humour and infectious optimism. 27 August, 7.30pm.

AROUND TOWN:

• McDonald Road Library Film Club: Molly vs The Machines: This month’s free screening at McDonald Road Library is Marc S. Silver’s powerful documentary examining the tragic death of Molly Russell and the rise of surveillance capitalism. Following its World Premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival earlier this year, the film explores the influence of social media algorithms on young people and the wider implications for democracy and public health. 5 August, 5.30pm.

• BSL Film Club presents RETREAT: As part of Edinburgh Deaf Festival, BSL Film Club presents Ted Evans’ Deaf-led thriller Retreat. In search of belonging and connection, a young woman arrives at a remote wellness retreat for Deaf people, only to discover that nothing is quite as it seems. Billed as the world’s first Deaf thriller and made in British Sign Language with an all-Deaf principal cast and Deaf director, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with guests to be confirmed. The event welcomes both Deaf and hearing audiences interested in British Sign Language, with live captioning, BSL/English interpretation and descriptive subtitles. DEAF ACTION | 12 August, 7pm

  

• MA Documentary Film Directing Graduate Screening & Exhibition 2026: Discover the next generation of documentary filmmakers at Edinburgh College of Art’s annual showcase, celebrating work by the 2026 graduates of the MA Documentary Film Directing programme. Visitors can enjoy screenings throughout the day alongside an exhibition of student films, offering a glimpse into some of Scotland’s newest documentary voices. EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART | 14 August, 9am–5pm

• Let’s Talk About Loss: The Pigeon + Q&A: Following its World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Pigeon comes to Everyman Edinburgh for a special community screening hosted by Let’s Talk About Loss. This funny, absurd short film follows a bereaved young woman who believes her sister has been reincarnated as a pigeon, exploring grief with warmth, humour and honesty. The screening will be followed by an informal Q&A and discussion, creating a welcoming space for anyone navigating loss. EVERYMAN EDINBURGH | 17 August, 6pm.

• Atmosphere | Faust: New Media Scotland's Atmosphere series presents F. W. Murnau's 1926 silent masterpiece Faust – A German Folktale. Widely regarded as one of the defining works of German Expressionist cinema, the film combines groundbreaking visual effects with the timeless tale of Faust's pact with Mephisto. A rare opportunity to experience this cinematic landmark in the atmospheric surroundings of Lauriston Castle. LAURISTON CASTLE | 15 August, 2.30pm.

• Everybody to Kenmure Street: Winner of the Audience Award at Glasgow Film Festival 2026, this powerful documentary tells the remarkable true story of the spontaneous civil resistance that unfolded in Glasgow’s Pollokshields in May 2021, when hundreds of local residents came together to prevent the detention of two long-standing Sikh neighbours by immigration enforcement officers. The screening will be followed by a discussion and guest speaker. ST JAMES SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LEITH | 30 August, 6pm.

• Planetarium Sing-Alongs at Dynamic Earth Experience some of cinema’s biggest musicals in the spectacular setting of Dynamic Earth’s Planetarium as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. Families can sing along to Disney’s Encanto, with favourites including We Don’t Talk About Bruno and Surface Pressure, while The Greatest Showman invites audiences to belt out hits such as This Is Me, The Greatest Show and A Million Dreams beneath a canopy of stars. A fun and immersive way to experience two modern musical favourites. DYNAMIC EARTH | Various dates throughout August.

EVENTS:

• Study for North Bridge: Rachel McBrinn & Jonathan Webb: Explore this new moving image commission at the City Art Centre, where artists Rachel McBrinn and Jonathan Webb respond to one of Edinburgh's most iconic landmarks. Created as part of the city's North Bridge restoration legacy programme, the work places the bridge's current refurbishment within the wider social and political history of Edinburgh, offering a thoughtful reflection on place, memory and transformation. CITY ART CENTRE | Until 13 September.

  

• Fringe Classics: Cinema by Candlelight: Fringe Classics returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with a series of immersive concerts celebrating some of cinema’s most iconic music. Highlights include Hans Zimmer’s Hollywood, featuring music from Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter; Einaudi’s Piano by Candlelight – Spirited Away, inspired by Studio Ghibli, Ludovico Einaudi and Philip Glass; and 007: Greatest Bond Songs – For Your Ears Only!, celebrating over 70 years of unforgettable James Bond themes. Blending live performance, film music and atmospheric candlelit settings, these unique events are a must for movie lovers throughout the Fringe. ST VINCENT’S CHAPEL | Various dates throughout August.

• Collage Animation Workshop: Ever wanted to try your hand at stop-motion animation? Join animator Dominika Jackowska for this hands-on workshop exploring collage cut-out animation techniques. Participants will learn the fundamentals of stop-motion while creating their own short animated experiments. Jackowska, an Edinburgh College of Art graduate, has worked on projects including the BAFTA Award-winning series OOglies and collaborations with Edinburgh Printmakers and Community Land Scotland. SKETCHY BEATS CAFE | 16 August, 7–8.30pm.

• ScotlandsFest: Choose Life, Choose Leith – Trainspotting on Location: Marking the enduring legacy of Irvine Welsh's iconic novel, Leith resident and Choose Life, Choose Leith author Tim Bell explores how Trainspotting evolved from a controversial cult novel into a cultural phenomenon across literature, theatre, film and now musical theatre. Combining local insight, historical research and humour, this event offers a fascinating new perspective on one of Scotland's most influential works. ST COLUMBA'S BY THE CASTLE | 27 August, 10.30–11.30am.

• Book Fringe x Leith Kino Film Series: Leith Kino returns to Argonaut Books for a brilliant series of screenings celebrating underappreciated classics with literary connections. This year's programme includes Kon Ichikawa's twisting Japanese mystery The Inugami Family (adapted from Seishi Yokomizo's novel), the visionary Czech sci-fi classic Ikarie XB-1 (inspired by Stanisław Lem's The Magellanic Cloud), Frank Perry's haunting adaptation of John Cheever's The Swimmer, and Francis Ford Coppola's stylish coming-of-age masterpiece Rumble Fish, based on S.E. Hinton's acclaimed novel. ARGONAUT BOOKS, EDINBURGH | 20, 22, 24 & 26 August, 7pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Last Year at Marienbad: One of the defining masterpieces of post-war European cinema, Alain Resnais' enigmatic classic returns to the big screen. Following a mysterious encounter between a man and a woman who may—or may not—have met before, the film remains a hypnotic meditation on memory, time and desire. As GFT notes, fans of this summer's horror hit Backrooms will recognise its "liminal, labyrinthine architecture where time and reality become unmoored," making this the perfect opportunity to revisit—or discover—one of cinema's most influential works. GLASGOW FILM THEATRE | 3 August, 5.50pm & 6 August, 2pm.

• Double Bill: We’re All Going to the World’s Fair + I Saw the TV Glow: Ahead of the release of Jane Schoenbrun’s highly anticipated new film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, GFT presents a rare chance to experience the filmmaker’s first two features back-to-back. From the unsettling online horror of We’re All Going to the World’s Fair to the dreamlike, emotionally devastating I Saw the TV Glow, this double bill showcases one of contemporary cinema’s most exciting and distinctive new voices. | 16 August, 3 pm

• Modesty Blaise – 60th Anniversary (4K): Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Joseph Losey's gloriously stylish cult classic in a new 4K restoration. Starring Monica Vitti in her first English-language role alongside Terence Stamp and Dirk Bogarde, this playful pop-art spy caper blends Barbarella-style glamour with Bond-esque adventure. The screening also includes a recorded introduction from Cinema Rediscovered: Comics Come Alive co-curator George Cruse-Drew, offering fresh insight into this visually dazzling Swinging Sixties gem. GLASGOW FILM THEATRE | 22 August, 5.20pm

  

• Her + Discussion: As part of GFT’s CineMasters: Spike Jonze season, revisit Spike Jonze’s acclaimed, Oscar-winning sci-fi romance Her on the big screen. Joaquin Phoenix stars as a lonely writer who unexpectedly falls in love with an advanced AI operating system, in a film that feels more relevant than ever. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion exploring Her in relation to today’s rapidly evolving relationship with artificial intelligence, featuring film journalists Alistair Harkness and Rafa Sales Ross, hosted by GFT and GFF Head of Programme Paul Gallagher. GLASGOW FILM THEATRE | 23 August, 1.40pm.

• Fidel Castro: ¡Venceremos! + Q&A: Produced by Havana Glasgow Film Festival in collaboration with FIDSA, this beautifully edited short documentary draws on Santiago Álvarez's iconic newsreel footage and Fidel Castro's own words to revisit the dramatic early years of the Cuban Revolution. The screening will be followed by a Q&A, offering audiences the chance to explore the film's historical and political context. | 27 August, 6pm.

AROUND TOWN

• The Pyramid Community Cinema: Glasgow's Pyramid at Anderston continues its popular Monday Night Film Club with two affordable family screenings this August. Dive beneath the waves with The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for SquarePants as SpongeBob embarks on a swashbuckling adventure with the Flying Dutchman, then discover Pixar's latest animated adventure Hoppers, following a young scientist who transfers her consciousness into a robotic animal to explore the natural world. With kids going free with a paying adult and a sliding-scale ticket model, these community screenings are a brilliant, accessible way to enjoy the summer holidays. THE PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON, GLASGOW | 3 & 10 August, 6pm.

• Laurel & Hardy Film Night: The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall welcomes back the Sons of the Desert for another evening celebrating the comedy legends Laurel and Hardy. This month’s programme features the classic shorts Going Bye-Bye, Way Out West and Brats, offering a rare chance to experience these timeless silent and early sound-era favourites in the world’s oldest surviving music hall. THE BRITANNIA PANOPTICON, GLASGOW | 5 August, 7pm.

• Reel Action Film Club Presents: The Roundup: Glasgow's Reel Action Film Club continues its celebration of action cinema with a one-off screening of the Korean box office hit The Roundup. Directed by Lee Sang-yong and starring Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok), this hard-hitting crime thriller follows detective Ma Seok-do as he travels to Vietnam to track down a brutal killer targeting Korean tourists. Expect bone-crunching action, plenty of laughs and the chance to discover one of modern action cinema's most charismatic heroes. THE OLD HAIRDRESSER'S, GLASGOW | 23 August, 7pm.

• The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover: Pop-Up Southside Cinema: Offline Glasgow launches its new Southside pop-up cinema with a special fundraising screening of Peter Greenaway's visually sumptuous and notoriously provocative 1989 masterpiece. Staged like a grotesque painting brought to life, this cult classic of gluttony, cruelty and revenge remains one of British cinema's most daring achievements. Better still, every ticket purchased helps fund new accessible toilets at the venue, with donations matched by Creative Scotland. OFFLINE CINEMA & STUDIOS, GLASGOW | 22 August, 7pm.

• Hitchcock Season: The master of suspense takes over the Grosvenor Picture Theatre for two months this summer. From experimenting with long takes in Rope to shooting in 3D for Dial M for Murder, and creating one of the most famous editing sequences in all of cinema with Psycho, there’s something for every film lover in their picks. GROSVENOR PICTURE THEATRE | Multiple screenings from 27 July

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• NORTH BERWICK Drexler – Fringe by the Sea: Scottish-based composer Adrian Leung (Drexler) brings his acclaimed new album Olympia-5 to Fringe by the Sea in a powerful live audio-visual performance, blending intimate piano compositions with immersive film. Created during his father's battle with lymphoma and featuring collaborations with filmmakers including Mark Cousins, Hannah Papacek Harper and Ciara Flint, the performance explores themes of care, distance and finding moments of calm through a unique fusion of live music and cinema. THE DOME, NORTH BERWICK | 9 August, 4.15pm

  

• CRIEF: Workshop – Make a Film in a Day: Budding filmmakers can learn the fundamentals of storytelling, filming and editing in this hands-on workshop at Crieff Film Festival. Led by filmmakers David Barras and Scott, co-founders of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation, participants will work in small teams to develop, shoot and edit their own short film, with screenings taking place at the end of each session. No experience is necessary, making this an ideal introduction to filmmaking for young creatives. STRATHEARN COMMUNITY CAMPUS, CRIEFF | 7 August.

• SUPER NATURE + Q&A: LandxSea Monthly returns to Montrose Playhouse with Ed Sayers' Super Nature, a poetic debut documentary filmed entirely on Super 8. Described as "a love letter to nature", the film brings together footage captured by 40 filmmakers and enthusiasts across 25 countries, creating a deeply personal portrait of the natural world. Following the screening, audiences can stay for a live Q&A with Sayers, founder of the internationally renowned straight 8 filmmaking competition. MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE | 17 August, 7.30pm

• Cinetopia Presents: Finis Terræ Live on Tour: Following its acclaimed world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Cinetopia takes Jean Epstein’s silent masterpiece Finis Terræ on tour with a bold new live score by Edinburgh composer Daniel Abrahams and French percussionist Philippe Boudot. Shot on the remote Breton island of Bannec using local non-professional actors, Epstein’s 1929 classic blends documentary realism with poetic visual experimentation, creating one of cinema’s most immersive portraits of life at the mercy of the sea. Described by The Scotsman as echoing the film’s “flaring human drama and pounding elements”, this is a rare opportunity to experience one of silent cinema’s great works with live music. Various venues | September.

  Current Dates & Tickets:

  • 12 September – LANDxSEA Film Festival, Montrose (8.30pm)

  • 13 September – Birnam Arts, Dunkeld (7pm)

  • 14 September – Eden Court Cinema, Inverness

  • 15 September – DCA, Dundee (Tickets on sale soon)

  • 16 September – Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Tickets on sale soon)

    

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Looking for Participants: AI and Filmmaking Study: Filmmakers at any stage of their career are invited to take part in a paid University of Edinburgh research study exploring how creative practitioners develop their work and how they feel about the growing role of AI in the film industry. No previous experience with AI is required. Participants will complete a creative activity kit over two weeks, followed by a one-hour interview, with £110 compensation for around three hours of participation. Deadline: 5 August.

• Programme Coordinator (part-time) - Filmhouse, Edinburgh: Salary: £16,790 per annum, being a pro rate on the basis of 3 days per week (£27,983 FTE).
  This role is based on-site at Filmhouse. Hours: Part-time role with normal hours of work will be 22.5 per week across Monday-Friday (may at times include evening and weekend work as required for the proper performance of the role), working pattern by arrangement with half-hour unpaid lunch break. Apply by 5 August, 5pm

• Marketing Manager: Jali Film Weekender 2026: Salary: £200 per day. This freelance role is ideal for someone with strong grounding in marketing and experience in devising audience engagement strategies that combine community relationship-building with traditional promotion approaches. Working closely with the Weekender Co-directors, Outreach Consultant and a small festival team, the Marketing Manager will play a key role in connecting audiences and communities across the city with the rich programme of Black, African and diaspora film, extended reality, talks and events. Apply by 3 August.

• BFI London Film Festival roles:

  • Volunteer Coordinator Salary: £33,477 | Fixed Term Contract: 1 September – 30 October 2026 - apply by 3 August

  • LFF Expanded Hosts (x16): Salary: £31,554 per annum | Fixed Term Contract: 28 September – 19 October 2026 - apply by 6 August

  • LFF Expanded Venue Coordinators (x2): Fixed Term Contract: 28 September – 19 October 2026 (inclusive of training days) - apply by 10 August

• Curation Officer (1 year maternity cover), Into Film: Salary: £30,500. The main function of the curation officer is to support the curation and wider team’s administrative and curatorial needs. Apply by 20 August

• Trustee for SQIFF (Voluntary): The Scottish Queer International Film Festival aims to appoint 5 Trustees, including one young person and one member/former member of SQIFF’s Queer Filmmaking Group. Apply by 5 August

• Projects & Operations Officer (Maternity Cover) at Manipulate Arts: Salary: £30k per annum. This is a key role in the Manipulate Arts team, offering co-ordination support across the full portfolio of the organisation’s projects alongside consistent administrative support. Apply by 11 August

• International Youth Film Jury Member (Volunteer): Wicked Wales International Youth Film Festival is looking for people aged 16-29 to become Jury Members for the upcoming edition of their festival. Apply by 16 August

• Volunteer Opportunities for Women Over Fifty Film Festival 2026: The Women Over Fifty Film Festival (WOFFF) celebrates the achievements, creativity and stories of older women on screen and behind the camera. Through film, conversation and community, WOFF champion the voices of women over 50 and creates opportunities for audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals to connect across generations. Multiple roles available. Apply by 3 August.

• Project Manager at GMAC Film: Salary: £22,500 per annum (Actual Pro-rated Salary). GMAC Film is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Project Manager to join our team based in Glasgow. It’s a challenging and exciting time for GMAC as we embark on a new strategy to grow and develop the company and settle into our new home in The Pyramid at Anderston. As Project Manager, you will manage a team of freelancers toward the successful development, delivery, and evaluation of high-quality and diverse projects for GMAC Film.  Apply by 5 August

• HippFest Producer (Freelance): Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependent on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027. Apply by 10 August

• Young Programmers – Transmission: Youth Across Generations: Cinetopia is looking for 4–5 young people aged 16–25 to help shape Transmission: Youth Across Generations, a new BFI FAN Rip It Up-supported programme exploring youth culture in Britain through film, music and intergenerational conversation. This opportunity includes a fixed fee based on the Real Living Wage, alongside hands-on experience in film curation, exhibition, event hosting, interviewing and audience engagement. Apply by 20 August.

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Glasgow Short Film Festival: The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland. Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition. Early bird deadline 4 August

• Open Call for Moving Image Works: Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) presents The Whole and The Hole, a new exhibition of moving image works exploring the void of the hole. Opening this October at Dalkeith Palace, the exhibition offers an opportunity for moving image artists and film-makers to show their work. Apply by 31 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• UK/IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026/27: This programme supports artistic collaboration between Ireland and the four nations of the UK, connecting emerging artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas through in-person exchange. By British Council Ireland. Applicants can request up to €3,000 (smaller amounts are also eligible). Apply by 31 July.

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Animatic 2026/27 Talent Lab - Glasgow Film Festival: Glasgow Film Festival: Animatic, now in its fourth year, is an innovative talent development lab for Scottish-based creative teams and studios, designed to help develop animated films and TV shows. Partnering with leading animation and screen industry organisations, participants will engage in an intensive programme of workshops to refine their projects. The lab will culminate in a Live Pitch at GFF27’s Industry Focus, where participants will present their projects to an expert panel. Apply by 14 August

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• BFI London Film Festival unveils opening night film

• John Hannah and Alan Cumming added to guest list for Edinburgh International Film Festival

• Spider-Man director on filming in Scotland after ‘falling in love’ with Edinburgh

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

• Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival / 1-9 October / Edinburgh

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

Our summer CINETOPIA FILM NETWORKING NIGHT will be on 30 July, 7-10pm at the Blackbird, the last one before a short August break for festival shenanigans. As always, it’s free to attend and all are welcome! RSVP HERE

Want your film event, screening, or opportunity featured for free in this newsletter? You can list it on Cinetopia Connect, it takes just a few moments to create a free profile! List your own or browse other upcoming film happenings in your area. ⬇️

CINETOPIA CONNECT

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond!

