Cinetopia: Recommends, 5 -11 May 🍿
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... 🎉
May the 4th be with you, young padawans!👋 Welcome to your weekly film happenings drop…
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AROUND TOWN
Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿
EDINBURGH
FILM SCREENINGS:
Folk Film Gathering screenings at The Cameo:
O’r Ddaear Hen - Welsh Horror + Q&A | The first horror film to be made in the Welsh language, O'R DDAEAR HEN follows a mysterious stone head that is unearthed in a council house garden in Bangor. Introduced with a special mini-concert from Welsh harpist and singer Gwen Màiri Yorke. | The Cameo | 5 May, 6pm
The Juniper Tree + Intro | A powerful allegory of the dangers of misogyny, THE JUNIPER TREE is an Icelandic adaptation of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, featuring a compelling early performance from Björk. The film will be introduced with a special mini-concert from celebrated Scottish musicians Rachel Newton and Alasdair Roberts. | The Cameo | 6 May, 7.30pm
Ila Ayn + Intro | Considered one of the foundation stones of Lebanese cinema, and the first Lebanese film to screen at Cannes, George Nasser’s ILA AYN tells the story of a poor family in the Lebanese mountains whose father leaves to travel the world, seeking Eldorado. The film will be introduced by traditional Middle Eastern music from Bashir Saade. | 7 May, 5.15pm
Paper Portraits + Q&A | A playful new documentary from Scottish filmmaker and writer Gerda Stevenson, PAPER PORTAITS celebrates the history and working people of Penicuik’s paper mills + a special mini-concert from musicians with ties to the film, including Penicuik-based musicians Mary and Ailsa McInroy, and followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. | 9 May, 5.15pm
Mint Chinese Film Festival presents An Unfinished Film by Lou Ye | January 2020. A film crew reunites near Wuhan to resume the shooting of a film halted ten years earlier, only to share the unexpected challenges as cities are placed under lockdown. ★★★★★ “An utterly unique and very important movie about Covid, the crisis that affected all of us.” The Guardian - MINT is the first women-organised Chinese film festival in the UK. | The Cameo | playing all week - various times
This Rain Will Never Stop (2020) - Documentaries for Ukraine Fundraiser | A powerful, visually arresting journey through humanity’s endless cycle of war and peace. The film follows 20-year-old Andriy Suleyman as he tries to secure a sustainable future while navigating the human toll of armed conflict. From the Syrian civil war to strife in Ukraine, Andriy’s existence is framed by the seemingly eternal flow of life and death.
Donations to this fundraiser will support funds that provide psychological and psychosocial support to children affected by the war and Medical Aid funds. If you wish to donate, please prepare your donation in cash. Thank you.
For more information, including a statement from the film's director, please follow this link. | Grassmarket Picture House | 7 May, 7pm
ON FALLING - Local Cinema Network screenings | Set against a landscape dominated by an algorithm-driven gig economy, in a world designed to keep us apart, On Falling explores the silent, vital struggle to find meaning and connection. By Portuguese-born, Edinburgh-based filmmaker Laura Carreira, who debuted the film at TIFF 2024 | multiple locations and dates from 7 May
16mm Film Screening | Emily Beaney | This is a unique opportunity to see the original 16mm version of Emily Beaney’s film Deviant. | Talbot Rice Gallery | 7 May, 5.30pm
Relaxed Movie Screening - Groundhog Day (1993) | Once a month we gather together to spend an afternoon watching a classic movie on a big screen! Hot drinks are provided, and everyone is welcome to relax and enjoy the movie. Free event. | Eric Liddel Centre | 8 May, 2pm
Love Boat / La petite vadrouille | Justine, her husband and their gang of friends come up with a solution to their money problems: organize a fake romantic cruise for Franck, a major investor, who is looking to seduce a woman. | French Institute | 7 May, 2pm & 6 pm
One Fine Morning / Un beau matin | Edinburgh Film Guild presents - In Paris, a young, widowed mother juggles her job as a translator with caring both for her young daughter and her elderly father, who suffers from a degenerative illness. Her life is further complicated when she embarks on a passionate affair with an old friend in an unhappy marriage. | French Institute | 9 May, 6pm
A Complete Unknown - Balerno Community Screening | Timothee Chalamet portrays Bob Dylan through his earliest folk music success until the momentous controversy over his use of electric instruments. | Balerno Village Screen at St Joseph's | 10 May, 7.30pm
Two short films - City of Freedom, Folktales for New Scots |
Miasto Wolności (City of Freedom) (10min) - art documentary - Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka, leading artists of Beetroots Collective CIC created an art documentary film with the theme of joining and belonging to the European Union and its values, hopes and freedoms. The film presents Polish communities’ feelings in post-Brexit Scotland. Supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh.
