Cinetopia Recommends: 25-31 May 2026
Film screenings, events, opportunities and film news for the week / month ahead, covering Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond! Helping you stay connected to the film community... 🎉
Cinephiles! Movie nerds! Here is your lowdown on all things film in the coming week…
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…
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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
AROUND TOWN:
The Lotus Club: Japanese Documentary Series – “Design Kimono - Koji YOSHIE” (2017) + “Live a tradition in Maramures, Romania” (2014): Two documentaries exploring the preservation of traditional art forms, following a kimono designer in Kyoto and a folk musician in Romania reflecting on heritage, craftsmanship and cultural continuity. GLASGOW LIFE | 27 May I 6pm
Shaolin Soccer (2001): The Pyramid’s Monday Night Film Club continues its Football on Film season ahead of the World Cup with Stephen Chow’s beloved cult sport-comedy. A Shaolin follower reunites his childhood friends to combine martial arts and football in an outrageous attempt to popularise Shaolin kung fu. Sliding scale tickets available. THE PYRAMID AT ANDERSTON | 25 May | Doors 5.30pm / Film 6pm
Tomb Raiding Cinema: Scratch video to experimental machinima: A screening programme exploring the collision between cinema and videogames, tracing the evolution of machinima from 1980s scratch video through to experimental works created inside game engines. Featuring films by George Snow, Peggy Ahwesh and Phil Solomon, including She Puppet and Solomon’s haunting GTA: San Andreas trilogy In Memoriam (Mark LaPore). NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND AT KELVIN HALL | 27 May | 6pm
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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 | Doors 7pm | 18+ | Sliding scale tickets £5-15
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 | 6-10.15pm
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
OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:
London Film Festival 2026 – Festival Roles: The BFI is recruiting for a range of temporary London Film Festival positions including Delegate Services Assistant, Events Assistant, Hospitality Assistant and Volunteers Assistant. Assessment centres will take place in June at BFI Stephen Street, with applicants able to indicate interest in multiple roles. Apply by 26 May.
Glasgow Film Trustee: Glasgow Film is looking for new Trustees to support the Executive and Board at this pivotal moment for Glasgow Film. Glasgow Film is also gearing up to launch a major capital fundraising campaign. Apply by 31 May.
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.
Film Teacher: ISSOS international - Lead your class of international students through a range of classes and hands-on training in all aspects of film production. Students are aged 13 - 18 and each group will be with you for 3 weeks. Apply by 31 May
PhD Film Research Participation - Interviews: I am looking for American, British and Czech participants for an interview in a PhD film research.
What’s involved?- questions about your film experiences, feelings, and reflections
- watching 2 pre-selected films (Lady Bird, 2017; Identity Card, 2010; access provided)
- 0.5-1 hour one-to-one interview at a time suitable for you
Register here to find out more. Submitted by Kat ZabeckaEquipment 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!ICO Inclusion & Diversity Screening Days – Guest Curator Open Call: The Independent Cinema Office is seeking guest curators to propose sessions for its 2026 Inclusion & Diversity Screening Days, focused on practical ways cinemas can expand inclusion, accessibility and audience diversity. Paid opportunity (£500 curator fee plus additional speaker budget) with sessions taking place online and at Derby QUAD in July. Submit proposals by 27 May, 10am
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 JuneWomen 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
Film-making with Alasdair Satchel: Online Film-making Course for adults: Over the course of 6 weekly sessions you will learn how to make films that connect with their audience and allow your voice to be heard. Online 6 week course for adults. Tuesday evenings 7.30 – 9.30pm 26th May – 30th June. Apply by 26 May
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.
NEWS:
Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!
UK Global Screen Fund announces latest international co-production awards
Scottish director Louis Paxton’s feature debut The Incomer will open the 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival
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