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGSOUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Taxi Driver (50th Anniversary) (4K Restoration): Looking for some catharsis? Catch one of the most iconic and controversial denouements in modern film in the 50th anniversary screening of Taxi Driver. Robert De Niro is Vietnam vet Travis Bickle, a cabbie on a self-appointed, obsessive mission to wash the scum off the streets of New York City, waylaid by an attempted romance with an election campaigner and chance encounters with Jodie Foster’s Iris, a 12-year-old prostitute. With a screenplay by Paul Schrader and direction by Martin Scorsese, this 1976 noir is every bit as gripping and prescient as it was upon first release. 27 July, 2.30pm & 5.30pm

  

• A Private Life: Now from Jodie Foster’s first film to her most recent: in Rebecca Zlotowski’s A Private Life, Foster’s Lilian Steiner is a celebrated psychiatrist. When she finds out about the death of one of her patients, she is deeply concerned, to the point of believing it was murder. Convinced of this fact, she begins to investigate. A Private Life premiered out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, receiving a 10-minute ovation. 27 July, 12.45pm, 28 July 4pm & 30 July, 12.30pm

• The Last Viking: After serving fifteen years in prison, bank robber Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is determined to recover the stolen money his brother Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen) buried years earlier. There’s just one problem: Manfred, caught in an identity crisis and convinced he is John Lennon, can no longer remember where it is hidden. The brothers set off on an increasingly chaotic hunt for the missing fortune, digging up old family secrets on the way. Multiple screenings from 28 July

• On the Sea + Q&A: Jack is a hand raker on the North Wales mussel beds, working alongside his younger brother Dyfan and his three sons. He has been married to Maggie for over half of his life, and he’s always assumed that their own boy Tom would join him on the beds after finishing school. However, Tom begins to resist taking the path set out for him, causing rifts to appear within the family. These rifts are widened by the appearance of a nomadic deckhand in Daniel, who makes his feelings for Jack clear, and stirs up some feelings within Jack himself. The Church and fishery are the centre of Jack’s remote and rural community - between work, love and family, he is now faced with an impossible dilemma. 29 July, 5.45pm

  

• Interstellar: If the Odyssey has left you needing another Christopher Nolan fix, look no further. Interstellar is Nolan’s spectacular - and tear-jerking - sci-fi, featuring a star-studded cast led by Matthew McConaughey, physics-accurate computer-busting depictions of black holes and far-off exoplanets. With time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history – travelling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. 30 July, 5pm

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Brunello: The Gracious Visionary: An inspirational portrait of a farmer’s son who rises from humble beginnings to build a luxury fashion empire. Giuseppe Tornatore’s (Cinema Paradiso) blend of documentary and fiction traces the pivotal moments that shaped Brunello Cucinelli’s life journey, exploring his commitment to craftsmanship, ethical values and humanistic philosophy rooted in meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community. Multiple screenings from 26 July

• The North: Bart Schrijver’s acclaimed drama follows former best friends and roommates Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido), who meet up after a decade to hike Scotland’s West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail. Shot entirely on the route of the walk, and in chronological order, The North is a beautiful ode to friendship and the healing power of nature. It’s not only a poignant and powerful drama, but also perhaps the definitive hiking film, allowing us to take in the stunning majesty of the Highlands shoulder-to-shoulder with Lluis and Chris as they reconnect with each other and with nature. 28 July, 12.15pm, 29 July 5.15pm & 30 July 4.45pm

  

• Some Like It Hot: Featuring one of Marilyn Monroe’s most charming roles, Billy Wilder’s comedy masterpiece showcases old Hollywood panache and exceptional on-screen chemistry. Down-on-their-luck jazz musicians Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) find themselves out of a job and on the lam after witnessing a mob hit. With no money and nowhere to hide, a gig with Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopators and their seductive singer, Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) – in sunny Florida seems like the perfect way to escape. There’s just one hitch: the Syncopators are an all-female band. 2 August, 12.20pm

AROUND TOWN:

• Tomboy: Céline Sciamma’s second feature film is a tender study of a young child exploring their gender identity. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE / 29 July, 7pm

  

• Ratatouille: It’s everyone’s favourite rat with big culinary dreams. Teaming up with an unlikely friend, Alfredo Linguini, Remy is able to wow the customers of Chef Auguste Gusteau’s restaurant in Paris with amazing food. However, how will the diners feel when they realise the chef behind their delicious meal is a rodent? Celebrate creativity and friendship in this animated classic. DYNAMIC EARTH | 29 July & 1 August, 10am

EVENTS:

• EDINBURGH: creative soundLAB: All Things Podcast: an interactive evening dedicated entirely to audio creation and podcasting. Following last year’s completely sold-out success, this event is your chance to connect directly with leading industry experts. We are proud to collaborate with top-tier podcast publishers and the Scotland Audio Network to bring you an immersive, hands-on experience. BRIGHT RED TRIANGLE STUDIO / 27 July, 6pm
  

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• The Birdcage - 30th Anniversary: In this hysterical comedy, Armand and Albert have built the perfect life for themselves tending to their gaudy Miami nightclub. But their pastel tranquility is shaken when Armand’s son announces that he’s getting married to the daughter of ultra-conservative Senator Keeley... and they’re all getting together for dinner! Can Armand and Albert transform themselves into Mr. and Mrs. Family Values in time? It’ll take the performance of their lives! 27 July, 4.40pm & 30 July 4.40pm

• Tampopo: Juzo Itami’s rapturous ramen Western returns in a new 4K restoration. The tale of an enigmatic band of ramen ronin who guide the widow of a noodle shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe, Tampopo serves up a savory broth of culinary adventure seasoned with off beat comedy sketches and the erotic exploits of a gastronome gangster. Sweet, sexy, surreal, and mouthwatering, Tampopo remains one of the most delectable examples of food on film. 29 July, 8.20pm

  

• Jaws: Over five decades since its original release, Jaws’ story of failed leadership in the face of a mounting deadly crisis is more relevant than ever. A local sheriff, a marine biologist and an old seafarer set out to capture a great white shark, and the movies changed forever. Be warned — you will not want to get back in the water. 31 July, 4.20 pm & 1 August, 4.35pm

• Little Shop of Horrors (Director’s Cut): Seymour Krelborn is a nerdy orphan working at Mushnik’s, a flower shop in the run-down Skid Row. He harbours a crush on fellow co-worker Audrey and is berated by his boss, Mr. Mushnik, on the daily. But one day, Seymour finds something unexpected: a mysterious unidentified plant which he calls Audrey II. The plant soon grows into something very different – a talking terror with a craving for blood that quickly begins to sing for his supper (and ensnares Seymour into its schemes). 1 August, 8pm

• Blue Heron: Set on Vancouver Island in the late 1990s, Blue Heron follows eight-year-old Sasha and her Hungarian immigrant family as they attempt to build a new life, only to be destabilised by the increasingly dangerous behaviour of her older brother, Jeremy. Drawing on her own memories, filmmaker Sophy Romvari shapes a deeply personal portrait of childhood, family fractures, and the fragility of recollection. Multiple screenings from 31 July

• Notorious - 80th Anniversary: In order to help bring Nazis to justice, U.S. government agent T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant) recruits Alicia Huberman, the American daughter of a convicted German war criminal (Ingrid Bergman), as a spy. As they begin to fall for one another, Alicia is instructed to win the affections of Alexander Sebastian, a Nazi hiding out in Brazil. When Sebastian becomes serious about his relationship with Alicia, the stakes get higher, and Devlin must watch her slip further undercover. Multiple screenings from 31 July

  

AROUND TOWN

• Clydeside Speaks! UCS 55th Anniversary Screening: In the summer of 1971, 13,000 Clydebank shipyard workers occupied their threatened yards for over six months and continued to turn out ships during this ‘work-in’, despite the bosses’ attempts to close the last four of the five yards in the area. Their campaign became one of the most powerful examples of worker solidarity in modern Scottish history. Clydeside Speaks will feature two films exploring the story and legacy of the Dispute, accompanied by contributions from poets, singers and activists. GALGAEL TRUST | 29 July, 6pm

• Scottish Short Film Festival: An evening of Scottish Women’s Voices and Out of this World themed films showcasing local talent. Come hang out, meet fellow movie lovers, and dive into some seriously creative cinema. KELVIN HALL | 30 July, 5.30pm

• How To Train Your Dragon: An affordable family-friendly community cinema screening of this animated classic, as part of The Pyramid’s Monday Night Film Club. THE PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON | 27 July, 5.30pm

  

• Thinking Beyond the Market: A film about genuinely affordable housing: Join Dr Brian Doucet as he goes coast to coast to learn about policies, programs and projects that are helping to ensure that housing is a human right. From using public land to build non-market housing in Kitchener and Whistler, and inspiring Indigenous-led projects in Vancouver, to strong tenant protections and rent control in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, the examples featured in this film demonstrate how many important solutions are making a difference in communities big and small. BOYD ORR BUILDING | 27 July, 6pm

• Hitchcock Season: The master of suspense takes over the Grosvenor Picture Theatre for two months this summer. From experimenting with long takes in Rope to shooting in 3D for Dial M for Murder, and creating one of the most famous editing sequences in all of cinema with Psycho, there’s something for every film lover in their picks. GROSVENOR PICTURE THEATRE | Multiple screenings from 27 July

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• EDINBURGH: BSL Film Club presents RETREAT: As part of Edinburgh Deaf Festival, BSL Film Club will be screening Ted Evans' Deaf-led thriller, Retreat!
  In search of belonging and connection, a young woman arrives at a remote wellness retreat for Deaf people, but nothing is what it seems. A gripping debut thriller from filmmaker Ted Evans that will unsettle audiences and leave them guessing until the final frame. Billed as the world’s first Deaf thriller and made in British Sign Language with an all-Deaf principal cast and a Deaf director, Retreat stars Anne Zander, Sophie Stone, and James Boyle.
  This event welcomes hearing and deaf audiences who are interested in British Sign Language (BSL). There will be a Q&A afterwards with guests to be confirmed.

  DEAF ACTION | 12 August, 7pm

  

  
  

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Member Services Coordinator at Directors UK: Salary: £32,000. Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 8,500 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Working across our Membership department, this role coordinates and supports the delivery and organisation of our events and careers and skills activity for our Directors UK members. Apply by 27 July

• Film Academy Hub Lead: Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2029. Salary: £30,000. The Film Academy Hub for the East Midlands region is part of a British Film Institute UK-wide programme for underrepresented young people, aged 16-25, hoping to start a career in the screen industries, with a particular focus on below-the-line screen industry occupations. The Film Academy Hub Lead role will act as a regional point of contact and advocate for young people seeking careers in the screen industries across the East Midlands. They will be responsible for ensuring that young people aged 16-25 take their first step into the professional screen industry by providing an engaging programme of year-round training. Apply by 28 July

• Emerging Festival Producer - Folkestone Film Fest: 10 paid freelance days at £120 per day. Work from 10 September, including the four festival days (22–25 October) in Folkestone. Apply by 29 July.

• Reclaim the Frame Operations & Programmes Coordinator: Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2027. Salary: £30,000 FTE (£24,000 pro rata). Reclaim The Frame are looking for an Operations & Programmes Coordinator to help keep Reclaim The Frame running smoothly and support the delivery of programmes, events and organisational activity. Apply by 29 July

• Social Media Executive for Cinematik: Cinematik is an independent UK company rooted in cinema. They connect audiences with independent and alternative film screenings, and work with filmmakers, distributors and venues to help great films find their audience. Apply by 31 July

• Trustee for SQUIFF (Voluntary): The Scottish Queer International Film Festival aims to appoint 5 Trustees, including one young person and one member/former member of SQIFF’s Queer Filmmaking Group. Apply by 5 August

• Projects & Operations Officer (Maternity Cover) at Manipulate Arts: Salary: £30k per annum. This is a key role in the Manipulate Arts team, offering co-ordination support across the full portfolio of the organisation’s projects alongside consistent administrative support. Apply by 11 August

• International Youth Film Jury Member (Volunteer): Wicked Wales International Youth Film Festival is looking for people aged 16-29 to become Jury Members for the upcoming edition of their festival. Apply by 16 August

• Volunteer Opportunities for Women Over Fifty Film Festival 2026: The Women Over Fifty Film Festival (WOFFF) celebrates the achievements, creativity and stories of older women on screen and behind the camera. Through film, conversation and community, WOFF champion the voices of women over 50 and creates opportunities for audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals to connect across generations. Multiple roles available. Apply by 3 August.

• Project Manager at GMAC Film: Salary: £22,500 per annum (Actual Pro-rated Salary). GMAC Film is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Project Manager to join our team based in Glasgow. It’s a challenging and exciting time for GMAC as we embark on a new strategy to grow and develop the company and settle into our new home in The Pyramid at Anderston. As Project Manager, you will manage a team of freelancers toward the successful development, delivery, and evaluation of high-quality and diverse projects for GMAC Film.  Apply by 5 August

• Festival Videographer for PRIFF UK: Salary: £100 per day, 2-3 days of work expected. The videographer will work with the festival team to create video content that showcases the festival experience, including filmmaker interviews, guest conversations, event coverage, and promotional footage. Apply by 30 July

• HippFest Producer (Freelance): Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependant on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027. Apply by 10 August

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Glasgow Short Film Festival: The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland. Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition. Early bird deadline 4 August

• Open Call for Moving Image Works: Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) presents The Whole and The Hole, a new exhibition of moving image works exploring the void of the hole. Opening this October at Dalkeith Palace, the exhibition offers an opportunity for moving image artists and film-makers to show their work. Apply by 31 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• UK/IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026/27: This programme supports artistic collaboration between Ireland and the four nations of the UK, connecting emerging artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas through in-person exchange. By British Council Ireland. Applicants can request up to €3,000 (smaller amounts are also eligible). Apply by 31 July.

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Animatic 2026/27 Talent Lab - Glasgow Film Festival: Glasgow Film Festival: Animatic, now in its fourth year, is an innovative talent development lab for Scottish-based creative teams and studios, designed to help develop animated films and TV shows. Partnering with leading animation and screen industry organisations, participants will engage in an intensive programme of workshops to refine their projects. The lab will culminate in a Live Pitch at GFF27’s Industry Focus, where participants will present their projects to an expert panel. Apply by 14 August

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• Max Minghella, Prano Bailey-Bond among Edinburgh International Film Festival industry speakers

• Programme announced for 4th edition of LandxSea - Scotland’s Environmental Film Festival

• Meta glasses banned by Comic-Con promoter after ‘secret filming’

• Screen Scotland chief reveals departure after eight years

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

• Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival / 1-9 October / Edinburgh

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

Our summer CINETOPIA FILM NETWORKING NIGHT will be on 30 July, 7-10pm at the Blackbird, the last one before a short August break for festival shenanigans. As always, it’s free to attend and all are welcome! RSVP HERE

LISTEN TO the latest edition of Cinetopia Radio podcast (also on Apple Pods) with an EIFF preview special, Amanda Rogers is joined by show regulars Jim Ross (Take One Magazine) and Garry Arnot (Cinema Perspective) for a preview of the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026, discussing some of the films they’re most looking forward to seeing . The team also reviews The Invite, Blue Heron, and Rosebush Pruning.

Want your film event, screening, or opportunity featured for free in this newsletter? You can list it on Cinetopia Connect, it takes just a few moments to create a free profile! List your own or browse other upcoming film happenings in your area. ⬇️

CINETOPIA CONNECT

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond!

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGSOUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Ish + Q&A: Set in Luton, Ish follows 12-year old best friends Ish and Maram, who wrestle to hold onto their friendship in the wake of a police stop and search. As the ripples take hold, the boys try to make sense of the men they are becoming – and how letting go can be the hardest part of growing up. Written and directed by acclaimed artist Imran Perretta and co-written by Enda Walsh (Hunger), Ish was shot by cinematographer Jermaine Canute Edwards (My Father’s Shadow) and also stars singer-songwriter Joy Crookes. There will be a preview screening on Fri 24 July which will be followed by a Q&A with director Imran Perretta and producer Dhiraj Mahey. 24 July, 6pm

  

• Paris, Texas (4K Restoration): A man in a red baseball cap comes stumbling over the Mexican border and into the Texan desert, mute, bowed but driven by an obsessive quest. An intimate epic, combining Wenders’ European sensibility with the expansive American West of writer Sam Shepard. As part of The Filmhouse’s celebration of Harry Dean Stanton’s upcoming centenary, book tickets for two or more Harry Dean Stanton Centenary films in the same transaction to receive a discount. 22 July, 8.10pm

• Yi Yi (4K Restoration): The extraordinary, internationally embraced Yi Yi (A One and a Two...), directed by the late Taiwanese master Edward Yang, follows a middle-class family in Taipei over the course of one year, beginning with a wedding and ending with a funeral. Warm, sprawling, and dazzling, this intimate epic is one of the undisputed masterworks of the new century. As part of the FH Birthday celebrations, screenings will be priced at £6 for Filmhouse Members. 23 July, 7.30pm

• Nostalghia (4K Restoration): In Nostalghia, we follow a musicologist, Gorchakov (Oleg Yankovskiy), during a research trip to Italy where the composer he’s studying lived for several years. Gorchakov is apparently oblivious to his beautiful translator and the wonders of Italy, instead dwelling on memories of Russia. Things start to change when he encounters Domenico, a somewhat unstable man who has kept his family locked up for seven years while waiting for the end of the world. Multiple screenings from 24 July.

  

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Our Hero, Balthazar: An audacious coming-of-age story that explores the impact of social media and American gun culture on modern adolescence through an incisive yet blackly comic lens. Hoping to impress an activist classmate, the ultra-wealthy NYC teenager Balthy posts emotional videos on social media, pleading for stricter gun laws. But when his content attracts the attention of an online troll who claims he is planning a school shooting, Balthy heads on an ill-advised journey to Texas to confront him. Multiple screenings from 20 July.

• Boogie Nights (4K Restoration): In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult-film sensation Dirk Diggler. Boogie Nights premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1997 and is considered by many to be one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s greatest works. Multiple screenings from 20 July.

• They Live: Nada, a down-on-his-luck construction worker, discovers a pair of special sunglasses. Wearing them, he is able to see the world as it really is: people being bombarded by media and government with messages like “Stay Asleep”, “No Imagination”, “Submit to Authority”. Even scarier is that he is able to see that some usually normal-looking people are in fact ugly aliens in charge of the massive campaign to keep humans subdued. 22 July, 8.50pm & 23 July, 6pm

  

• My Father’s Island: A haunted young man travels to a remote island to reconnect with his father (Swann Arlaud, Anatomy of a Fall) and confront the traumatic experience they shared ten years prior that transformed their relationship. Based on David Vann’s autobiographical novella called Sukkwan Island, the film premiered at Glasgow Film Festival in March. Multiple screenings from 24 July.

• The Thing: In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station – led by R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) – discovers an alien that has been buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Threatened by its violent presence, things take an even more sinister turn for MacReady and the crew when they learn the creature can take the shape of its victims – leaving them alone, in the isolated snowy depths, to determine who is innocent and who is the killer among them. Multiple screenings from 24 July.

• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) is a beautiful showgirl engaged to be married to the wealthy Gus Esmond (Tommy Noonan) – much to the disapproval of Gus’s rich father, who thinks that Lorelei is just after his money. When Lorelei goes on a cruise accompanied by her best friend, Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell), Esmond Sr. hires a private detective to follow her and report any questionable behaviour. Before long, the girls cross paths with a rich, enamoured old man – and many, many other doting admirers. 26 July, 12.30pm

AROUND TOWN:

• Looking for Eric (2009): This feel-good comedy from Ken Loach follows downtrodden Eric who starts to get his life back on track with help from his hero, Eric Cantona. The film will start promptly at 7pm without trailers. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE / 22 July, 7pm

  

• Film Screening & Discussion with the Watts Brothers of Far North Film: A documentary film exploring how the arts and media has impacted the last 70 years of culture. The film-makers, Fionn and Toby Watts, along with Murray Watts who is featured in the documentary will be present on the evening. THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE / 25 July, 7pm

• Top Quark Sci-Fi Film Festival: A blend of classic Sci-Fi storytelling, a pinch of comedy, and a world class quality animation. Award-winning actor, writer and producer Tony Greengrass will host The Summer Edition of Top Quark Film Festival. THE CAMEO SCREEN 3 / 25 July, 6.30pm

• Study for North Bridge: A new moving image commission from artists Rachel McBrinn and Jonathan Webb which responds to Edinburgh’s North Bridge. Following in a tradition of artworks commissioned by the city to document and commemorate one of Edinburgh’s most historically significant landmarks, the film places the bridge’s current restoration in its historical context, from its original build in the 1760s and the political and social backdrop of the developing city around it. CITY ART CENTRE EH1 1DE / Ongoing until 13 September

EVENTS:

• EDINBURGH: creative soundLAB: All Things Podcast: an interactive evening dedicated entirely to audio creation and podcasting. Following last year’s completely sold-out success, this event is your chance to connect directly with leading industry experts. We are proud to collaborate with top-tier podcast publishers and the Scotland Audio Network to bring you an immersive, hands-on experience. BRIGHT RED TRIANGLE STUDIO / 27 July, 6pm
  

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Big Night (30th Anniversary): Chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Stanley Tucci) are immigrant brothers from Italy who open their dream restaurant, Paradise, in New Jersey. However, Primo’s authentic food is too unfamiliar for the local tastes, and the restaurant is struggling. When famous Italian-American bandleader Louis Prima is scheduled to appear at Paradise, the two brothers put all of their efforts into the important meal, which will likely decide the fate of their restaurant. 20 July, 8.30pm

• Election (4K): Reese Witherspoon stars as Tracy Flick who is running unopposed for this year’s high school student election. But Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) has a different plan. Partly to establish a more democratic election, and partly to satisfy some deep personal anger toward Tracy, Jim talks football player Paul Metzler to run for president as well. 21 July, 8.15pm

  

• The Last One for the Road: In this idiosyncratic, sardonic and slyly funny tale, two middle-aged misfits ramble by car around the Veneto countryside, picking up a shy architectural student on their wayward travels. Francesco Sossai’s dazzling second feature is a crowd-pleasing comedy full of eccentric characters and freewheeling tales which is the boozy road movie you didn’t know you needed this summer. Take a trip across Northern Italy with this charming, crazy adventure with spot-on performances by Filippo Scotti (The Hand of God), Sergio Romano, and Pierpaolo Capovilla. Multiple screenings from 20 July

• The Big Sleep (80th Anniversary): Step into the shadowy world of classic film noir with The Big Sleep, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Celebrating its 80th anniversary, this stylish mystery follows private detective Philip Marlowe through a labyrinth of crime, corruption, and intrigue. Known for its sharp dialogue and iconic performances, it remains one of the defining films of the genre. Multiple screenings from 24 July

• The Straight Story (4K): A 1999 biographical road drama directed by David Lynch (with another appearance by Harry Dean Stanton). Retired farmer and widower Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver’s license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey. Multiple screenings from 25 July

  

• On The Sea: Set in a rugged North Welsh fishing community, Helen Walsh’s second feature follows Jack, a married mussel farmer whose domestic life is unsettled by the arrival of a younger deckhand. On The Sea, which received its world premiere in competition at the 2025 Edinburgh International Film Festival, is a scenic, sensual, and sometimes heartbreaking interrogation of what it means to be a man and masculine, deeply rooted in a sense of place and desire. The film is novelist-turned-writer-director Helen Walsh’s sophomore feature following 2016’s The Violators, which won her BAFTA’s Breakthrough New Director award. Multiple screenings from 24 July.

AROUND TOWN

• Scottish Short Film Festival: Scotland’s coolest short film festival is back - Celebrating the best in Scottish Short Films and showcasing talent across the industry. Join us for an evening of ‘Wild Scotland’ themed films. Food and Drink not permitted with exception of water bottles. KELVIN HALL / 29 July, 7.15pm

• Batteries Not Included (1987): Aliens help a feisty old New York couple in their battle against the ruthless land developer who’s out to evict them. Hosted by Geek Planet in their new venue. GEEK PLANET G21 1TS / July 23, 6.15pm

  

• Bi Movies Film Club presents: The Talented Mr Ripley: Join Bi Movies Film Club for a screening of queer crime classic The Talented Mr Ripley, followed by a discussion at a nearby bar. Matt Damon as a murderous bisexual menace, Jude Law as his sunkissed god-like missing best ‘friend’, a feckless and freckled young Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Seymour Hoffman giving the performance of a lifetime, and Cate Blanchett in all her pearl-clutching perfection: it can only be The Talented Mr Ripley. Doors open at 6. The film starts at 6:15 and will finish just before 8:30. THE DEEP END, GLASGOW SOUTHSIDE / 23 July, 6pm

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• FIFE: Behind the Scenes: Filming Locations at Culross Palace: Explore the behind-the-scenes world of filming at Culross Palace and how its historic spaces are brought to life on screen. Learn how crews work alongside conservation specialists to protect the building’s delicate interiors and historic collections while bringing stories to life on screen. CULROSS PALACE, FIFE / 25 July, 5pm

• DUNDEE: The Art History of Studio Ghibli: Discover more from Studio Ghibli’s art, taking inspiration from mystical qualities and traditions from Japanese culture. Followed by Q+A. Helen McCarthy, who wrote the first books in English on anime and on Ghibli’s co- founding director Hayao Miyazaki, will take you on a journey through the studio’s history and inspiration, with time and space to appreciate selected artworks and a list of sources – books, websites and places to visit - if you want to explore further. BONAR HALL, DUNDEE / 20 July, 6.45pm

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• BFI Head of Venues & Systems Operations (Interim): Contract: Fixed term until 31 January 2027. Salary: £65,943 – £77,907 per annum. The BFI is recruiting for an experienced Head of Operations who will oversee the day to day running of BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX operations. In addition, the role will oversee the Systems Team, ensuring the successful programming of BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX’s ticketing and retail systems. Apply by 21 July

• Film Programmer - PICTUREHOUSE CENTRAL: Contract: Permanent, full-time. Salary: Up to £37,000 – applications welcome from candidates with slightly higher expectations. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for cinema and a strong understanding of the UK film landscape to help shape the programme across Picturehouse cinemas. You’ll play a key role in selecting films, planning creative seasons and events, building relationships with distributors, and ensuring Picturehouse cinemas deliver engaging and commercially successful programmes. Apply by 23 July

• Film Academy Hub Lead: Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2029. Salary: £30,000. The Film Academy Hub for the East Midlands region is part of a British Film Institute UK-wide programme for underrepresented young people, aged 16-25, hoping to start a career in the screen industries, with a particular focus on below-the-line screen industry occupations. The Film Academy Hub Lead role will act as a regional point of contact and advocate for young people seeking careers in the screen industries across the East Midlands. They will be responsible for ensuring that young people aged 16-25 take their first step into the professional screen industry by providing an engaging programme of year-round training. Apply by 28 July

• Senior Digital Marketing Executive, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall: full-time, permanent contract. Salary: £28,502 This newly defined and significantly enhanced post has been purposefully redesigned to reflect the organisation’s growing priorities around digital performance, audience development and income generation. As a senior specialist role, the postholder will take substantial ownership of PTCH’s digital channels, audience insight and marketing systems, working closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager to maximise reach, engagement and revenue. Apply by 20 July

• Volunteer Opportunities for Women Over Fifty Film Festival 2026: The Women Over Fifty Film Festival (WOFFF) celebrates the achievements, creativity and stories of older women on screen and behind the camera. Through film, conversation and community, WOFF champion the voices of women over 50 and creates opportunities for audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals to connect across generations. Multiple roles available. Apply by 3 August.

  

• Marketing Manager, Altitude Films (London): Altitude Film Distribution are looking for a commercially astute, highly proactive, and experienced Marketing Manager, who is passionate about film, to take on a key role in our small, busy Distribution team releasing films into UK and Irish cinemas and on home entertainment formats. Hybrid London / work-from-home. Salary £35,000, Full Time, TO APPLY Please either e-mail info@altitudefilment.com with your CV and a brief cover letter or reach out to our Head of Marketing, Kenji Lloyd, directly on LinkedIn.

• Emerging Festival Producer - Folkestone Film Fest: 10 paid freelance days at £120 per day. Work from 10 September, including the four festival days (22–25 October) in Folkestone. Apply by 29 July.

• Reclaim the Frame Operations & Programmes Coordinator: Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2027. Salary: £30,000 FTE (£24,000 pro rata). Reclaim The Frame are looking for an Operations & Programmes Coordinator to help keep Reclaim The Frame running smoothly and support the delivery of programmes, events and organisational activity. Apply by 29 July

• Festival Videographer for PRIFF UK: Salary: £100 per day, 2-3 days of work expected. The videographer will work with the festival team to create video content that showcases the festival experience, including filmmaker interviews, guest conversations, event coverage, and promotional footage. Apply by 30 July

• HippFest Producer (Freelance): Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependant on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027. Apply by 10 August

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Open Call for Moving Image Works: Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) presents The Whole and The Hole, a new exhibition of moving image works exploring the void of the hole. Opening this October at Dalkeith Palace, the exhibition offers an opportunity for moving image artists and film-makers to show their work. Apply by 31 August

• Glasgow Short Film Festival - The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland.

  Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition.

  Early bird deadline 4 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• UK/IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026/27: This programme supports artistic collaboration between Ireland and the four nations of the UK, connecting emerging artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas through in-person exchange. By British Council Ireland. Applicants can request up to €3,000 (smaller amounts are also eligible). Apply by 31 July.

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Animatic 2026/27 Talent Lab - Glasgow Film Festival: Glasgow Film Festival: Animatic, now in its fourth year, is an innovative talent development lab for Scottish-based creative teams and studios, designed to help develop animated films and TV shows. Partnering with leading animation and screen industry organisations, participants will engage in an intensive programme of workshops to refine their projects. The lab will culminate in a Live Pitch at GFF27’s Industry Focus, where participants will present their projects to an expert panel. Apply by 14 August

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• UK crew unemployment rose as volume of film and TV releases fell 13% between 2022-2025

• Call for Evidence: The National Lottery Good Causes - have your say in how National Lottery money should be spent

• Louis Paxton on EIFF opening film The Incomer: ‘There are bits of it that are just so Scottish’

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

We’d like to thank everyone who responded to our call our for support with the newsletter. We’re always open to hearing from people who want to help, whether with this or with future Cinetopia events. You can contact us at hello@cinetopia.co.uk

Want your film event, screening, or opportunity featured for free in this newsletter? You can list it on Cinetopia Connect, it takes just a few moments to create a free profile! List your own or browse other upcoming film happenings in your area. ⬇️

CINETOPIA CONNECT

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from Edinburgh, Glsagow and beyond!

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• It’s Odyssey time. If you’re going to spend 3 hours watching a star-studded epic journey featuring Cyclops, nymphs, mendacious suitors and terrifying sea monsters (here’s looking at you, Scylla. Or is it Charybdis?), go for a sumptuous, celluloid experience in Screen 1. Christopher Nolan’s version of Homer’s epic can be experienced in its 70mm glory three times a day. Every day from Fri 17 July, 12.45pm, 4:15pm and 7.45pm

• Divorce Iranian Style: one of renowned UK documentary filmmaker Kim Longinotto’s most acclaimed films, this funny, tragic, stirring, fly-on-the-wall chronicle of several weeks in an Iranian divorce court provides a unique window into the intimate circumstances of Iranian women’s lives. Following three different women of different ages and backgrounds in their bid to obtain a divorce, Longinotto showcases the strength, ingenuity, and guile with which they confront biased laws, a Kafka-esque administrative system, and their husbands’ and families’ rage. Screening as part of DocScreen. 15 July, 6.10pm

  

• Iran Weekend 2026: An initiative of Women Life Freedom Edinburgh supported by the University of Edinburgh, this first edition presents a powerful selection of works by Iranian filmmakers that explore conflict, sacrifice, trauma, gender, and everyday life. The films offer a unique window into how directors have navigated censorship, challenged propaganda, and addressed complex social issues. The special season features two special discussion events, including a Q&A with acclaimed Iranian director Mahnaz Mohammadi, whose film opens the festival, and a conversation with British-Iranian filmmaker Hassan Nazer.17-19 July, times vary

• True Stories: screening alongside Stop Making Sense as part of a special spotlight on Scotland-born musician, artist, filmmaker and all around genius David Byrne, True Stories showcases Byrne’s maverick creative flair in this weirdly wonderful comedy, in which a Texas town’s 150th anniversary parade and talent show provides the backdrop for a series of vignettes with eccentric characters.
  17 July, 3.10pm & 18 July, 8.45pm

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Persepolis: iconic animated adaptation of the late Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, which follows a young girl’s coming of age in Iran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and her tentative steps into adulthood and exile. Striking, acerbic and deeply moving, it features the best Eye of the Tiger montage ever committed to screen (yes, we stand by this). 13 July, 8.10pm

  

• Nirvana: the Band the Show the Movie: as if one Youtube/web series crossover wasn’t enough for the silver screen, here comes another. Based on Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol’s cult web and TV series, Nirvanna the Band the Show, the film sees hapless bandmates Matt and Jay attempt to book a famed Toronto concert venue, only to travel accidentally back in time to 2008.
  As every interaction threatens to impact their future selves, the pair’s only hope of getting back to the future lies in finding an obscure Canadian soft drink...
  Screening daily till 16 July, times vary

• Barry Lyndon (4K restoration): Stanley Kubrick bent the conventions of the historical drama to his own will in this dazzling vision of a pitiless aristocracy. In picaresque detail, Barry Lyndon chronicles the adventures of an incorrigible trickster (Ryan O’Neal) whose opportunism takes him from an Irish farm to the battlefields of the Seven Years’ War and the parlors of high society. For the most sumptuously crafted film of his career, Kubrick recreated the decadent surfaces and intricate social codes of the period, evoking the light and texture of eighteenth-century painting with the help of pioneering cinematographic techniques and lavish costume and production design, all of which earned Academy Awards. The result is a masterpiece—a sardonic, devastating portrait of a vanishing world whose opulence conceals the moral vacancy at its heart. (Synopsis: Criterion Collection). 16 July, 6.30pm

  

• The Misfits: The last (completed) film to star Marilyn Monroe or Clark Gable, this romantic drama was adapted by Arthur Miller from one of his own short stories and directed by John Houston. Its production was famously beleaguered by relentless desert heat, the break-up of Miller and Monroe’s marriage and Monroe’s deteriorating mental and physical health yet, though initial reviews were mixed and it was considered a commercial failure at the time of its release, its reputation has grown and it is now widely regarded as one of the great classic Hollywood films of the 1960s.
  July 19, 2.20pm

AROUND TOWN:

• On Falling
  Another chance to catch a community screening of this acclaimed drama by Laura Carreira, who will be in attendance along with Boyan Karabaliev (Workers’ Observatory), and Gordon Maloney (Living Rent). The screening is free; organisers are asking for donations to help cover the cost of screening the film and venue, with any profit redirected to future events. DUNCAN PLACE COMMUNITY HUB EH6 8HW / 14 July, 6.30pm

• The Mouthpiece of the Gods
  Carnyx & Co presents The Mouthpiece of the Gods: An evening of music and film featuring John Kenny with soprano Adaya Malca-Peled and sound designer Tim Cooper. In 1992 John became the first person for 2,000 years to play the great Celtic horn known as the carnyx, and has since gone on to perform and lecture with it globally. Over the past four years Adaya and John have established an extraordinary duo, exploring the voice with carnyx and the trombone. The evening concludes with “Multiplex”, a film by Kenneth McQueenie inspired by John’s music, performed live. PIANODROME BRUNTSFIELD EH10 4NB / 15 July, 7.30pm

• Operation Recomply
  Told through the eyes of the Filton 25’s loved ones, the film documents the activists’ fight for justice as the state escalates its crackdown on the pro-Palestine movement. An urgent documentary, on a case that marks a significant and controversial turning point for the rule of law, and for direct action as a form of protest, in the UK. OUT OF THE BLUE DRILL HALL EH6 8RG / 17 July, 7pm

  

• Performance Screening
  A series of performance films by featured ‘Pass the remote’ artist Nicole, who works across performance, video, and sculpture to explore the circulation of femininity within economies of desire, spectacle, and consumption. Drawing on personal memories and Latin American popular aesthetics, her work examines how the female body becomes a site where fantasy, value, and power intersect. Her performances are built from simple choreographies—reading, sitting, licking sweets, walking in heels—that transform everyday gestures into ritualized displays. SANKI EH3 5LT / 7pm

EVENTS:

• QUEER FILM QUIZ

  Are you a queer film lover? Then join us and other film enthusiasts for a Queer Film Quiz hosted by Programmed with Pride! This event is for LGBTQ+ people (16+) and is hosted by Programmed with Pride with support from LGBT Health and Wellbeing. DUNCAN PLACE COMMUNITY HUB EH6 8HW / 17 July, 7pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Shoot the People: documentary capturing photographer and activist Misan Harriman’s journey documenting global protest movements that drive social change. Following Harriman as he highlights the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice, the film showcases the intersectionality of these movements and their collective power. With historical context, interviews with activists, and explorations of digital activism, the documentary reveals how Harriman’s lens brings the world’s activism to light, inspiring viewers to recognize their own power in shaping a more just society. The 16 July screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Andy-Mundy Castle. Screening daily from 10 July, times vary

  

• Melt it! The Film of the Iceman: In the 1980s and 1990s, Anthony Irvine was a comedian and cabaret performer. His act was a little unusual: as the Iceman, he went on stage… to melt ice. He’d bring a large block of ice onto the stage then try (and sometimes fail) to melt it in a variety of creative ways. His fans included Mike Myers, Stewart Lee and Bill Bailey. In 2010, when Robert Wringham wrote his book about this era of comedy, the Iceman could not be found but a few years later, Anthony Irvine popped up again — this time as a visual artist called Aim. What was going on? Screening followed by a Q&A with writer Robert Wringham and director Mark Cartwright. 13 July, 8.20pm

• Mare’s Nest: Based on Don DeLillo’s The Word for Snow and shot on 16mm, in both black and white and colour, Mare’s Nest is a mysterious, poetic and thought-provoking film from artist and experimental filmmaker Ben Rivers.
  Screening daily from 17 July, times vary

• The Girls: A tender and transporting journey through young dreams and first loves. Kusum, a poor but studious village girl who cleans the house of a wealthy family, sparks a connection with Nimal, the family’s prized son. Soma, Kusum’s younger sister, pursues beauty pageants and dreams of acting, believing it’s her best chance of a better life. What unfolds is a lyrical and poignant coming-of-age story, brimming with yearning and feminine sensibility. A sumptuous 4K restoration of Sumitra Peries’ groundbreaking 1978 Sri Lankan film.
  Screening daily from 17 July, times vary

AROUND TOWN

• Trash Cinema presents: Tucker and Dale vs Evil
  Tucker and Dale are finally getting to do up the secluded cabin of their dreams. You know, air out the chainsaw and breathe some life into the ol’ woodchipper. But these holidaying city kids keep getting the wrong idea! And dang if they ain’t getting themselves just as dead at the same time. What’s an honest hillbilly supposed to do?! Join Trash Cinema for a comedy of terrors with Tucker and Dale vs Evil! Slapstick genius with big laughs and even better kills. THE OLD HAIRDRESSER’S G2 5AR / 13 July, 7pm

  

• Exiled for Existing: LGBTQ Refugees in Scotland
  Watch a new short film made by a group of more than 40 LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers in Glasgow, in which they explore the impact of having to flee a place to be themselves. The film will be followed by a Q&A with some of the film-makers. This community film project was produced by the Glasgow workers co-operative, Media Co-op, in partnership with LGBT Unity Glasgow and the National Library of Scotland. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND AT KELVINHALL G3 8AW / 15 July, 6pm

• Battle Royale - Open air screening
  Forget The Hunger Games or Squid Game: this is the real deal. Experience The cult Japanese thriller that redefined survival cinema. QUEEN’S PARK ARENA G42 8QR / 15 July, 6pm

  

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• EDINBURGH - Film Screening & Discussion with The Watts Brothers of Far North Film: A documentary film exploring how the arts and media has impacted the last 70 years of culture. The film-makers, Fionn and Toby Watts, along with Murray Watts who is featured in the documentary will be present on the evening. The event is geared mainly to people who are interested in the interface of art and faith. Murray Watts draws on a lifetime of working in film and theatre and his own personal journey. WAYFARER AT THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE / 25 July, 7pm

• EDINBURGH: creative soundLAB: All Things Podcast: an interactive evening dedicated entirely to audio creation and podcasting. Following last year’s completely sold-out success, this event is your chance to connect directly with leading industry experts. We are proud to collaborate with top-tier podcast publishers and the Scotland Audio Network to bring you an immersive, hands-on experience. BRIGHT RED TRIANGLE STUDIO / 27 July, 6pm

  

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Senior Fundraising Executive, EIFF: Freelance, fixed term contract, September 2026 to December 2027. Fee: estimated £55k (3 - 4 days a week)
  The post holder will be responsible for driving Edinburgh International Film Festival’s fundraising strategy, playing a central role in securing a robust and sustainable financial foundation for the organisation. Apply by 15 July

  Talent Development Coordinator, Glasgow Film Festival: Fixed term, full-time contract, August 2026 to 26 March 2027. Salary: £33,240 per annum. A key role within the Glasgow Film Festival Industry team, supporting the Industry Manager to coordinate and lead on the festival’s growing talent development initiatives and strategic priorities. Apply by 10am 15 July

  Senior Digital Marketing Executive, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall: full-time, permanent contract. Salary: £28,502 This newly defined and significantly enhanced post has been purposefully redesigned to reflect the organisation’s growing priorities around digital performance, audience development and income generation. As a senior specialist role, the postholder will take substantial ownership of PTCH’s digital channels, audience insight and marketing systems, working closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager to maximise reach, engagement and revenue. Apply by 20 July

• Volunteer Community Manager for NEIFF 2026: Salary: Voluntary, plus full festival access. North East International Film Festival (NEIFF) is looking for a creative, passionate Volunteer Community Manager. Commitment: Part-time (Flexible hours leading up to the festival, increasing during event week)

  Duration: July – November 2026. Apply by 15 July

• Talent Development Coordinator - Glasgow Film Festival: A key role within the Glasgow Film Festival Industry team, supporting the Industry Manager to coordinate and lead on the festival’s growing talent development initiatives and strategic priorities. Salary: £33,240 per annum; Contract Type: Fixed Term; Term: August 2026 – 26 March 2027. Apply by 15 July

• Freelance Marketing Assistants - BEUnited: Be United is seeking Freelance Marketing Assistants to support the delivery of Be United’s marketing, digital communications, and creative media output. Salary: £13.45 per hour, 15 hours a week, from July 2026 – 31 October 2026. Apply by 19 July

• Volunteer Opportunities for Women Over Fifty Film Festival 2026: The Women Over Fifty Film Festival (WOFFF) celebrates the achievements, creativity and stories of older women on screen and behind the camera. Through film, conversation and community, WOFF champion the voices of women over 50 and creates opportunities for audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals to connect across generations. Multiple roles available. Apply by 3 August.

• Marketing Manager, Altitude Films (London): Altitude Film Distribution are looking for a commercially astute, highly proactive, and experienced Marketing Manager, who is passionate about film, to take on a key role in our small, busy Distribution team releasing films into UK and Irish cinemas and on home entertainment formats. Hybrid London / work-from-home. Salary £35,000, Full Time, TO APPLY Please either e-mail info@altitudefilment.com with your CV and a brief cover letter or reach out to our Head of Marketing, Kenji Lloyd, directly on LinkedIn.

• HippFest Producer (Freelance) - Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependant on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027 Apply by 10 August

  Emerging Festival Producer - Folkestone Film Fest: 10 paid freelance days at £120 per day. Work from 10 September, including the four festival days (22–25 October) in Folkestone. Apply by 29 July.

• HippFest Marketing Officer - Salary: £14,350 - £18,975 (115 days @ £130 - £165 p/d). Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027. Place of Work: Remote working in Central Belt Scotland with the option to use Falkirk Council offices. HippFest is Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, centred in and inspired by Scotland’s oldest cinema, featuring exceptional screenings, commissions, workshops, community events and touring. Apply by 20 July.

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Glasgow Short Film Festival - The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland.

  Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition.

  Early bird deadline 4 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• UK/IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026/27: This programme supports artistic collaboration between Ireland and the four nations of the UK, connecting emerging artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas through in-person exchange. By British Council Ireland. Applicants can request up to €3,000 (smaller amounts are also eligible). Apply by 31 July.

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Animatic 2026/27 Talent Lab - Glasgow Film Festival: Glasgow Film Festival: Animatic, now in its fourth year, is an innovative talent development lab for Scottish-based creative teams and studios, designed to help develop animated films and TV shows. Partnering with leading animation and screen industry organisations, participants will engage in an intensive programme of workshops to refine their projects. The lab will culminate in a Live Pitch at GFF27’s Industry Focus, where participants will present their projects to an expert panel. Apply by 14 August

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• Debut feature film announced for AI “actor” Tilly Norwood, produced by same studio for the Tillyverse

• Sky and ITV seal landmark £1.6bn deal

• Scottish Youth Film Foundation launches second Films of Scotland competition

• Netflix Among Parties in Early Talks to Buy Letterboxd: Report

• Film locations: The strange history behind Scotland’s ‘Odyssey forest’

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from across Scotland and beyond.

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Spotlight Taiwan 2026: Spotlight Taiwan returns in 2026 with a special programme featuring three acclaimed documentaries - Seven Ages of A Man, Island of the Winds, and Daughter of Nectar - offering distinctive perspectives on environment, history, artistic heritage, and social memory. The result of years of dedicated filmmaking, these award-winning works explore ecological change, artistic production under colonial rule, and the lives of Lo-sheng Sanatorium residents. Together, they reveal multiple faces of Taiwan while engaging universal themes of identity, resilience, and human dignity. 11 & 12 July

• BIrds of War + Q&A: This screening will be followed by a Q&A with directors Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak. Janay Boulos, a young Lebanese journalist at the BBC, first contacts Syrian cameraman Abd Alkader Habak for footage during the final months of one of the bloodiest and most decisive turning points in Syria’s brutal civil war. Through texts, video exchanges, voice messages and shared moments from afar, their bond deepens as Janay discovers more about the extraordinary young man documenting violence for her reports, whilst Habak’s world becomes increasingly perilous. When an act of compassion forces Habak to flee Syria, their relationship enters a new phase: for the first time, they meet in person. 7 July, 6.15pm (further screenings take place throughout the week)

• The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie: One of Luis Buñuel’s greatest and funniest films, a scathing and surrealistic political comedy masterpiece about a wealthy group of friends repeatedly prevented from beginning their elaborate dinner by increasingly strange events. No matter how hard they try to enjoy their meal and the privileges money affords, everything from closed restaurants to terrorists conspire to thwart their pleasures... and soon it seems that the violence is even pervading their dreams. Although Buñuel made Discreet Charm... at the age of 72, it has a delightful ebullience and an effortless charm. 9 July, 1pm

• Rosebush Pruning: Underneath the Catalonian sun, a rich white American family lives in hedonistic isolation, seeking love and validation through one another, their designer wardrobes and pop music. When an outsider infiltrates the family, buried tensions surface and blood ties are severed. An outrageous, biting satire on the absurdity of the patriarchal family, starring Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Jamie Bell, Lukas Gage, Elena Anaya, Tracy Letts, Elle Fanning and Pamela Anderson. From 10 July

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets. 7 July, 3pm & 8 July, 6pm

• The Holy Mountain: A Christlike figure wanders through bizarre, grotesque scenarios filled with religious and sacrilegious imagery. He meets a mystical guide who introduces him to seven wealthy and powerful people, each representing a planet in the Solar system. These seven, along with the protagonist, the guide and the guide’s assistant, divest themselves of their worldly goods and form a group of nine who will seek the Holy Mountain, in order to displace the gods who live there and become immortal. 9 July, 8.30pm

  

• Dog-friendly screening: The Invite: Bring your pooch! You’ll be issued with a fleece blanket to cover the seat used by the dog or to use as a rug if the dog sits on the floor. During the screenings, we will provide bowls of water around the screen. We will leave lighting levels a little higher than usual during the screening and lower the volume of the soundtrack. Please be aware that we reduce capacity when offering ‘dog-friendly’ screenings, so there may be fewer tickets than usual. We limit dogs to: one dog to one adult. For further information, see dog-friendly screening policy in our cinema. A couple invites the neighbours over for cocktails, igniting an evening full of unexpected twists and turns, revealing deeply repressed emotions and unexplored sexuality. 12 July, 11.15am

AROUND TOWN:

• VCR TRASH: Magic Crystal and Godzilla vs Mothra: We are back with a double bill of Asian trash cinema projected live from VHS! Magic Crystal is what happens when a Hong Kong studio wants to rip off E.T. but lets Wong Jing write and direct it, making a martial arts fest that despite having a child protagonist and being clearly aimed at a young audience was rated 18 on cinema release because of all the kicking. Godzilla vs Mothra owes its existence to the popularity of the Indiana Jones films, which the first half pilfers liberally from, and to market research by Toho which showed that Mothra was more popular than King Ghidora among women. A new market was duly identified, and GvM (as the kids are all calling it) became the second highest-grossing film of 1993 in Japan, behind Jurassic Park. BANSHEE LABYRINTH / 7 July, 7.30pm

  

• A Bigger Splash (2016): Luca Guadagnino directs Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton in this thrilling romantic drama. No ads or trailers before the screening. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTUREHOUSE / 8 July, 7pm

• Atmosphere | Wings: Directed by William A. Wellman and winner of the first Academy Award for Best Picture, Wings (1927) is a silent coming-of-age film set during the First World War starring Clara Bow, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, and Richard Arlen with Gary Cooper in a supporting role. Two young rivals in a small American town, are vying for the attentions of a local girl. The young men both enlist to become combat pilots. When they leave for training, one of them mistakenly believes she prefers him, but she actually prefers the other. The drama plays out across the skies. FREE. LAURISTON CASTLE / 11 July, 2.30pm

EVENTS:

• Market & Distribute your Short Film - Webinar: Learn how to market, distribute and pitch your short film from festivals to streaming platforms with practical industry insights. Led by award-winning filmmaker and producer Yorgo Glynatsis (CEO of House of Glynatsis Productions ) whose short films have been distributed on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms, this workshop shares practical industry insights drawn from both low-budget and funded productions. This is an online workshop designed for filmmakers, producers, film students and creatives who want to better understand the marketing and distribution landscape for short films, followed by a Q&A. ONLINE / 6 July, 6pm

• Film Club - Frownland (2007: The Edinburgh ‘Like A Book Group But With Films’ Group meets every other Thursday to chat films and TV! It’s a brilliant group, come along! Watch the film in your own time and join us for a chat on the night. Bronstein’s debut Frownland is a pitch-black character study of Keith Sontag (Dore Mann), a neurotic, manipulative, stridently unlovable New Yorker whose pitiless roommate aptly describes him, to his face, as “a burbling troll in his underwear.” BENNETT’S BAR / 9 July, 7.30pm

  

• Fangs Out Film Club - Creep (2014): This month the Fangs Out Horror Film Club will be meeting to discuss Creep (2014) followed by a horror pub quiz!

  Fangs Out is a monthly horror film club that meets to discuss our chosen film of the month followed by a horror pub quiz. This month we will be discussing Patrick Brice’s 2014 found footage film Creep, starring horror icon Mark Duplass. RAGING BULL PUB / 7 July, 6pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Birds of War + Q&A This screening will be followed by a Q&A with journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian activist /cameraman Abd Alkader Habak, hosted by journalist David Pratt. 6 July, 8pm

• My Father’s Island: Vladimir de Fontenay makes a welcome returns after the 2017 GFF hit Mobile Homes with a beautifully shot and psychologically intense wilderness drama, adapted from an autobiographically-inspired story by David Vann. When British teenager Roy (Woody Norman, C’mon C’mon) agrees to take a year-long trip to a remote Norwegian island with his estranged dad Tom (Anatomy of A Fall breakout star Swann Arlaud) the long summer days seem to offer them the prospect of healing and grand adventure. But what begins as a bonding exercise becomes a fight for survival as winter, family history and emotions start to bite. Screening all week

• Barbara Forever + Introduction: An archival documentary exploring the life of legendary lesbian filmmaker, Barbara Hammer. Brydie O’Conner’s debut feature is a tender tribute to Hammer and her dedication to queer filmmaking. Through Hammer’s own lens, Barbara Forever offers poetic insights into moments of connection, community and sensuality that defined Hammer’s life. As a chronological journey unfolds, beginning with the Hammer’s queer awakening, Barbara Forever pays homage to this pioneering scholar, activist and artist through archival footage of her life and work. Brydie’s film is as much about Hammer’s life as it is about the practice of queer filmmaking itself, and her refusal to hide behind her lens. This screening will include an introduction by Sapphic Cinema Club, and a recorded introduction by Barbara Forever director, Brydie O’Connor, for the film’s Scottish premiere. 9 July, 8pm

  

• Shoot the People: Shoot The People is a documentary capturing photographer and activist Misan Harriman’s journey documenting global protest movements that drive social change. Following Harriman as he highlights the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice, the film showcases the intersectionality of these movements and their collective power. With historical context, interviews with activists, and explorations of digital activism, the documentary reveals how Harriman’s lens brings the world’s activism to light, inspiring viewers to recognize their own power in shaping a more just society. From 10 July

AROUND TOWN

• Agitations: 16mm Film Screening: Join us for an evening of live 16mm projections featuring work from a range of Glasgow-based students, artists and filmmakers. This screening marks the end of our analogue filmmaking workshop led by James with participants presenting films made during the programme alongside works by artists and filmmakers (soon to be announced). PYRAMID AT ANDERSON / 1 July, 8pm

• MilkTea Community Screening of YELLOW ROSE with ESEA Creatives: Community screening of Diane Paragas’ YELLOW ROSE. BALIK BAYAN is a month-long reflection on Filipino stories, identity, and community. We’re proud to open the programme with the UK’s first theatrical screenings of Diane Paragas’ acclaimed feature, YELLOW ROSE. YELLOW ROSE follows a Filipina teenager from a small Texas town as she pursues her dream of becoming a country music singer while facing an impossible choice between her family and the only home she has ever known. GLASGOW FILM THEATRE / 8 July, 5.45pm

• Red-Carpet Premiere of “If We Ever Make It to Someday”: Get ready for an exciting evening as we celebrate the premiere screening of If We Ever Make It to Someday. Join us for a night filled with unforgettable moments on the big screen, the opportunity to connect with contacts in the industry, and meeting the cast and crew behind the film. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this red carpet event! Event includes a red carpet, food/drink, a live Q&A with the actors and director, poster signing, and dancing. THE BOARDWALK / 7 July, 2.30pm

• An Tír úd Thoir : Immigrants from Donegal to Glasgow share their stories: Screening of An Tír úd Thoir (2009) by Conradh na Gaeilge Glaschú. Irish with English subtitles. An Irish language documentary (with English subtitles) that examines the experiences of the thousands of people who emigrated from Donegal to Glasgow throughout the twentieth century. After the film, there will an opportunity for discussion and we welcome you to share your own experiences, or those of family members, should you wish. THE DEEP END VENUE SPACE / 6 July, 12pm

Want a glimpse of what’s coming up before our weekly newsletter?
Cinetopia Connect lets you see events beyond our regular roundup, from events, screenings, job opportunities, festivals. It is also the best way to get your own listing featured here. Just create a quick profile (as a person or organisation) and upload your event. Submitting through the platform is now the only way to ensure we see it!

Check out Cinetopia Connect

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• EDINBURGH - Film Screening & Discussion with The Watts Brothers of Far North Film: A documentary film exploring how the arts and media has impacted the last 70 years of culture. The film-makers, Fionn and Toby Watts, along with Murray Watts who is featured in the documentary will be present on the evening. The event is geared mainly to people who are interested in the interface of art and faith. Murray Watts draws on a lifetime of working in film and theatre and his own personal journey. WAYFARER AT THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE / 25 July, 7pm

• MONTROSE Time and Water - LandxSea Monthly presents Time and Water by Oscar-winner Sara Dosa. Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a cinematic time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away. MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE / 20 July, 7.30pm

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Volunteer Community Manager for NEIFF 2026: Salary: Voluntary, plus full festival access. North East International Film Festival (NEIFF) is looking for a creative, passionate Volunteer Community Manager. Commitment: Part-time (Flexible hours leading up to the festival, increasing during event week)

  Duration: July – November 2026. Apply by 15 July

• Talent Development Coordinator - Glasgow Film Festival: A key role within the Glasgow Film Festival Industry team, supporting the Industry Manager to coordinate and lead on the festival’s growing talent development initiatives and strategic priorities. Salary: £33,240 per annum; Contract Type: Fixed Term; Term: August 2026 – 26 March 2027. Apply by 15 July

• Freelance Marketing Assistants - BEUnited: Be United is seeking Freelance Marketing Assistants to support the delivery of Be United’s marketing, digital communications, and creative media output. Salary: £13.45 per hour, 15 hours a week, from July 2026 – 31 October 2026. Apply by 19 July

• Volunteer Opportunities for Women Over Fifty Film Festival 2026: The Women Over Fifty Film Festival (WOFFF) celebrates the achievements, creativity and stories of older women on screen and behind the camera. Through film, conversation and community, WOFF champion the voices of women over 50 and creates opportunities for audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals to connect across generations. Multiple roles available. Apply by 3 August.

• Marketing Manager, Altitude Films (London): Altitude Film Distribution are looking for a commercially astute, highly proactive, and experienced Marketing Manager, who is passionate about film, to take on a key role in our small, busy Distribution team releasing films into UK and Irish cinemas and on home entertainment formats. Hybrid London / work-from-home. Salary £35,000, Full Time, TO APPLY Please either e-mail info@altitudefilment.com with your CV and a brief cover letter or reach out to our Head of Marketing, Kenji Lloyd, directly on LinkedIn.

• HippFest Producer (Freelance) - Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependant on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027 Apply by 10 August

• Emerging Festival Producer - Folkestone Film Fest: 10 paid freelance days at £120 per day. Work from 10 September, including the four festival days (22–25 October) in Folkestone. Apply by 29 July.

• TRUSTEE: Rio Cinema, London (mostly REMOTE): The Rio Cinema is looking to strengthen its board with individuals who can bring their professional skills, strategic mindset, creative problem-solving and diverse networks to help it thrive in an ever-changing cultural and economic landscape. Commitment: c.6-8 board meetings a year (c. 2hrs) plus potential sub-committee meetings and annual board strategy day. Trustees should also be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. Term: 3 years (renewable once). Apply by 10 July.

• HippFest Marketing Officer - Salary: £14,350 - £18,975 (115 days @ £130 - £165 p/d). Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027. Place of Work: Remote working in Central Belt Scotland with the option to use Falkirk Council offices. HippFest is Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, centred in and inspired by Scotland’s oldest cinema, featuring exceptional screenings, commissions, workshops, community events and touring. Apply by 20 July.

  CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Glasgow Short Film Festival - The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland.

  Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition.

  Early bird deadline 4 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• UK/IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026/27: This programme supports artistic collaboration between Ireland and the four nations of the UK, connecting emerging artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas through in-person exchange. By British Council Ireland. Applicants can request up to €3,000 (smaller amounts are also eligible). Apply by 31 July.

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Animatic 2026/27 Talent Lab - Glasgow Film Festival: Glasgow Film Festival: Animatic, now in its fourth year, is an innovative talent development lab for Scottish-based creative teams and studios, designed to help develop animated films and TV shows. Partnering with leading animation and screen industry organisations, participants will engage in an intensive programme of workshops to refine their projects. The lab will culminate in a Live Pitch at GFF27’s Industry Focus, where participants will present their projects to an expert panel. Apply by 14 August

• Documenting Dreams: Embodied Filmmaking Workshop: A four week online filmmaking course on the body and dreaming in experimental documentary - for women and LGBTQIA+ people. Sunday evenings in June/July. Sundays 6-8:30 pm BST, Online 21, 28 June, 5, 12, July run by IMPRINT Documentary Collective

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• David Puttnam calls for bolder action from UK producers

• Edinburgh International Film Festival unveils full 2026 programme

• Edinburgh TV Festival 2026: call out for passes for production companies and writers

• UK government launches review of National Lottery Good Cause support, including BFI funding

• Creative Scotland CEO steps down

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

Our latest episode of Cinetopia Radio is now live - the monthly podcast covers news, reviews, and festivals: This month we cover - Backrooms, Disclosure Day, and Acting! Check it out!

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from across Scotland and beyond.

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Time and Water: Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a cinematic time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away. UFrom Academy Award-nominated director Sara Dosa, Time and Water is a universal reflection on the power of home and what it means to be alive amid profound epochal change. Multiple screenings all week.

• Don’t Look Now (4K Restoration) + Ian Rankin & Justin John Doherty discussion: This special screening of Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now will be introduced by filmmaker Justin John Doherty, author of the 'literary love letter' to the film Don’t Look Now And Then, and will be followed by the author in conversation with Ian Rankin. The discussion will not only touch upon their mutual love and fascination for the film, but the detective work behind putting this sort of book together, finding the people who were there 50 years ago and uncovering never before seen archive and images that were thought lost to time. Not to mention the blood on the walls… but that’s a story for the night! 3 July, 7pm

• The Great Arch (L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche): French President François Mitterrand decides to launch an international architectural competition for the flagship project of his mandate: the Great Arch of La Défense,. Against all odds, Otto von Spreckelsen, a Danish architect, wins the 1982 competition. Overnight, this 53-year-old man, unknown in France, arrives in Paris where he is propelled to the helm of this pharaonic project. While the architect intends to build the Great Arch exactly as he envisioned, his ideas quickly clash with realistic constraints and the vicissitudes of politics. Multiple screenings from 3 July

  

• Gattaca + discussion: Part of the Science and Film series created to mark 300 years of medical education in Edinburgh. Includes a 5-minute intro and 30-minute post-screening panel discussion. This Sci-Fi thriller is set at a time when we are divided into two categories: Valids and In-Valids, determined by the perfection (or imperfection) of our genetic makeup, which can be chosen at conception. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) is an In-Valid, born with a weak heart and other genetic defects. To fulfil his dream of space travel, he outwits the authorities and assumes a Valid identity to join the futuristic Gattaca Corporation... 4 July, 3.15pm

• Rear Window (4K Restoration) + intro + Q&A: This screening will have an introduction and be followed by a Q&A with Caroline Young, author of Fashioning Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window is a masterclass in filmmaking. Beyond its famous theme of voyeurism, it reveals how important costume was to Hitchcock’s vision, and was his second pairing with legendary costume designer Edith Head. 5 July, 5pm

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• A Private Life: When renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner (Jodie Foster) learns of the death of one of her patients, she is convinced it was murder and takes it upon herself to investigate… Screening all week

  

• D.E.B.S: Plaid-skirted schoolgirls are groomed by a secret government agency to become the newest members of the elite national-defense group, D.E.B.S. 30 June, 9pm

• The Stranger: In 1930s Algeria, the apathetic Meursault (Benjamin Voisin) shows total indifference to life. His emotional detachment leads to a murder, followed by a trial that scrutinises both the crime and his character. Based on the monumental work of literature by Albert Camus, Francois Ozon’s The Stranger was selected for the official competition at the Venice Film Festival and UK-premiered at the London Film Festival. 30 June, 2.50pm & 1 July, 5.15pm

• ET: The Extraterrestrial: Amongst the best-loved family films of all time, Steven Spielberg’s hugely influential tale follows troubled 10-year-old Elliott, who stumbles upon a gentle alien stranded on Earth. Elliott smuggles the alien he names “E.T.” into his suburban California home, introduces him to his brother and sister, and attempts to find his new friend safe passage home. 5 July, 11am

AROUND TOWN:

• National Emergency Briefing Film Screening in Northfield Community Centre: What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it mean for everyday life in the UK? Join us for a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing - an eye-opening 50-minute film bringing together nine leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like:

  🌧️ Extreme weather🍞 Food security🏥 Health💷 Cost of living

  The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK. After the film there will be an open discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally. NORTHFIELD COMMUNITY CENTRE / 1 July, 6.30pm

• Film Screening: Pierrot le Fou: Pierrot le Fou, Goddard’s 10th film, is a step away from the tame, romantic and intellectual stories of his earlier work. In Pierrot le Fou, he presents a wild and adventurous story, filled with bright colours, bold characters, seemingly idiotic choice after idiotic choice but carried by incredibly charismatic leads - ending the French summer time odyssey with ridicule and beautiful seaside cliffs. The “Pierrot” of this story is Ferdinand Griffon. Who leaves his dull bourgeois life, traveling from Paris to the Mediterranean with Marianne, a young woman hunted by Algerian hit‑men. Constantly on the run, they adopt an unorthodox, restless existence, always evading danger. NEWBARNS BREWERY & TAPROOM / 30 June, 7pm

  

• Ratatouille at Dynamic Earth: Meet Remy: a little rat with big culinary dreams! Teaming up with an unlikely friend, Alfredo Linguini, Remy is able to wow the customers of Chef Auguste Gusteau’s restaurant in Paris with amazing food. However, how will the diners feel when they realise the chef behind their delicious meal is a rodent? Celebrate creativity and friendship in this animated classic. DYNAMIC EARTH / 4 July, 10am

• Positive Climate Film Club: Everybody to Kenmure Street: A love letter to peaceful protest... a powerful testimony to a community’s ability to take control of their part of the story. In May 2021, a UK Home Office dawn raid triggers one of the most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent memory. In Pollokshields, Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhood, hundreds of residents rush to the streets to stop the deportation of their neighbours. This film captures through live footate and recreated acted elements the collective non-violent direct action seen so successfuly on the day. DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE / 30 June, 6pm

EVENTS:

• Making Space: Celebrating Local Filmmakers: A short film fundraiser; a screening of four locally produced shorts followed by creative networking.

  Come along and watch four locally produced short films and network with like-minded creatives, while supporting the development of a new live action short by a local filmmaker! THE SPACE, DALRY / 3 July, 8pm

• Escape to Victory (1981): English prisoners of war play an exhibition football match against Germany during WW2, and plan to use the game as a chance to escape. The film will start promptly at 7pm without trailers. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE / 1 July, 7pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Intolerable Cruelty + Introduction: A revenge-seeking gold digger marries a womanizing Beverly Hills lawyer with the intention of making a killing in the divorce. Starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 29 June, 8pm

• Youth Screening: Everybody to Kenmure Street: 15-25 Card members can each claim a free ticket for our monthly youth screenings. After winning the Special Jury Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival and going down a storm at Glasgow Film Festival's sold-out Opening Gala, Everybody to Kenmure Street has become the second-highest grossing new release in GFT's 52 year history. On 13 May 2021, the Home Office staged a dawn raid on Kenmure Street in Pollokshields. Glasgow-based documentarian Felipe Bustos Sierra (Nae Pasaran) takes us right down to street level to show what happened next in his immersive film. 30 June, 6.15pm

  

• Melt: Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s Melt journeys through frozen landscapes, from Alpine glaciers to Antarctica, capturing lives shaped by snow and ice as they face rapid disappearance. As snow is manufactured, seasons shift, and ancient ice retreats, Melt documents both the majesty of these environments and the quiet violence of climate change; a record of a planet that may soon survive only in film. 2 July, 6pm

• Take 2: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: A ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings encounters the advanced submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo. Children aged 14 and under attending a Take 2 screening receive a free ticket for themselves and one free ticket for their accompanying adult. Extra adult tickets cost £6.90 each. Free tickets are only issued from our Box Office on the day of the screening. 4 July, 11.30am

• The Arbor: The lives of the late Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar and Lorraine, one of her daughters, and the community of Bradford, in the 30 years since the 18-year-old Andrea penned a play about growing up in the community titled The Arbor. This experimental film combines documentary and performance, with actors lip-syncing to recordings of Dunbar’s family and friends. It earned Barnard the Best New Documentary Filmmaker award at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010. 5 July, 2.20pm

AROUND TOWN:

• SMHAF Film Club: Love & Trouble (2024): Join the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) for a welcoming monthly film club at The Nook. Taking place on the first Thursday of each month, these events offer the chance to watch a film together, followed by a relaxed conversation over tea and coffee. Love & Trouble is our film for July – a relatable, uplifting and profoundly hopeful Scottish documentary exploring healing through therapy, nature, resilience and love. THE NOOK / 2 July, 4pm

  

• Glasgow Shorts - short film showcase + networking for filmmakers: Glasgow Shorts is an exciting showcase night of short films made by local filmmakers, bringing together some of the most exciting creative talent coming out of the city right now. Expect a mix of genres, styles, and stories, with a short introduction to each film from the selected filmmakers. Whether you’re into film, make films yourself, or just want to see something different, this is a chance to discover new work and support Glasgow’s independent creative scene. There’ll also be a chance to meet the filmmakers, chat after the screenings, and connect with other local creatives. THE ALCHEMY EXPERIMENT / 30 June, 7pm

EVENTS:

• Rise Scotland Network Drinks - Glasgow: Rise Women in Broadcast is delighted to grow its community in Scotland with an evening of networking, conversation and connection. Rise is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting gender diversity across the broadcast and media technology industry, with communities spanning EMEA, the US, APAC and ANZ. Through mentoring, leadership programmes, events and industry advocacy, Rise empowers women at every stage of their careers while helping to create a more inclusive and sustainable future for the sector. COMMITTEE ROOM No.9 / 2 July, 6pm

• Glasgow Anime & Gaming Con 2026: Calling all anime fans, gamers, comic fans and cosplayers to the UK’s most popular all age anime events! Amazing guests with Voice Actors from all the anime and gaming and more! Cosplay Panels and Workshops; Well Over 100 Boardgames and RPGs to enjoy with TCG Tournaments! Meet and watch amazing live bands and performers; After parties, karaoke & more, all included in your ticket! DOUBLE TREE HILTON / 4-5 July all day

• TV Game Show Factory: Welcome to TV Game Show Factory!

  Get ready for an exciting, in-person experience where fun meets competition! Dive into the world of your favourite TV game shows and challenge your friends. Whether you’re a trivia whiz or a quick thinker, there’s something here for everyone. Come join us, laugh out loud, and make awesome memories. Don’t miss out on the action at TV Game Show Factory! DRYGATE BAR / 1 July, 7.30pm

Want a glimpse of what’s coming up before our weekly newsletter?
Cinetopia Connect lets you see events beyond our regular roundup, from events, screenings, job opportunities, festivals. It is also the best way to get your own listing featured here. Just create a quick profile (as a person or organisation) and upload your event. Submitting through the platform is now the only way to ensure we see it!

Check out Cinetopia Connect

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• EDINBURGH - The Odyssey on 70mm - Following the 10-year-long Trojan war, Odysseus, the heroic Greek king of Ithaca, embarks on another 10-year-long journey to arrive home and reunite with his wife Penelope. While Odysseus is waylaid by mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, sirens, and the nymph Calypso, Penelope finds herself fending off suitors that have presumed Odysseus dead. Meanwhile, their son Telemachus is determined to find his father. EDINBURGH FILMHOUSE / From 17 July

• MONTROSE Time and Water - LandxSea Monthly presents Time and Water by Oscar-winner Sara Dosa. Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a cinematic time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away. MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE / 20 July, 7.30pm

  

• TIREE - Sea Change Film Festival - Scotland’s only annual film festival dedicated to empowering women in film. Screening amazing films directed and produced by women, throughout the weekend. Celebrating women behind the camera, Sea Change Film Festival is a beacon from the westerly edge, bringing people together through cinema. AN TALLA / 18-20 September 2026

  

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Team Assistant, Film London: Contract: Fixed term: August 2026 to March 2027; Salary: £30,784 pa pro rata (4 days per week). Film London is the capital’s screen industries agency. We connect ideas, talent and finance to develop a pioneering creative culture in the city that delivers success in film, TV, animation, games and beyond. Apply by 8 July

• Official Selection Programmers - Wildscreen: Salary - £1000, fixed fee. Apply by 6 July

• MediCinema Deputy Cinema Manager – Glasgow (Maternity Cover): Salary: £31,793 annual full-time equivalent pro-rated to £19,076pa to reflect 3 days pw. Apply by 6 July

• Volunteer Community Manager for NEIFF 2026: Salary: Voluntary, plus full festival access. North East International Film Festival (NEIFF) is looking for a creative, passionate Volunteer Community Manager. Commitment: Part-time (Flexible hours leading up to the festival, increasing during event week)

  Duration: July – November 2026. Apply by 15 July

• HippFest Producer (Freelance) - Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependant on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027 Apply by 10 August

• TRUSTEE: Rio Cinema, London (mostly REMOTE): The Rio Cinema is looking to strengthen its board with individuals who can bring their professional skills, strategic mindset, creative problem-solving and diverse networks to help it thrive in an ever-changing cultural and economic landscape. Commitment: c.6-8 board meetings a year (c. 2hrs) plus potential sub-committee meetings and annual board strategy day. Trustees should also be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. Term: 3 years (renewable once). Apply by 10 July.

• HippFest Marketing Officer - Salary: £14,350 - £18,975 (115 days @ £130 - £165 p/d). Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027. Place of Work: Remote working in Central Belt Scotland with the option to use Falkirk Council offices. HippFest is Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, centred in and inspired by Scotland’s oldest cinema, featuring exceptional screenings, commissions, workshops, community events and touring. Apply by 20 July.

• Festival Marketing & Digital Executive - UK Jewish Film Festival: Salary: Fixed fee: £20,000-£22,000 for the contract period (depending on experience). An excellent opportunity for an ambitious early-career marketer looking to gain hands-on experience promoting a major nationwide film festival, original film productions and a nationally accredited education programme. Freelance Contract: July to December 2026 Fee: £20,000 – £22,000 for the contract period (depending on experience) Location: London/hybrid working available Weekly Hours: 35 hours Apply by 1 July

• Film Hub Scotland - Marketing and Outreach Coordinator - Salary: £33,240 per annum (pro rata) Film Hub Scotland (FHS) is a project of Glasgow Film and part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, funded by the BFI and Screen Scotland. Film Hub Scotland is one of eight Hubs set up across the UK to extend film choice, increase and broaden film audiences, and enhance opportunities for audiences to engage with and learn about film. Term: Permanent, 35 hours per week (10:00 – 17:30, Monday – Friday) Place of Work: Hybrid working (three days in the office + two days WFH) with a dedicated office space at the Glasgow Film Theatre Apply by 6 July

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Glasgow Short Film Festival - The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland.

  Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition.

  Early bird deadline 4 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• Bigger Picture – Applications open for 2026: A short film initiative for filmmakers who have already made a feature, or are on the verge of making their feature debut and want to make one more short before moving into long form. Up to four films will receive £90,000 production funding support. Supported by Screen Scotland and MG ALBA. English deadline: 5 June | Gaelic deadline: 19 June

• North Star Shorts – Applications open for 2026: Supporting six live action and animation projects from early career filmmakers with £25,000 production funding plus development support. Backed by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK. Deadline: 19 June

• Next Wave – Applications open for 2026: Supporting filmmakers who have previously received Screen Scotland and/or BFI NETWORK short film funding, with up to three projects plus one Gaelic language project receiving £25,000 production funding. Deadline: 26 June

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Documenting Dreams: Embodied Filmmaking Workshop: A four week online filmmaking course on the body and dreaming in experimental documentary - for women and LGBTQIA+ people. Sunday evenings in June/July. Sundays 6-8:30 pm BST, Online 21, 28 June, 5, 12, July run by IMPRINT Documentary Collective

• Head of Department Development Programme, BECTU: Applications are now open for our Head of Department Development Programme - a series of support sessions led by leading industry expert, Sara Putt. The Head of Department Development Programme is designed for those with at least three HETV roles as a Supervisor or Head of their Department. Deadline to apply, 6 July

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026 announce the Midnight Madness strand opener

• Kristy Matheson, Ameenah Ayub Allan, Line Langebek join lineup of Reclaim The Frame return-to-work initiative

• Manchester wins bid for Edinburgh TV Festival

• Screen Machine returns to Scotland following major rebuild

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Venice International Film Festival / 2-12 September / Venice, Italy

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

This week is our June Cinetopia Film Networking - back in the (hopefully) sunny garden of The Blackbird Bar in Bruntsfield! Come along and meet new people, make connections, enjoy a blether with fellow film folks. It’s welcoming, friendly, and super chilled. Free to attend, please RSVP here! Thursday 25 June, 7-10pm.

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from across Scotland and beyond.

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• The Vanishing (Spoorloos): A superb psychodrama which twists the slenderest of plots into a hellish exploration of human potential. On a driving holiday in France, a young Dutch couple, Saskia and Rex, stop at a service station to refuel; as Rex waits, Saskia walks to a nearby toilet, and vanishes without trace. Three years

• later, an embittered Rex finds himself drawn into a nightmarish relationship with Saskia’s awesomely mundane abductor, Raymond Lemorne, who, via taunting postcards, promises to reveal the fate of his lost love... 22 June, 8.30pm

• Time and Water: From award-winning director Sara Dosa (Fire Of Love, 2023) Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a cinematic time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away. Time and Water is a universal reflection on the power of home and what it means to be alive amid profound epochal change. 23 June, 1.15pm & 25 June, 3.15pm

  

• Queer Film Prize 2026: This June, we celebrate the best LGBTQIA+ short films made in Scotland. Filmhouse is a nominating partner of the Iris Prize Best British Short and we’ve selected an LGBTQIA+ short film to nominate from our region!

  The winner and Scotland’s nominated film to be part of the Iris Prize Best British programme will be announced at the screening. 24 June, 6pm

• Cactus Pears + Q&A: Set in rural Maharashtra, Cactus Pears follows Anand (Bhushaan Manoj), a Mumbai call-centre worker who returns to his ancestral village to observe the ten-day mourning ritual following his father’s death. While navigating the pressures of family expectations and marriage, he reconnects with Balya (Suraaj Suman), a childhood friend facing similar struggles. Over the course of the mourning period, their bond deepens into a tender and intimate relationship, creating a quiet exploration of grief, identity and queer love within a traditional rural community. This screening will have a short introduction and be followed by a Q&A with director Rohan Kanawade. 26 June, 5.45pm

  • Also playing at GFT, Glasgow with Q&A - 27 June, 7.40pm

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Effi o Blaenau: Based on Gary Owen's much lauded and widely performed monodrama, Iphigenia in Splott, Effi o Blaenau is director Marc Evans' cinematic interpretation set against the wide open landscapes of North Wales. Multiple screenings all week.

• Girlfriends by Tracy Choi Ian-Sin: Told in reverse chronology, Girlfriends follows Lok, a queer Macau-born filmmaker, across three relationships and stages of life — at 34 in Hong Kong, stalled creatively and resistant to her partner Bei Bei's push toward commitment and family; at 22 in Taipei, in a passionate but doomed relationship during university; and at 17 in Macau, navigating a first love that awakens her sexuality. It's a semi-autobiographical drama charting a young woman's coming-of-age and ongoing search for her place in the world. 22 June, 2.40pm

• The Invite (preview screening): Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela’s (Olivia Wilde) marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors (Penelope Cruz, Edward Norton) for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places, revealing deeply repressed emotions and unexplored sexuality.

  Have they reignited the spark – or lit the match that burns it all down? 24 June, 5.40pm

  

• Edinburgh Shorts Showcase: The 48 Hour Film Project and Screen Education Edinburgh present an evening of short films showcasing the best in local filmmaking talent. The screening will be followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers and networking after. This screening will be captioned with live BSL Interpretation for the Q & A. 25 June, 8pm

• The Last Viking: After serving fifteen years in prison, bank robber Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is determined to recover the stolen money his brother Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen) buried years earlier. There's just one problem: Manfred, caught in an identity crisis and convinced he is John Lennon, can no longer remember where it is hidden. The brothers set off on an increasingly chaotic hunt for the missing fortune, digging up old family secrets on the way. From Friday 26 June

AROUND TOWN:

• Being Maria by Jessica Palud (2024): Maria Schneider, on the cusp of adulthood, stars in the cult classic “Last Tango in Paris.” Unprepared, she’s thrust into fame, becoming an iconic actress amidst glory and scandal. FRENCH INSTITUTE / 24 June, 6pm

  

• “Cinderella” by Rudolf Nureyev: Charles Perrault’s celebrated tale, set to music by Sergei Prokofiev, is transposed to a film set. In a series of references to the heroes of the American cinema, Rudolf Nureyev propels his Cinderella under the spotlights of Hollywood. With a producer for fairy godmother and a star actor as Prince Charming, she escapes her miserable destiny and sees her dreams come true. FRENCH INSTITUTE / 25 June, 6pm

• Hamnet (2025): See Jessie Buckley's Oscar winning performance in this moving exploration of love and loss in the lives of Agnes and William Shakespeare. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE / 24 June, 7pm

• Atmosphere | Some Like it Hot: Voted the best comedy of all time, Billy Wilder’s 1959 classic opens in Prohibition-era Chicago where two speakeasy musicians, Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) witness a mob shooting and need to get out of town as soon as possible to escape murder. Sweet Sue and her all-girl Society Syncopators are about to leave the Windy City and head to Miami by train. They need a saxophone player and a bassist to complete the band. Joe and Jerry disguise themselves as Josephine and Daphne and join singer Sugar (Marilyn Monroe) on board. Ticket price includes a complimentary cocktail. LAURISTON CASTLE / 26 June, 7.30pm

• People’s Emergency Briefing film showing: Tipping points are hard to see... until they happen! Join us for a screening of a new film featuring Chris Packham, leading scientists, a former general, Deborah Meaden, Jennifer Saunders and more - all being far too frank about where things are heading and what can be done about it. Followed by a short Q&A panel and facilitated discussion about what we can all do. Staff and students welcome! EDNIBURGH CLIMATE CHANGE INSTITUTE / 24 June, 2.30pm
  

EVENTS:

• FILMHOUSE BIRTHDAY PARTY! Filmhouse turns 1 - The festivities kick off at 9pm and roll all the way through until the wee hours. Expect an evening of great music with a DJ set, plenty of special drinks and birthday treats as we look back on the first year we’ve had and the many more to come. Tickets cost only £10 and include a glass of fizz (non-alcoholic options available), a slice of cake and an exclusive birthday party bag with lots of goodies guaranteed to get you in the celebratory mood. Let’s all raise a glass to Filmhouse! 27 June, 9pm til late

• Cinetopia Film Networking Night - Join Cinetopia for an informal evening of drinks, conversation and connections with fellow film industry professionals, creatives and film lovers. Whether you’re established in the industry or just starting out, everyone is welcome. BLACKBIRD BAR & RESTAURANT (COURTYARD) / 25 June, 7-10pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• The Man from London - 35mm: Adapted from Belgian mystery master Georges Simenon’s 1934 novel and codirected by Béla Tarr’s wife, Ágnes Hranitzky, The Man from London centers on everyman railway operator Maloin (Miroslav Krobot), whose observation tower affords him a godlike view of the dockside terminus. One night, Maloin witnesses a murder that places him in possession of a briefcase filled with English currency. But what seems like a windfall from the heavens racks him with guilt and suspicion, and increasingly disconnects him from his wife (Tilda Swinton) and daughter (Erika Bók). 23 June, 8pm

• Preview: A Private Life + Q&A: We’re thrilled to welcome director of A Private Life, Rebecca Zlotowski, who’ll be joining us after the preview for a special Q&A!

  Rebecca Zlotowski’santicipated follow-up to Other People’s ChildrenstarsJodie Fosterin a French-language role as Lilian Steiner, a renowned psychiatrist investigating the death of one of her patients. She becomes deeply troubled and, convinced that it is murder, she decides to investigate…25 June, 8pm

  

• How to Live on Earth: A visionary feature documentary that explores our vital connection to nature and its role in our future. Presented by Benedict Cumberbatch, this ultimate 'how-to guide' features inspirational, cutting-edge stories and powerful cinematography from around the world to reveal how humans are learning to team up with nature to solve our biggest challenges. Heart-warming, entertaining, energising, the film presents a hopeful vision of a future within reach – one in which nature thrives, and so do we. 26 June, 8.10pm

• Nowhere + The Cineskinny live podcast: This Queer Cinema Sundays screening will be followed by a live captioned panel discussion with the CineSkinny Podcast, with hosts Peter Simpson, Anahit Behrooz, Ellie Robertson and Jamie Dunn which will be recorded live for the podcast. In Los Angeles, a colourful assortment of bohemians try to make sense of their intersecting lives. The moody Dark Smith, his bisexual girlfriend, her lesbian lover and their shy gay friend plan on attending the wildest party of the year. But they’ll only make it if they can survive the drug trips, suicides, trysts, mutilations and alien abductions that occur as one surreal day unfolds. 28 June, 7.20pm

AROUND TOWN:

• Screening: Everybody To Kenmure Street: Documentary screening in a community venue, celebrating collective action, solidarity and resistance. Live Q&A with the filmmaker. Join us at Springburn Auditorium for a screening of the award-winning documentary “Everybody to Kenmure Street”. The film celebrates community action and resistance in Glasgow. SPRINGBURN AUDITORIUM / 28 June, 5pm

• Reel Action Film Club Presents: Brucesploitation Double Bill.: Reel Action Film Club is proud to present Enter The Clones Of Bruce, the documentary chroniciling the rise of Brucesploitation in the wake of the death of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. The documentary will be follow by a screening of The Dragon Lives Again where Bruce Lee (Bruce Leong) is sent to the underworld to fight Dracula, James Bond and The Man With No Name. Come learn about the pretenders to Bruce Lee’s throne plus a true Brucesploitation classic! THE OLD HAIRDRESSER’S / 22 June, 6.30pm

  

• Bi Movies Film Club presents Cabaret: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to the first Bi Movies Film Club screening, Cabaret. Queer romance, musical numbers, outlandish choreography, sociopolitical commentary and Liza Minelli in a jaunty bowler hat?! Truly this film has something for everyone. The Kit Kat Club is a place that embraces expression, freedom of sexuality, and the avant garde artforms that burst from Berlin in the 1920s. It’s a pocket of protection for artists and anyone who thrives outside the norm; a place so full of life, one could easily take that protection for granted. GOVAN HILL BATHS COMMUNITY TRUST / 25 June, 6pm

• Final Girls Horror Film Club: Join us at Glasgow’s film club for women meet up where we will be chatting Hellraiser (1987) and our fave Queer Classics. Join us for the Final Girls Glasgow - Horror Film Club June meet up - we’ll be chatting movies we think are Queer Classics and discussing our movie of the month - Hellraiser (1987) which you can watch in advance for free on Tubi.

  This in-person event is a safe space for female fans of the genre to engage in discussions with like-minded fans and meet new friends. CÙL CÙIL / 25 June, 7pm

• German Cinema: “Tandem - In welcher Sprache träumst du?”: Fanny, a 17-year-old schoolgirl from France, goes on a language exchange trip to Germany. In Leipzig, she meets her pen pal Lena who is the same age as her and who is eager to become involved in political activism. In order to impress Lena, the rather shy and withdrawn Fanny invents a different life for herself – but she quickly becomes trapped in her deceit. GOETHE INSTITUTE / 25 June, 6pm

• RAP WORLD (2024)/6 TILL 6 (2025): DV8 Film Club: DV8 Film Club presents a double bill screening of Conner O'Malley/Danny Scharar's Rap World and Arran Ashan/Mustafa Mohamoud's 6 Till 6.In Rap World, three friends come together over one night to make the greatest rap album known to all mankind. In 6 Till 6, two friends set out on the streets of London with no intention but to stay awake for 24 hours, filming everything that comes their way. Prepare to laugh, despair, and to feel something deep inside as you join these filmmakers on night-time odysseys through two different parts of the Western world: suburban midwest America at the peak of the noughties, and the diverse, complicated landscape of post-COVID London. Two excellent examples of contemporary miniDV films, both exploiting the drawbacks, associations and freedom of the technology to different (yet arguably complimentary) ends. THE OLD HAIRDRESSER’S / 28 June, 7pm

EVENTS:

• An Evening with Lorraine Kelly: In Conversation with Rosie Kelly Smith Join Scotland’s favourite broadcaster, Lorraine Kelly, for a special, intimate evening at St Marys Church in Broughty Ferry. In a rare “In Conversation” event, Lorraine will be interviewed by her daughter, journalist and podcaster Rosie Kelly Smith, as they dive into Lorraine’s flourishing career as a novelist.

Want a glimpse of what’s coming up before our weekly newsletter?
Cinetopia Connect lets you see events beyond our regular roundup, from events, screenings, job opportunities, festivals. It is also the best way to get your own listing featured here. Just create a quick profile (as a person or organisation) and upload your event. Submitting through the platform is now the only way to ensure we see it!

Check out Cinetopia Connect

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• EDINBURGH - The Odyssey on 70mm - Following the 10-year-long Trojan war, Odysseus, the heroic Greek king of Ithaca, embarks on another 10-year-long journey to arrive home and reunite with his wife Penelope. While Odysseus is waylaid by mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, sirens, and the nymph Calypso, Penelope finds herself fending off suitors that have presumed Odysseus dead. Meanwhile, their son Telemachus is determined to find his father. EDINBURGH FILMHOUSE / From 17 July

• MONTROSE Time and Water - LandxSea Monthly presents Time and Water by Oscar-winner Sara Dosa. Renowned Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason is chasing something elusive. As the glacial ice of his homeland melts, he constructs a cinematic time capsule to hold onto this moment and send it to the future, before everything he loves slips away. MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE / 20 July, 7.30pm

• TIREE - Sea Change Film Festival - Scotland’s only annual film festival dedicated to empowering women in film. Screening amazing films directed and produced by women, throughout the weekend. Celebrating women behind the camera, Sea Change Film Festival is a beacon from the westerly edge, bringing people together through cinema. AN TALLA / 18-20 September 2026

  

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• HippFest Producer (Freelance) - Salary: 89 days @ £165 - £180 p/d dependant on experience. This role will oversee all production aspects of the Festival and work as part of the friendly and dedicated HippFest 2027 team. Term: Temporary contract, Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Fri 1 Oct 2027 Apply by 10 August

• Projectionist - DCA Dundee - The Projectionist role forms part of the wider DCA Cinema team and is responsible for the smooth delivery of the projected film programme. DCA is a highly successful, internationally renowned centre for contemporary art that enables audiences, artists, and participants to see, experience and create through our four programme areas: Exhibitions, Cinema, Print and Learning. Hours: 11 hours per week
  Working Pattern: Wednesday 12.00 – 23:00, 11 hours (break included in working time) Salary: £7,989.87 based on hourly rate of £13.93 (£24,422.32 FTE)
  Contract Type: Permanent / Apply by 23 June

• TRUSTEE: Rio Cinema, London (mostly REMOTE): The Rio Cinema is looking to strengthen its board with individuals who can bring their professional skills, strategic mindset, creative problem-solving and diverse networks to help it thrive in an ever-changing cultural and economic landscape. Commitment: c.6-8 board meetings a year (c. 2hrs) plus potential sub-committee meetings and annual board strategy day. Trustees should also be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. Term: 3 years (renewable once). Apply by 10 July.

• Volunteer Pre-Selectors - Cardiff Animation Festival - Cardiff Animation Festival is Wales’ only global animation festival – a four-day celebration of all things animated, taking place at venues across Cardiff and online every April. Please complete the pre-selector expression of interest form before 26 June.

• HippFest Marketing Officer - Salary: £14,350 - £18,975 (115 days @ £130 - £165 p/d). Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027. Place of Work: Remote working in Central Belt Scotland with the option to use Falkirk Council offices. HippFest is Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, centred in and inspired by Scotland’s oldest cinema, featuring exceptional screenings, commissions, workshops, community events and touring. Apply by 20 July.

• Festival Marketing & Digital Executive - UK Jewish Film Festival: Salary: Fixed fee: £20,000-£22,000 for the contract period (depending on experience). An excellent opportunity for an ambitious early-career marketer looking to gain hands-on experience promoting a major nationwide film festival, original film productions and a nationally accredited education programme. Freelance Contract: July to December 2026
  Fee: £20,000 – £22,000 for the contract period (depending on experience)
  Location: London/hybrid working available Weekly Hours: 35 hours

  Apply by 1 July

• Film Hub Scotland - Marketing and Outreach Coordinator - Salary: £33,240 per annum (pro rata) Film Hub Scotland (FHS) is a project of Glasgow Film and part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, funded by the BFI and Screen Scotland. Film Hub Scotland is one of eight Hubs set up across the UK to extend film choice, increase and broaden film audiences, and enhance opportunities for audiences to engage with and learn about film. Term: Permanent, 35 hours per week (10:00 – 17:30, Monday – Friday) Place of Work: Hybrid working (three days in the office + two days WFH) with a dedicated office space at the Glasgow Film Theatre Apply by 6 July

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• Women Over 50 Film Festival 2026 - Short films (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) and scripts that feature a woman over 50 in a central role or have a woman over 50 in a key creative role (director, writer, producer). Deadline 22 June

• Glasgow Short Film Festival - The 20th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 17-21 March 2027.We are currently inviting submissions to two categories: Scottish Short Film Award: Films are considered eligible for the Scottish competition if at least two of the following key positions: director, writer, producer – are filled by one or more people resident in Scotland.

  Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award: Any film not eligible for the Scottish competition is eligible for the International Competition.

  Early bird deadline 4 August

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• Bigger Picture – Applications open for 2026: A short film initiative for filmmakers who have already made a feature, or are on the verge of making their feature debut and want to make one more short before moving into long form. Up to four films will receive £90,000 production funding support. Supported by Screen Scotland and MG ALBA. English deadline: 5 June | Gaelic deadline: 19 June

• North Star Shorts – Applications open for 2026: Supporting six live action and animation projects from early career filmmakers with £25,000 production funding plus development support. Backed by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK. Deadline: 19 June

• Next Wave – Applications open for 2026: Supporting filmmakers who have previously received Screen Scotland and/or BFI NETWORK short film funding, with up to three projects plus one Gaelic language project receiving £25,000 production funding. Deadline: 26 June

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Documenting Dreams: Embodied Filmmaking Workshop: A four week online filmmaking course on the body and dreaming in experimental documentary - for women and LGBTQIA+ people. Sunday evenings in June/July. Sundays 6-8:30 pm BST, Online 21, 28 June, 5, 12, July run by IMPRINT Documentary Collective

• Head of Department Development Programme, BECTU: Applications are now open for our Head of Department Development Programme - a series of support sessions led by leading industry expert, Sara Putt. The Head of Department Development Programme is designed for those with at least three HETV roles as a Supervisor or Head of their Department. Deadline to apply, 6 July

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

• Certificate in Script Development for Film and TV: Designed to build the core skills needed to support scripted Film and TV projects through the development process. Apply by 22 June

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• BBC to cut £80m spend and 550 jobs from Content, Nations and News

• EIFF 2026 announces BFI CEO Ben Roberts as UK Film Conference Keynote Speaker

• Bàrbara Mestanza and Marc Pujolar’s ‘Filthy’ leads Sheffield DocFest winners

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Sheffield DocFest / 10 – 15 June / Sheffield

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

This week we’re looking forward to Cinetopia Salon #4 on 18 June at the French Institute, featuring Mia Hansen-Løve’s EDEN followed by a French house DJ set from Ann Tweak. Looking a little further ahead, our next Cinetopia Film Networking Night takes place on 25 June at the Blackbird Bar.

Elsewhere, we’re particularly excited for CinemaAttic’s screening of No More History Without Us, a powerful documentary challenging myths and misconceptions surrounding the Amazon, as well as Scottish Documentary Institute and Take One Action’s presentation of Black Water at Filmhouse as part of Refugee Festival Scotland. Glasgow audiences can also catch Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s acclaimed debut feature Dreamers, screening both at GFT with a post-film panel discussion and as part of Refugee Week at the Pyramid at Anderston.

Read on for our pick of film screenings, events, opportunities and industry news from across Scotland and beyond.

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• Black Water + Introduction (Refugee Festival Scotland) - This month’s Doc Screen, presented in collaboration with Take One Action, brings the Edinburgh premiere of Black Water, a powerful documentary from the frontlines of climate change. In southern Bangladesh, Lokhi and her family prepare to leave their home as rising sea levels, flooding and environmental instability threaten their future. The screening will feature an extended introduction and post-screening reflection on pathways to action. FILMHOUSE / 18 June, 6pm

  

• An Argyll and Bute Welcome + Q&A (Refugee Festival Scotland) - In the quiet landscapes of Scotland’s west coast, a small community takes on a global challenge. Through intimate interviews and observational storytelling, An Argyll and Bute Welcome follows the experiences of refugees resettled in the rural region of Argyll & Bute, exploring themes of identity, belonging and resilience. The screening will be introduced and followed by a Q&A with Morag Brown, Head of Argyll & Bute Resettlement Team, and filmmakers Andy Crabb and James Gray. FILMHOUSE / 18 June.

• Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair - Presented in partnership with the American Cinematheque and Prince Charles Cinema, Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair is an annual festival showcasing some of the greatest works of world cinema that venture into the darkest sides of humanity and the bleakest points in human history.

  Grave of the Fireflies / 19 June, 5.45pm

  On the Beach (35mm) / 19 June, 8pm

  Sátántangó / 20 June, 11am

  Come and See / 20 June, 8pm

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Pink Narcissus (2026 Re-release) - James Bidgood’s landmark cult classic returns to cinemas in a new restoration. Set within the confines of an ultra-kitsch apartment, the film follows the fantasies of a young male sex worker through a dreamlike world of matadors, dancers, bikers and mythic figures, creating one of the most visually distinctive works of queer underground cinema. CAMEO / From various times, 15-18 June.

• Strictly Ballroom - Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling debut feature follows ambitious ballroom dancer Scott Hastings as he risks his career by rejecting convention and dancing to his own steps. Part mockumentary, part fairytale, the beloved Australian classic remains one of the most joyful and colourful dance films ever made. CAMEO / From various times, 15-18 June.

  

• Angel’s Egg (4K Restoration) - Forty years after its original release, Mamoru Oshii’s cult anime masterpiece returns to cinemas in a new 4K restoration supervised by the director. Set in a mysterious underwater city, the film follows a young girl protecting a large egg and a boy searching for a bird from his dreams, creating a haunting and visually stunning allegorical fantasy. CAMEO / 17-18 June, various times.

AROUND TOWN:

• No More History Without Us + Conversation - CinemaAttic and Casa Kayeb present a screening of the award-winning documentary No More History Without Us, which challenges long-held myths about the Amazon and examines how racism and prejudice continue to silence Amazonian voices. The evening also includes Rayane Penha’s short film Utopia, followed by a conversation with rainforest defender and human rights activist Claudelice dos Santos and Take One Action curator Xuanlin Tham. LEITH DOCKERS CLUB / 16 June, 8pm.

  

• Returning to Reims (2021) - Based on Didier Eribon’s memoir, Returning to Reims combines archive footage and personal reflection to tell an intimate and political story of the French working class from the 1950s to the present day. Winner of the 2023 César Award for Best Documentary Film. FRENCH INSTITUTE / 17 June, 6pm

• Cinetopia Salon #4: EDEN + French House DJ Set from Ann Tweak - Join Cinetopia Salon for a cultural evening of apéro, arts, cinema and good conversation inspired by the euphoric world of 1990s French house music. Mia Hansen-Løve’s stylish and melancholic EDEN follows a young Parisian DJ collective across two decades of nightlife, friendship and changing times, with a young Daft Punk appearing along the way. The evening begins with an apéritif hour before the screening and concludes with a live French house DJ set from Ann Tweak inspired by the sounds and spirit of the film. Introduced by guest curator Liam Schell. FRENCH INSTITUTE / 18 June, 6-10.15pm

  

EVENTS:

• Trad Treasures: Jimmy Hutchison (2026) + Performance and Q&A - This special evening celebrates one of Scotland’s most important tradition bearers, Scots and Gaelic singer and weaver Jimmy Hutchison. The event includes a screening of the new Trad Treasures film, a live performance from Hutchison, and a Q&A led by Steve Byrne, CEO of Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE / 17 June, 7pm

• The King’s Buildings Pride Short Film Screening - In collaboration with Inclusive Engineering, the University of Edinburgh’s Staff Pride Network presents an evening of LGBTQ+ short films for staff, students and the wider community. The event begins with refreshments before the screening. THE NUCLEUS BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH / 18 June, 5pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Threads + Introduction - Widely regarded as one of the most terrifying works of British television, Mick Jackson’s landmark drama imagines the devastating effects of nuclear war on Sheffield and the long-term collapse of society that follows. Screening as part of Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair. GFT / 19 June, 7.10 pm

• Dreamers + Panel Discussion (Refugee Festival Scotland) - In a UK immigration removal centre, Nigerian migrant Isio finds hope in an unexpected romance that gives her the strength to fight a broken system. Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s acclaimed debut feature is a tender and moving story of love, resilience and resistance. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Laura Ndanuko, Pinar Aksu and Georgia Cottle. GFT / 15 June, 8.20pm

• RCS Curates Visible Cinema: BA Performance Shorts - GFT and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland present a Deaf-friendly screening showcasing short films created by the BA Performance for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Actors cohort, alongside a selection of Scottish shorts curated by filmmaker and lecturer Will Clark. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the students about the films and their creative process. GFT / 16 June, 6.15 pm

AROUND TOWN:

• Dreamers (Refugee Week Film Festival) - Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s acclaimed debut feature follows Isio, a Nigerian migrant placed in a UK asylum removal centre, who finds hope, friendship and unexpected love while navigating an increasingly hostile system. THE PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON / 15 June, 6pm

  

• Community Movie Night: Mamma Mia! (West Fest 2026) - Join Westbourne Medical Studios for a community screening of the beloved ABBA musical Mamma Mia! Relax in the wellbeing studio, sing along to the songs, and support Music in Hospitals & Care, with all proceeds going to the charity. WESTBOURNE MEDICAL STUDIOS / 16 June, 7pm

• Exiled for Existing: Second Screening - Produced by more than 40 LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow, Exiled for Existing shares stories of persecution, resilience and community through the experiences of those navigating both queer identity and the UK asylum system. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and participants. BYRES ROAD COMMUNITY HUB / 19 June, 4pm

EVENTS:

• Wee Dementia Film Festival: Playlist for Life - Join Andy Lowndes, Vice-President of Playlist for Life, for a special screening and audience Q&A exploring how personally meaningful music can support people living with dementia and strengthen connections with loved ones. Part of the Wee Dementia Film Festival. KELVIN HALL OPEN COLLECTIONS / 20 June, 2.30pm

Want a glimpse of what’s coming up before our weekly newsletter?
Cinetopia Connect lets you see events beyond our regular roundup, from events, screenings, job opportunities, festivals. It is also the best way to get your own listing featured here. Just create a quick profile (as a person or organisation) and upload your event. Submitting through the platform is now the only way to ensure we see it!

Check out Cinetopia Connect

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• MONTROSE Hen LandxSea Monthly presents: Hen. Told entirely from the perspective of its avian protagonist, HEN follows a chicken who escapes an industrial farm only to find herself navigating the pecking order of a crumbling seaside restaurant in Greece. MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE / 15 June, 7.30pm

  

• STRATHAVEN: Hamnet - Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal and Emily Watson star in this adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel. Set in 16th-century England, Hamnet follows Agnes and William Shakespeare as they navigate love, loss and grief in the years leading up to the creation of Hamlet. STRATHAVEN TOWN MILL / 18 June, 7.30pm

  Link:

• EDINBURGH: Filmhouse Birthday: Filmhouse celebrates its first birthday with a two-month season of classic cinema, staff and member picks, major recent favourites, and special events across June and July. Highlights include screenings of Cinema Paradiso on the venue’s birthday weekend, a 70mm screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Don’t Look Now followed by a discussion with novelist Ian Rankin and writer Justin John Doherty. Filmhouse Members receive discounted ticket offers throughout the season. FILMHOUSE | June – July

• Cinetopia Film Networking Night - Join Cinetopia for an informal evening of drinks, conversation and connections with fellow film industry professionals, creatives and film lovers. Whether you’re established in the industry or just starting out, everyone is welcome. BLACKBIRD BAR & RESTAURANT (COURTYARD) / 25 June, 7-10pm

• EDINBURGH: Atmosphere | Some Like It Hot: New Media Scotland presents Billy Wilder’s classic comedy in the atmospheric surroundings of Lauriston Castle. Ticket includes a complimentary cocktail, with guests encouraged to dress in 1920s attire. LAURISTON CASTLE | 26 June | 7.30pm

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Assistant General Manager - Prince Charles Cinema (London) - Salary: £21.09per hr (16hrs min per week).This role will help lead their operations, provide leadership and support staff, and contribute to the continued growth of the venue and private hire business. This will be in addition to the regular day-to-day management requirements of a very busy cinema. Apply by 18 June

• TRUSTEE: Rio Cinema, London (mostly REMOTE): The Rio Cinema is looking to strengthen its board with individuals who can bring their professional skills, strategic mindset, creative problem-solving and diverse networks to help it thrive in an ever-changing cultural and economic landscape. Commitment: c.6-8 board meetings a year (c. 2hrs) plus potential sub-committee meetings and annual board strategy day. Trustees should also be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. Term: 3 years (renewable once). Apply by 10 July.

• Digital Marketing Co-ordinator (Maternity Cover) Phoenix cinema - Salary: £28,860. Phoenix is Leicester’s independent cinema and art centre located in the heart of the city’s Cultural Quarter. and are seeking a full-time Digital Marketing Co-ordinator (maternity cover) to provide day-to-day management of Phoenix’s digital marketing channels – including social media, website, partner content, Google ads and Meta advertising – and develop fresh and engaging content to attract existing, new and diverse audiences. Apply by 18 June.

• Volunteer Pre-Selectors - Cardiff Animation Festival - Cardiff Animation Festival is Wales’ only global animation festival – a four-day celebration of all things animated, taking place at venues across Cardiff and online every April. Please complete the pre-selector expression of interest form before 26 June.

• HippFest Marketing Officer - Salary: £14,350 - £18,975 (115 days @ £130 - £165 p/d). Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027. Place of Work: Remote working in Central Belt Scotland with the option to use Falkirk Council offices. HippFest is Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, centred in and inspired by Scotland’s oldest cinema, featuring exceptional screenings, commissions, workshops, community events and touring. Apply by 20 July.

• BFI Events Manager: Salary: £43,755 - £51,465. BFI are seeking an Events Manager to lead the planning and delivery of income generation and stewardship events, including film premieres, screenings, industry dinners, receptions and supporter events. The role includes international activity with occasional travel to the United States. Apply by 15 June.

• London Film Festival Systems Coordinator: Salary: £33,477 per annum. LFF are looking for a Systems Coordinator who, supporting the Senior Systems Coordinator, will be working as part of the BFI London Film Festival Team to support and deliver key software systems used during the festival, primarily Airtable. 7-23 October. Apply by 18 June.

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival OPEN CALL: 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival Open For Entries - International Showcases & Awards. The 16th edition of the ESFF, with more short film screenings in Edinburgh, International Film Festival showcases, workshops and masterclasses, awards and industry networking.
  We're also programming showcases of our best films for our international film festival partners across Europe. Max Length 25 minutes, international films welcomed, all genres eligible. Late deadline 19 June

• Women Over 50 Film Festival 2026 - Short films (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) and scripts that feature a woman over 50 in a central role or have a woman over 50 in a key creative role (director, writer, producer). Deadline 22 June

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• Bigger Picture – Applications open for 2026: A short film initiative for filmmakers who have already made a feature, or are on the verge of making their feature debut and want to make one more short before moving into long form. Up to four films will receive £90,000 production funding support. Supported by Screen Scotland and MG ALBA. English deadline: 5 June | Gaelic deadline: 19 June

• North Star Shorts – Applications open for 2026: Supporting six live action and animation projects from early career filmmakers with £25,000 production funding plus development support. Backed by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK. Deadline: 19 June

• Next Wave – Applications open for 2026: Supporting filmmakers who have previously received Screen Scotland and/or BFI NETWORK short film funding, with up to three projects plus one Gaelic language project receiving £25,000 production funding. Deadline: 26 June

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

• Certificate in Script Development for Film and TV: Designed to build the core skills needed to support scripted Film and TV projects through the development process. Apply by 22 June

• Raindance Scotland Dynamic Screenwriting weekend - Master the art of the script. From three-act structure and dynamic character arcs to visual storytelling and engaging dialogue, learn to turn your cinematic ideas into a polished story. 13 + 14 June, 2026. Apply by 13 June.

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• EIFF announces documentary Bel as its 2026 Closing Night Film.

• Glasgow Film Festival celebrates a record-breaking 2026 edition and confirms dates for the 2027 festival.

• Sustainable Screen launches a new online resource hub designed to support greener film and television production across Scotland.

• New report positions skills investment at the heart of Scotland’s screen and live performance growth ambitions.

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• Sheffield DocFest / 10 – 15 June / Sheffield

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

On the Cinetopia event side, join us for Cinetopia Salon #4 on 18 June at the French Institute with EDEN by Mia Hansen-Løve followed by a French house DJ set from Ann Tweak.

Join us for Cinetopia Film Networking on 25 June, 7=-10pm at The Blackbird Bar! ✨

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• The Gentiles (Las gentiles) (Latin Connections FF) - Ana is going through a strange moment. In addition to going through the family conflicts and identity issues typical of her age, she experiences something new. While forming a close bond with her new friend Corrales, the word suicide somehow enters into their lives, at first only as a distant and transgressive idea, fuelled by their interactions online. However, little by little, what at first seemed to be a game on social media, starts to filter into reality. 8 June, 8.15pm

• The Dog Thief (El ladrón de perros) (Latin Connections FF) - Martín is an orphan who works as a shoeshine boy on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. One day, he decides to steal the dog of his best client, a lonely tailor he has begun to imagine is his father. He hopes that in helping the man to search for the dog, the two of them will become closer as they spend time together. 10 June, 8.15pm

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (70mm) - Undoubtedly the most influential science-fiction film of the '60s, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a spellbinding masterpiece that can still make you dizzy with wonder. 8 June, 7.30pm

  

• The Birdcage (30th anniversary) - Part of Lavender Lens. Armand and Albert have built the perfect life for themselves tending to their gaudy Miami nightclub. But their pastel tranquility is shaken when Armand's son announces that he's marrying the daughter of ultra-conservative Senator Keeley... and they're all getting together for dinner! Can Armand and Albert transform themselves into Mr. and Mrs. Family Values in time? It'll take the performance of their lives! 9 June, 8pm

• Breaking Social + Q&A - Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Fredrik Gertten (Push, Bikes Vs. Cars, Big Boys Gone Bananas!*) returns with Breaking Social, an analysis of patterns of kleptocracy and extractivism around the world. The film follows some of these global stories, and through the people fighting these inequalities we see the possibilities of overcoming injustice - reimagining the building blocks of our societies, and finding hope along the way. Q&A with Transparency International [UK]. 11 June, 8pm

• I Saw the TV Glow - When a lonely teenager is introduced by a classmate to a mysterious late-night TV show - The Pink Opaque - the world within the show begins to feel more real than real life. Jane Schoenbrun’s evocative and uncanny story of suburban horrors and coming of age in the mid-1990s creates a foreboding feeling that unspools across decades before reaching a breaking point. From Friday 12 June.

  

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Savage House - Set against the backdrop of 18th century England, a massive Pox outbreak, and Jacobite Uprising - this is a timely and darkly satirical story of Sir Chauncey Savage (Grant) and Lady Savage’s (Foy) blind pursuit of a better life.

  It is not without a tinge of irony that their family name is the Savages, for this is a Savage House indeed. Filled with duels, decadence, and bloodshed, this is a madcap play on class and power. Playing all week.

  

• Heavy Metal - A glowing green orb - which embodies ultimate evil - terrorizes a young girl with an anthology of bizarre and fantastic stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror. 10 June, 8.45pm & 11 June, 6pm

• Boogie Nights (4k Restoration) - Set in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, Boogie Nights - Wikipedia follows the turbulent career of a young, naive busboy discovered by a visionary director in the 1970s. Transformed into an adult film sensation named Dirk Diggler, his rapid rise is eventually derailed by egotism and drug abuse as the industry transitions into the excess of the 1980s. 12 June, 8pm & 13 June, 3pm

• Köln 75 - Keith Jarrett’s iconic January 1975 performance nearly never happened.

  Based on a true story, Köln 75 follows the young, driven concert promoter Vera Brandes as she conceives and organises the event against all odds. From securing the venue and selling tickets to persuading Jarrett to perform when the promised Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano is missing, Vera’s determination on is tested at every turn. 13 June, 11.45am

  

AROUND TOWN:

• La Pampa by Antoine Chevrollier (2024) - Willy and Jojo, lifelong friends, spend time at La Pampa motocross track to combat boredom. One evening, Willy unexpectedly uncovers a secret that Jojo has been keeping. FRENCH INSTITUTE / 10 June, 6pm

• Love Me Tender by Anna Cazenave Cambet (2025) - One late summer, Clémence tells her ex-husband that she’s having romantic relationships with women. Her life is turned upside down when he takes custody of her son. Clémence must fight to remain a mother and a free woman. FRENCH INSTITUTE / 11 June, 5pm

• Power Up! Film Screening, Discussion And Collective Poetry Making - Take One Action returns to the GCP for a special screening of films exploring energy and who owns it, from Wales to Spain and Germany. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE / 10 June, 7pm

EVENTS:

• Dick Lee presents Music In Film: A series of 6 illustrated talks featuring clips, music tracks and live music examples from Dick on clarinet /sax / recorder.

  A series of 6 illustrated talks by Dick Lee which explore the many ways in which music has been employed in the service of film since the silent film era. VALVONA & CROLLA / Remaining dates: Wednesdays 10 June

• Making Space - Celebrating Local Filmmakers - A screening event sharing four new shorts crafted by local artists, followed by discussion and creative networking. THE SPACE, DALRY / 12 June 8pm

• Film Club - Bushman (1971) - The Edinburgh ‘Like A Book Group But With Films’ Group meets every other Thursday to chat films and TV! It's a brilliant group, come along! Bushman is an amazing real-time evocation of a Nigerian’s life in 70s America1971 by US musician and film-maker David Schickele, long neglected but now restored and reissued. BENNETS BAR / 11 June, 7.30pm

  

• Film Themed Pub Quiz - Join us for a film/ tv/ pop culture themed pub quiz at the Volley in Leith! THE VOLLEY / 14 June, 6.30pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• Access Film Club: Legally Blonde - 25th Anniversary - GFT, together with The National Autistic Society Scotland, is delighted to provide Access Film Club: a screening and post-film discussion in a friendly and welcoming environment.
  Join us for this 25th Anniversary, 4k restoration screening of Legally Blonde, the cult comedy with beauty and brains starring Reese Witherspoon. 8 June, 6pm

• Northern Soul: Still Burning - An exploration of the cultural phenomenon that is Northern Soul, charting how this movement has weaved and transformed itself musically and culturally through the decades. Northern Soul continues to re-invent itself more than any other music genre, remaining as vibrant and relevant today as when it first evolved. From 12 June.

  

• Face/Off - One of John Woo's most bonkers films (in a good way), Face/Off follows an international terrorist for hire named Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) who is being relentlessly pursued by Sean Archer (John Travolta), an FBI agent whose son Castor accidentally killed in an assassination attempt years earlier. After finally catching Troy, Archer's troubles have only just begun. From 13 June.

• Preview: Lesbian Space Princess + Drag Performance - A laugh-out-loud adventure through the far reaches of queer outer space, Lesbian Space Princess showcases the incredible talents of South Australian writers/directors, Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs. Join us for this special event preview screening featuring a live drag performance from Glasgow performer Ann phetamine and one raffle ticket every audience member, offering you the chance to win some fun prizes. 14 June, 7.10pm

  

AROUND TOWN:

• RFS26: Southside Open-Air Cinema Day - As part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2026, we are excited to present Southside Open Air Cinema Day, a full day of screenings and conversations taking place at Queen’s Park Arena in Glasgow Southside on Sunday 14 June. Bringing together filmmakers, artists, activists and local communities, the programme explores climate displacement, exile, memory, belonging and collective resistance through documentary and artist moving image. QUEENS PARK ARENA / 14 June, 12-9pm

• Wee Dementia Film Festival: Rethink Dementia - A special screening of lived experience films and panel discussion. A screening focused on the Rethink Dementia national campaign and personal lived experience films. This will be accompanied by lived experience panel members and the opportunity for an audience Q&A. GLASGOW MUSEUMS AT KELVIN HALL / 13 June, 2.30pm

• ULTRAS (15) - Join us for an affordable community cinema screening, as part of The Pyramid's Monday Night Film Club and our World Cup season. From England to Morocco, ultra soccer fans create communities mixing passion with aggression. This doc explores fan culture's social impact, creativity and psychology through supporter groups worldwide. THE PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON / 8 June, 5.30pm

  

• Little Pictures X Refugee Festival Scotland - Film Screening and Q&A - Join us for an evening of films and discussion as Little Pictures team up with Refugee Festival Scotland to screen some short films. GMAC is excited to present Little Pictures at Refugee Festival Scotland, where we will be showcasing a range of short films made on the scheme that centre migration and refugee stories. PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON / 13 June, 6pm

EVENTS:

• Wee Dementia Film Festival: The Demented Poets Screening: A special screening of three curated films followed by a Q&A with BAFTA-winning film-maker Ian Bustard: The Demented Poets, Caught In This Moment In Time and The F-Ward (trailer) and a Q&A with the film-maker. GLASGOW MUSEUMS AT KELVIN HALL, 6 June, 6.30pm

Want a glimpse of what’s coming up before our weekly newsletter?
Cinetopia Connect lets you see events beyond our regular roundup, from events, screenings, job opportunities, festivals. It is also the best way to get your own listing featured here. Just create a quick profile (as a person or organisation) and upload your event. Submitting through the platform is now the only way to ensure we see it!

Check out Cinetopia Connect

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• MONTROSE: LandxSea Monthly presents: Hen. Told entirely from the perspective of its avian protagonist, HEN follows a chicken who escapes an industrial farm only to find herself navigating the pecking order of a crumbling seaside restaurant in Greece. MONTROSE PLAYHOUSE / 15 June, 7.30pm

• EDINBURGH: Cinetopia Salon #4: EDEN by Mia Hansen-Løve + French House DJ set from Ann Tweak: Join Cinetopia Salon for a cultural evening of apéro, arts, cinema and good conversation inspired by the euphoric world of 1990s French house music. Mia Hansen-Løve’s stylish and melancholic EDEN follows a young Parisian DJ collective across two decades of nightlife, friendship and changing times, with a young Daft Punk appearing along the way. The evening begins with an apéritif hour before the screening and concludes with a live French house DJ set from Ann Tweak inspired by the sounds and spirit of the film. Introduced by guest curator Liam Schell. FRENCH INSTITUTE | 18 June 6-10.15 pm

  

• EDINBURGH: Filmhouse Birthday: Filmhouse celebrates its first birthday with a two-month season of classic cinema, staff and member picks, major recent favourites, and special events across June and July. Highlights include screenings of Cinema Paradiso on the venue’s birthday weekend, a 70mm screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Don’t Look Now followed by a discussion with novelist Ian Rankin and writer Justin John Doherty. Filmhouse Members receive discounted ticket offers throughout the season. FILMHOUSE | June – July

• EDINBURGH: Atmosphere | Some Like It Hot: New Media Scotland presents Billy Wilder’s classic comedy in the atmospheric surroundings of Lauriston Castle. Ticket includes a complimentary cocktail, with guests encouraged to dress in 1920s attire. LAURISTON CASTLE | 26 June | 7.30pm

  ---

  An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Digital Marketing Co-ordinator (Maternity Cover) Phoenix cinema - Salary: £28,860. Phoenix is Leicester’s independent cinema and art centre located in the heart of the city’s Cultural Quarter. and are seeking a full-time Digital Marketing Co-ordinator (maternity cover) to provide day-to-day management of Phoenix’s digital marketing channels – including social media, website, partner content, Google ads and Meta advertising – and develop fresh and engaging content to attract existing, new and diverse audiences. Apply by 18 June.

• Industry & Innovation Manager (BFI London Film Festival) - Salary: £43,755 - £51,465. The role will support the screen sector and the BFI to embed responsible and impactful innovation. They will take ownership of the day-to-day management of the BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund, BFI’s funding mechanism for stimulating innovation across the sector, managing individual challenge calls from research stage through to delivery and reporting. They will also provide support to the Industry Development & Innovation directorate to enable innovation in the BFI’s own programmes and practices. Permanent contract, 41 hours per week. Apply by 11 June.

• Volunteer Pre-Selectors - Cardiff Animation Festival - Cardiff Animation Festival is Wales’ only global animation festival – a four-day celebration of all things animated, taking place at venues across Cardiff and online every April. Please complete the pre-selector expression of interest form before 26 June.

• HippFest Marketing Officer - Salary: £14,350 - £18,975 (115 days @ £130 - £165 p/d). Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027. Place of Work: Remote working in Central Belt Scotland with the option to use Falkirk Council offices. HippFest is Scotland’s first and only festival of silent film with live music, centred in and inspired by Scotland’s oldest cinema, featuring exceptional screenings, commissions, workshops, community events and touring. Apply by 20 July.

• Doc Society – Grants Coordinator: Doc Society is seeking a Grants Coordinator to support filmmaker and grantee programmes across its Climate Story Unit and Democracy Story Unit. The role focuses on coordination, communications and grant administration within the documentary sector. Remote-first with preference for candidates near London or New York. Apply by 9 June.

• Sales and Finance Assistant - CONIC Films: Salary: £13.50/hour (based on a 35-hour FTE of £24,570). This is a detail-oriented, organisational role that sits at the heart of Conic, supporting revenue tracking, invoicing, reporting and day‑to‑day sales administration across theatrical and non‑theatrical releases. Apply by 12 June.

• London Film Festival Systems Coordinator: Salary: £33,477 per annum. LFF are looking for a Systems Coordinator who, supporting the Senior Systems Coordinator, will be working as part of the BFI London Film Festival Team to support and deliver key software systems used during the festival, primarily Airtable. 7-23 October. Apply by 18 June.

• BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Selection Committee Member: Salary: Up to £3,500 for work completed towards the project. Contract: Freelance, October 2026 to March 2027. Apply by 10 June.

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival OPEN CALL: 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival Open For Entries - International Showcases & Awards. The 16th edition of the ESFF, with more short film screenings in Edinburgh, International Film Festival showcases, workshops and masterclasses, awards and industry networking.
  We're also programming showcases of our best films for our international film festival partners across Europe. Max Length 25 minutes, international films welcomed, all genres eligible. Late deadline 19 June

• Women Over 50 Film Festival 2026 - Short films (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) and scripts that feature a woman over 50 in a central role or have a woman over 50 in a key creative role (director, writer, producer). Deadline 22 June

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• Bigger Picture – Applications open for 2026: A short film initiative for filmmakers who have already made a feature, or are on the verge of making their feature debut and want to make one more short before moving into long form. Up to four films will receive £90,000 production funding support. Supported by Screen Scotland and MG ALBA. English deadline: 5 June | Gaelic deadline: 19 June

• North Star Shorts – Applications open for 2026: Supporting six live action and animation projects from early career filmmakers with £25,000 production funding plus development support. Backed by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK. Deadline: 19 June

• Next Wave – Applications open for 2026: Supporting filmmakers who have previously received Screen Scotland and/or BFI NETWORK short film funding, with up to three projects plus one Gaelic language project receiving £25,000 production funding. Deadline: 26 June

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Power Up! What’s Your Story? Join Take One Action on for a special Great Big Green Week workshop exploring how we talk about why we care about climate, nature and community energy, and how those stories connect us to each other. Apply by 9 June.

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

• Certificate in Script Development for Film and TV: Designed to build the core skills needed to support scripted Film and TV projects through the development process. Apply by 22 June

• Raindance Scotland Dynamic Screenwriting weekend - Master the art of the script. From three-act structure and dynamic character arcs to visual storytelling and engaging dialogue, learn to turn your cinematic ideas into a polished story. 13 + 14 June, 2026. Apply by 13 June.

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• First events announced for Sea Change Festival 2026

• New report positions skills investment at the heart of Scotland’s screen and live performance growth ambitions

• UK-Ireland box office up 11% year-on-year

• A24’s ‘Backrooms’ sets box-office record for original horror in UK-Ireland with £4.3m opening

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• SXSW London / 1-6 June / London

• Sheffield DocFest / 10 – 15 June / Sheffield

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

• Montrose Landxsea Film Festival / 11-13 September / Montrose, Angus

• Sea Change Film Festival / 18-23 September / Island of Tiree, Scotland

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

On the Cinetopia event side, join us for Cinetopia Salon #4 on 18 June at the French Institute with EDEN by Mia Hansen-Løve followed by a French house DJ set from Ann Tweak. Expect apéro vibes, Parisian nightlife nostalgia, and one very good soundtrack. ✨

An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going. If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

UPGRADE TO PAID

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

• The Last Spy: The Last Spy is a riveting portrait of 102-year-old CIA spymaster Peter Sichel, who passed away last year. Recounting his escape from Nazi Germany as a Jewish refugee to becoming the first CIA Station chief in post-war Berlin and a key player in Cold War espionage, he pulls back the curtain on a life packed with secrets, covert actions, moral dilemmas and geopolitical intrigue. 3 June, 6.05pm / 4 June, 1.15pm

• The Balloonists: In the winter of 1999, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and British flight instructor Brian Jones embark on an attempt to complete the last great aviation challenge of the 20th century – to circumnavigate the globe, non-stop in a hot-air balloon. 3 June, 1.10pm / 4 June, 3.20pm

• Eagles of the Republic: Egypt’s most revered actor, George Fahmy, is forced into starring in a government-commissioned propaganda film about the country’s president. Once he reluctantly agrees to take the role, Fahmy becomes surrounded by the powers that be - the allure of the inner circle proves irresistible, and he embarks on an affair with the secretive wife of the general in charge of the project. Screening all week

  

• Erupcja: Set in Poland, Erupcja follows two women as they complicate their romantic lives. Nel (Lena Góra) lives in Warsaw where she works at a flower shop. When her childhood friend Bethany (Charli xcx) comes to visit with a new boyfriend (Will Madden) - who she expects a marriage proposal from on this trip - a volcano erupts. From 5 June

• The Condor Daughter (La hija cóndor) (Latin Connections FF): Clara is a teenager growing up in a small indigenous community high in the Andes. Her adoptive mother, a midwife who took her in as a baby, has taught her the ancient songs used to guide women through childbirth, melodies passed down for generations, believed to bring new life safely into the world. But while her voice carries on this tradition, her dreams lie elsewhere: she longs to leave the mountains behind and become a folk music star in the big city. 7 June, 5.45pm

  

OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

• Bullet in the Head (4K Restoration): When three close friends escape from Hong Kong to war-time Saigon to start a criminal's life, they all go through a harrowing experience which totally shatters their lives and their friendship forever. Multiple screenings through the week.

• Edinburgh 48 Hour Film Project: Join us for five screenings of short films made over the weekend of 22nd-24th May. Meet the filmmakers, vote for your favourites and enjoy the movie mayhem. Each screening is followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers. All screenings will be captioned with live BSL Interpretation for the Q & A’s. Multiple screenings all week.

• Acting + Q&A: In the summer of 2021, filmmaker Sophie Fiennes filmed the London-based theatre company Cheek By Jowl to create the first in-depth documentation of their unique process and philosophy. The result is a richly detailed and thrilling celebration of theatre, as viewers watch 8 young thespians rehearse key scenes with directors Declan and Nick over two weeks in Twyford Abbey, a derelict mansion on the outskirts of London. 6 June, 8pm

• Pink Flamingos (uncut): PINK FLAMINGOS, John Waters’ timelessly indulgent celebration of bad taste, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Featuring an iconic lead performance from Divine and a never-ending cavalcade of unforgettable, taboo-obliterating set pieces, PINK FLAMINGOS truly has to be seen to be believed. Screening from a new restoration, overseen by John Waters. 7 June, 8.30pm

  

AROUND TOWN:

• The (In)famous Youssef Salem (2022): Struggling author Youssef wins acclaim for a scandalous autobiographical novel. Suddenly famous, he must hide his work from family while grappling with newfound success and its consequences. THE FRENCH INSTITUTE / 6 June, 6pm

• Gladiator 2 (2024): Set sixteen years after the original, Lucius - secret son of Lucilla and heir to Marcus Aurelius - is captured by Roman forces and thrown into the Colosseum as a gladiator, unwittingly becoming a pawn in the schemes of the cunning power broker Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who is manoeuvring to seize the Roman throne from its decadent twin emperors. GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PROJECT / 3 June, 7pm

• Speed Racer & Jupiter Ascending - Double Feature Film Club: The Wachowskis: For our second screening, we're putting on two underappreciated gems within the career of two visionaries. After the game-changing Bound and the mega-smash Matrix trilogy, The Wachowskis' struggled to repeat their earlier box office successes. Within this period, they released Speed Racer and Jupiter Ascending, two absolutely insane pieces of work that were dismissed by both critics and general audiences alike. BANSHEE LABYRINTH / 4 June, 7.15pm

  

• ECA Animation Screening: Join us for the ECA Graduate Show 2026 Animation Screening. Edinburgh College of Art welcomes visitors to the annual Animation Screening, a chance to view work from the industry’s newest talent on the big screen. Join us at the Filmhouse for a special screening of graduating students’ work. FILMHOUSE / 2 June, 5.30pm

EVENTS:

• Dick Lee presents Music In Film: A series of 6 illustrated talks featuring clips, music tracks and live music examples from Dick on clarinet /sax / recorder.

  A series of 6 illustrated talks by Dick Lee which explore the many ways in which music has been employed in the service of film since the silent film era. VALVONA & CROLLA / Remaining dates: Wednesdays 3 & 10 June

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS:

OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

• The People’s Emergency Briefing: Glasgow and the built environment + Panel Discussion: New Future, in partnership with Glasgow Film Theatre, Atelier Ten, Architecture Fringe and Architects Declare, present this post-election public screening of The People's Emergency Briefing, followed by facilitated discussion with local councillors, newly-elected MSPs, and representatives from Scotland's built environment sector. This is an opportunity to bring people together to hear the evidence and discuss how to respond — along with their local councillors and MSPs. Full panel announcement to follow. Please note: there are no ads and trailers before this screening. 1 June, 6pm

• Ultras (documentary): Ultras – the heart and soul of football stadiums around the globe. The supporters that will do anything for the team and yields that extra power into the game to help their team win. Ultras is not your regular sports film. Through epic images and a cinematic mosaic of football supporters and their societal contexts around the world, we portray a subculture that is widely known but yet mysterious and inaccessible for most of us. Screening all week.

• Night Stage: An ambitious actor and a successful politician begin a secret affair and discover a shared fetish for having sex in public places. As both pursue their dreams of greater fame and recognition they become increasingly addicted to the thrill of risk, seeking out more dangerous encounters that threaten to expose their relationship and destroy everything they've worked for, unable to resist the compulsion even as the stakes grow higher. From 5 June

  

AROUND TOWN:

• Saipan (15): Join us for an affordable community cinema screening, as part of The Pyramid's Monday Night Film Club and our World Cup season. On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Irish captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the team's preparation base in Saipan, following a heated disagreement with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy. PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON / 1 June, 5.30pm

• Oíche Scannáin/Film Night: ‘Róise & Frank’: A wonderful, multi-award winning Irish language film , sure to deliver smiles, tears, and laughs to film lovers of all ages. In partnership with Grace’s Glasgow Irish Centre. GRACE’S IRISH CENTRE / 4 June, 7pm

• The Great Ambition: Join us for a special screening of The Great Ambition, directed by Andrea Segre. Blending political history with intimate human drama, the film explores the life and ideals of Italian Communist leader Enrico Berlinguer during a pivotal moment in Italy’s modern history. Through a powerful and deeply personal lens, The Great Ambition reflects on leadership, conviction, and the enduring tension between political ideals and reality. THE ARC - UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW / 4 June, 5pm

  

EVENTS:

• ‘Pitch Slapped’ Film & TV Pitching Competition + Networking: Join us for a film & TV pitching competition, where participants have just 2 minutes to pitch their film idea; with networking to follow. Pitch your upcoming project, get feedback from a panel of industry judges, and vote on your favourites. The winner gets a development meeting with Developing Room Films. THE BOARDWALK / 6 June, 1.30pm

• What is a Feminist Film?: Join GlaMaHaVilla as we explore and discuss feminist film and filmmaking. From discussing our favourite feminist films to drawing from our own experience of feminist filmmaking, this workshops is perfect for those interested, inspired and/or involved in feminist projects. JAMES MCCUNE SMITH LEARNING HUB / 1 June, 6pm

• Wee Dementia Film Festival: The Demented Poets Screening: A special screening of three curated films followed by a Q&A with BAFTA-winning film-maker Ian Bustard: The Demented Poets, Caught In This Moment In Time and The F-Ward (trailer) and a Q&A with the film-maker. GLASGOW MUSEUMS AT KELVIN HALL, 6 June, 6.30pm

Want a glimpse of what’s coming up before our weekly newsletter?
Cinetopia Connect lets you see events beyond our regular roundup, from events, screenings, job opportunities, festivals. It is also the best way to get your own listing featured here. Just create a quick profile (as a person or organisation) and upload your event. Submitting through the platform is now the only way to ensure we see it!

Check out Cinetopia Connect

FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD

Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!

• PORTOBELLO: Porty Pride Film Night in partnership with SQIFF 2026: Porty Pride and SQIFF once again team up for an eclectic programme of queer short films celebrating multicultural intersections in queer cinema. The line-up includes stories of queer self-discovery, chosen family, grief, love and resistance from Scotland and beyond, followed by an informal filmmaker Q&A hosted by Nat Lall. All films are captioned and the Q&A will feature BSL interpretation. PORTOBELLO TOWN HALL / 7 June, 4pm

  

• EDINBURGH: Cinetopia Salon #4: EDEN by Mia Hansen-Løve + French House DJ set from Ann Tweak: Join Cinetopia Salon for a cultural evening of apéro, arts, cinema and good conversation inspired by the euphoric world of 1990s French house music. Mia Hansen-Løve’s stylish and melancholic EDEN follows a young Parisian DJ collective across two decades of nightlife, friendship and changing times, with a young Daft Punk appearing along the way. The evening begins with an apéritif hour before the screening and concludes with a live French house DJ set from Ann Tweak inspired by the sounds and spirit of the film. Introduced by guest curator Liam Schell. FRENCH INSTITUTE | 18 June 6-10.15 pm

• EDINBURGH: Filmhouse Birthday: Filmhouse celebrates its first birthday with a two-month season of classic cinema, staff and member picks, major recent favourites, and special events across June and July. Highlights include screenings of Cinema Paradiso on the venue’s birthday weekend, a 70mm screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Don’t Look Now followed by a discussion with novelist Ian Rankin and writer Justin John Doherty. Filmhouse Members receive discounted ticket offers throughout the season. FILMHOUSE | June – July

• EDINBURGH: Atmosphere | Some Like It Hot: New Media Scotland presents Billy Wilder’s classic comedy in the atmospheric surroundings of Lauriston Castle. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star as two musicians who disguise themselves as women to flee the mob, joining an all-female jazz band led by Marilyn Monroe’s unforgettable Sugar Kane. Ticket includes a complimentary cocktail, with guests encouraged to dress in 1920s attire. LAURISTON CASTLE | 26 June | 7.30pm

  

• GLASGOW: RAP WORLD (2024) / 6 TILL 6 (2025): DV8 Film Club presents a double-bill screening pairing Conner O’Malley and Danny Scharar’s Rap World with Arran Ashan and Mustafa Mohamoud’s 6 Till 6 — two contemporary miniDV odysseys exploring friendship, late-night drift and chaotic youth culture through radically different corners of America and post-COVID London. THE OLD HAIRDRESSER’S | 28 June | 7-10pm

  Subscribe now

OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:

• Doc Society – Grants Coordinator: Doc Society is seeking a Grants Coordinator to support filmmaker and grantee programmes across its Climate Story Unit and Democracy Story Unit. The role focuses on coordination, communications and grant administration within the documentary sector. Remote-first with preference for candidates near London or New York. Apply by 9 June.

• Assistant Curator, Cinema (Programming, Coordination and Delivery) - ICA: Salary: £32,000. The Assistant Curator, Cinema supports the Curator, Cinema in the planning, delivery and coordination of ICA Cinema’s programme, including Off-Circuit and Long Takes, a proportionate programme of new releases, and partnership-led programmes with guest curators and external organisations. This is a delivery-focused role with clear development potential. Apply by 6 June

• Sales and Finance Assistant - CONIC Films: Salary: £13.50/hour (based on a 35-hour FTE of £24,570). This is a detail-oriented, organisational role that sits at the heart of Conic, supporting revenue tracking, invoicing, reporting and day‑to‑day sales administration across theatrical and non‑theatrical releases. Apply by 12 June.

• London Film Festival Systems Coordinator: Salary: £33,477 per annumFI are looking for a Systems Coordinator who, supporting the Senior Systems Coordinator, will be working as part of the BFI London Film Festival Team to support and deliver key software systems used during the festival, primarily Airtable. 7-23 October. Apply by 18 June.

• BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Selection Committee Member: Salary: Up to £3,500 for work completed towards the project. Contract: Freelance, October 2026 to March 2027. Apply by 10 June.

• BFI LFF Critics Mentorship Programme 2026: Salary: £14.80 per hour. Are you an aspiring film critic or journalist? If you’re writing reviews for blogs or social media but haven’t yet broken into established platforms, apply to the award-winning BFI London Film Festival Critics Mentorship Programme and gain industry mentorship and the opportunity to have your work published by LFF media partners and the BFI. Apply by 4 June.

CALL FOR ENTRIES:

• 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival OPEN CALL: 16th Edinburgh Short Film Festival Open For Entries - International Showcases & Awards. The 16th edition of the ESFF, with more short film screenings in Edinburgh, International Film Festival showcases, workshops and masterclasses, awards and industry networking.
  We're also programming showcases of our best films for our international film festival partners across Europe. Max Length 25 minutes, international films welcomed, all genres eligible. Late deadline 19 June

• Women Over 50 Film Festival 2026 - Short films (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental) and scripts that feature a woman over 50 in a central role or have a woman over 50 in a key creative role (director, writer, producer). Deadline 22 June

FUNDING:

• Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Fund: Creative Scotland is offering match funding of up to £10,000 for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators who are raising funds for eligible artistic and creative projects. Apply by 30 September

• Bigger Picture – Applications open for 2026: A short film initiative for filmmakers who have already made a feature, or are on the verge of making their feature debut and want to make one more short before moving into long form. Up to four films will receive £90,000 production funding support. Supported by Screen Scotland and MG ALBA. English deadline: 5 June | Gaelic deadline: 19 June

• North Star Shorts – Applications open for 2026: Supporting six live action and animation projects from early career filmmakers with £25,000 production funding plus development support. Backed by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK. Deadline: 19 June

• Next Wave – Applications open for 2026: Supporting filmmakers who have previously received Screen Scotland and/or BFI NETWORK short film funding, with up to three projects plus one Gaelic language project receiving £25,000 production funding. Deadline: 26 June

COURSES & WORKSHOPS:

• Power Up! What’s Your Story? Join Take One Action on for a special Great Big Green Week workshop exploring how we talk about why we care about climate, nature and community energy, and how those stories connect us to each other. Apply by 9 June.

• rad Scotland - paid TV traineeship: Have you always wanted to join the TV industry but never knew how to? Check out rad! rad Scotland is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who would love to work in television but hasn’t been able to find a way in or has faced a barrier to entry. Apply by 3 June.

• Animation Academy: Animation Academy is an online course for 16 – 25 year olds across Scotland! Are you interested in animation, visual storytelling or curious about a career in the film industry? Work together to watch, experiment and create animation. Apply by 11 September

• Certificate in Script Development for Film and TV: Designed to build the core skills needed to support scripted Film and TV projects through the development process. Apply by 22 June

• Story for Pitch Decks - Story for Pitch Decks is a two-day live, online training course for writers with a script or documentary idea looking to deliver a memorable, professional industry pitch for their story. Deadline, 5 June - multiple locations

• Raindance Scotland Dynamic Screenwriting weekend - Master the art of the script. From three-act structure and dynamic character arcs to visual storytelling and engaging dialogue, learn to turn your cinematic ideas into a polished story. 13 + 14 June, 2026. Apply by 13 June.

  Cinetopia Recommends is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!

NEWS:

Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!

• ICO releases results of UK Film Exhibition Workforce Survey 2026

• UK film production spend dips 11% year-on-year in first quarter of 2026

• Glasgow Film Festival celebrates a record-breaking year as 2027 dates are announced

• BFI pledges £11.85 million to support screen production workforce development and training across the UK

• Scottish festivals investment grows to £5.7m

Film Festivals currently running / coming up:

• SXSW London / 1-6 June / London

• Sheffield DocFest / 10 – 15 June / Sheffield

• Edinburgh International Film Festival / 13 - 19 Aug 2026 / Edinburgh

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENT, OPPORTUNITY, OR NEWS HERE!

On the Cinetopia event side, join us for our Cinetopia Film Networking Night on 26 May, 7-10pm at Little Picardy Bar! 🎬🙌 Meet and connect with fellow film industry folks over informal drinks and chats, whether you’re a seasoned pro, or just starting out in the film world and keen to learn more. We’re back at the lovely Little Picardy bar, with 10% off food and drinks for Cinetopia networkers. Coming on your own? Don’t worry, one of our team will be there to welcome you and make sure you meet people. We promise a chill, friendly atmosphere.

BOOK AHEAD: Cinetopia Salon #4 returns on 18 June at the French Institute with EDEN by Mia Hansen-Løve followed by a French house DJ set from Ann Tweak. Expect apéro vibes, Parisian nightlife nostalgia, and one very good soundtrack. ✨

Elsewhere around town this week, repertory gems continue across Edinburgh and Glasgow, festival season rolls on after Cannes, and summer cinema announcements are beginning to appear across Scotland and beyond. Check out the whole list below…

An extra special thank you to our paid subscribers - your support genuinely keeps this volunteer-run newsletter going.

If you’d like to support our work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from £3.50/month or £30/year (30% off). Just click “Upgrade to paid” below or adjust your settings under “Subscriptions.”

UPGRADE TO PAID

AROUND TOWN

Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿

EDINBURGH

FILM SCREENINGS:

• OUR PICKS FROM THE FILMHOUSE:

  • Hen: Told entirely from the perspective of its avian protagonist, Hen follows a chicken who escapes an industrial farm only to find herself navigating the pecking order of a crumbling seaside restaurant in Greece. As she fights to protect her eggs, she becomes an unwitting witness to the human lives around her amid greed, smuggling and the migrant crisis. Premiering at TIFF 2025, this strange and compelling drama is performed by eight different chickens in the titular role. FILMHOUSE | Multiple screenings from 25 May (also at Cameo and GFF)

  • Sansho the Bailiff: Mizoguchi’s towering 1954 masterpiece follows two children sold into slavery in 11th century Japan after being separated from their parents. A brutal yet deeply humane meditation on power, suffering and dignity, Sansho the Bailiff remains one of the great achievements of Japanese cinema. FILMHOUSE | 25 May | 1.45pm

  • Radiograph of a Family + Between Us: SDI presents an evening of contemporary Iranian cinema exploring family, memory and the invisible threads that bind people across borders and generations. Curated and introduced by Edinburgh-based Iranian filmmaker Maryam Haddadi. FILMHOUSE | 27 May | 6.15-8.30pm

    

  • ECA Film and TV Screening: Edinburgh College of Art presents a screening of graduating Film and TV students’ final projects on the big screen at the newly reopened Filmhouse. The evening includes a drinks reception following the screenings, offering a chance to meet staff and students and celebrate this year’s graduating filmmakers. FILMHOUSE | 27 May | 6-10pm

  • The Conversation (4K Restoration): Francis Ford Coppola’s masterful paranoia thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, a brilliant but deeply isolated surveillance expert who becomes consumed by guilt and suspicion after recording a seemingly ordinary conversation. Hailed on release for anticipating Watergate, the film remains one of Coppola’s sharpest and most psychologically unsettling works. FILMHOUSE | 26 + 28 May

• OUR PICKS FROM THE CAMEO:

  • Blue Velvet: David Lynch’s iconic neo-noir begins with the discovery of a severed ear in a field, pulling a young man into a surreal underworld of violence, obsession and psychosexual menace. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Laura Dern and an unforgettable Dennis Hopper, Blue Velvet remains one of Lynch’s defining masterpieces. CAMEO | 25 May, 12.45pm + 27 May, 1pm

    

  • Buena Vista Social Club: Wim Wenders’ beloved documentary follows Ry Cooder’s journey to Havana to collaborate with legendary Cuban musicians whose talents had faded from international view after Castro’s takeover. The result is a joyous celebration of extraordinary music, memory and artistic rediscovery, featuring unforgettable performances from Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo and Compay Segundo. CAMEO | 25 May, 8.45pm + 26 May, 2.45pm

  • The King of Comedy: Martin Scorsese’s darkly brilliant satire follows would-be comedian Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), a delusional autograph hunter convinced he is destined for stardom. When late-night host Jerry Langford refuses to help his career, Rupert escalates from awkward persistence to outright kidnapping in pursuit of fame. Equal parts cringe comedy and psychological nightmare, The King of Comedy feels more disturbingly relevant than ever. CAMEO | 30 May | 2.45pm

AROUND TOWN:

• Keeping Mum / Maman déchire (2023): A wonderful grandma, damaged child and spontaneous feminist — this moving documentary follows the director’s punk mother, a woman who fascinates as much as she unsettles, while asking the question: how can you show your children the love that you were denied yourself? FRENCH INSTITUTE | 27 May | 6pm

  

• Ragged University: Cuba’s LGBT Revolution by Angus Reid: Angus Reid screens his short film and gives a talk exploring Cuba’s groundbreaking Family Code Referendum and its significance for LGBT rights and liberation. A free, informal evening of film, discussion, food and conversation hosted by Ragged University. THE OUTHOUSE | 28 May | 6.30pm doors / 7pm start

• Cinemaattic - A MI MANERA (MY WAY) – SHORT FILM PROGRAMME: A vibrant programme of short films celebrating Latin American voices, personal storytelling and contemporary cinema from across the Spanish-speaking world. ST PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH HALL | 30 May | 7.30-10pm

  

• Dark Quark Film Festival: The Dark Quark Sci-Fi Film Festival brings dark and spooky cinema to the atmospheric surroundings of the Banshee Labyrinth, promising an eerie evening of sci-fi horror and cult genre filmmaking in one of Edinburgh’s most haunted venues. THE BANSHEE LABYRINTH | 30 May | 8pm

EVENTS:

• Dick Lee presents Music in Film: Music fans and cinephiles are invited to step behind the silver screen this May as celebrated composer and multi-instrumentalist Dick Lee launches a new six-week series of illustrated talks, Music in Film. VALVONA & CROLLA / starts on 6 May, 4pm for 6 weeks

• Creative soundLAB | CLANIMATION Collaboration: An evening bringing together animation creatives, musicians, sound designers, filmmakers, game developers, podcasters and multimedia artists for networking, collaboration and creative experimentation around sound and moving image. Expect networking, discovery sessions and creative exchange across animation and audio practices. BRIGHT RED TRIANGLE STARTUP STUDIO | 25 May | 6-8.30pm

  

• Cinetopia Film Networking MAY:Join us for our May film networking night ! 🙌 Meet and connect with fellow film industry folks over informal drinks and chats, whether you’re a seasoned pro, or just starting out in the film industry and keen to learn more. We’re back at the lovely Little Picardy bar! Coming on your own? Don’t worry! One of our team will be here to welcome you and make sure you meet people. We promise a chill, friendly, fun atmosphere.

  Little Picardy are offering 10% off food and drink for Cinetopia networkers.

  This event is free to attend, please RSVP - it helps us track numbers! LITTLE PICARDY BAR | 26 May, 7-10pm

  

• Film Club – Storytelling (2001): The Edinburgh “Like A Book Group But With Films” group returns with Todd Solondz’s darkly satirical cult comedy Storytelling — an audacious and uncomfortable exploration of suburban dysfunction, race and sexuality. Watch the film beforehand and join the group afterwards for an informal pub discussion covering film, television and whatever else comes up along the way. BENNETS BAR | 28 May | 7.30pm

GLASGOW

FILM SCREENINGS:

• OUR PICKS FROM GFT:

  • A Serious Man + Introduction: The Coen Brothers of the Month season continues with the brilliantly bleak dark comedy A Serious Man. Set in 1967, the film follows physics professor Larry Gopnik as his carefully ordered life begins to unravel in increasingly absurd and existential ways. This screening will feature an introduction from Scotsman film critic Alistair Harkness. GFT | 25 May I 7.50pm

  • Leonora in the Morning Light: Elegant and beautifully shot, this new biopic of surrealist artist Leonora Carrington follows the painter’s journey from 1930s Paris through wartime Europe to 1950s Mexico, tracing the experiences that shaped her singular artistic voice. Olivia Vinall stars alongside Alexander Scheer in a film blending art, politics and psychological drama. Selected screenings include an in-person Q&A with directors Thor Klein and Lena Vurma on 3 June. GFT | From 29 May

  • The Fall: Tarsem Singh’s visually dazzling fantasy follows a young girl recovering in hospital in 1915 who becomes enthralled by the stories of an injured stuntman spinning tales of bandits, heroes and distant kingdoms. Revered for its breathtaking cinematography and dreamlike imagery, The Fall returns to the big screen as part of GFT’s Birthday programme of Big Screen Classics. GFT | 30 May I 8pm

  • Ultras: This visually striking documentary explores the intense world of football ultra culture across the globe, moving beyond sport to examine identity, loyalty, politics and belonging through supporters and stadium culture. “Visually epic” – The Guardian. GFT | From 29 May