Folktales for New Scots: The Dreammakers (6min) - animation
An animated retelling of a folktale from Isle of Skye using artwork created by migrants during workshops with artists from Beetroots Collective CIC and a storyteller, Claire McNicol and featuring Alys Morrison. English with English subtitles | French Institute | 11 May, 5pm
EVENTS:
Film Club - I'm Still Here (2024) | The Edinburgh ‘Like A Book Group But With Films’ Group meets in the pub every other Thursday to chat films and TV! Come along, it’s fun! | Bennets Bar | 8 May, 7.30pm
DOCo#010: Week-In-The-Sun – Work-in-Progress Screening. | DOCo, Edinburgh’s documentary community, invites you to a special work-in-progress screening of A Week In The Sun, directed by Angus Reid. Filmed in Cuba during the 2022 referendum on the progressive Family Code, A Week In The Sun follows two filmmakers—one Scottish, one Cuban—as they capture a unique moment in Cuban political life and explore the role of independent film in a transforming society.
The evening includes DIY badge-making with Claudine Quinn, a DOCMA short film screening (#103 PALESTINE), and an informal feedback session to help shape the next cut of the film.
Entry is free, all welcome! Sent in by DocoDocs | The Outhouse | 7 May, 7pm
Notwork - Creatives Networking Event | A laid-back Friday night for Edinburgh creatives to connect, grab a drink, and showcase their work – no egos, just good vibes. | Lost in Leith | 9 May, 6pm
OCEAN by David Attenborough | Celebrate our nation’s greatest TV treasure’s 99th birthday with a screening of Ocean! | Everyman Cinema | from 8 May (also showing at other cinemas)
Ali Plumb’s Big Movie Quiz | Get tickets before they sell out! Ali Plumb's Untitled Film Quiz Project is just what you need in your life: an evening of BIG SCREEN, in-a-cinema film trivia fun, hosted by that geeky guy off Radio 1, Ali Plumb. You and your friends can partake in quiz rounds so bonkers, you'll be telling your other mates about them as soon as you get home – think 'Guess the film from the LEGO minifigure’ (and honestly, that's just seeing the tip of the iceberg). | The Cameo | 10 May, 7pm
30th anniversary of La Haine | Director Matthieu Kassovitz’ honest portrayal of young men trapped by their economic, ethnic and community circumstances, La Haine is an incendiary piece of modern French cinema that speaks definitively to the current era. | The Cameo | 9 May, 6.15pm
Filmmakers Circle with Tizintizwa Collective + Live Performance | With Scottish Documentary Institute, join the Circle with Tizintizwa Collective diving into collaboration in filmmaking not just as a process, but as a mindset — reshaping how we tell stories with communities, not just about them. @tizintizwa is a Moroccan poly-disciplinary art-research collective that uses creation as a space for cross-pollination and collective making. | The Salisbury Centre | 9 May, 11am
Filmmakers Circle with Ahmed Saleh | Join Scottish Documentary Institute for an intimate filmmakers circle led by Ahmed Saleh around memory, intangible reality, and how to capture past stories and experiences in film. This event precedes the live performance ‘Inside the TV Box, I Found the True Story of the People of Palestine’ as part of Falastin Film Festival, a volunteer-run, not-for-profit collective of Palestinians and allies dedicated to sharing Palestinian stories and voices with Scottish audiences through the power of cinema and art. | Scottish Storytelling Centre | 16 May, 6.15pm - apply by 12 May
Cinetopia Film Networking Night - May - Pop along to our next film networking mixer for some spring vibes, good conversation, and maybe meet your next film project partner?! 👀 Welcoming, friendly, informal - free to attend but PLEASE rsvp at the link! | The Blackbird | 29 May, 7pm
GLASGOW
FILM SCREENINGS:
MilkTea's GLASGOW Community Screening of NEW WAVE | New Wave – a bold, beautiful documentary by Elizabeth Ai – is landing in Glasgow for a super rare screening, and MilkTea is bringing the vibes. Think beats, belonging, and the untold story of the Vietnamese diaspora who made their own rhythm in a brand-new world. Sent in by Milk Tea Films & ESEA Creatives | CCA | 7 May, 6.30pm
Vincent Price Double Bill | VINCENT PRICE DOUBLE FEATURE with HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL and THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, both digitally remastered and together in one classic double feature program | Grosvenor Picture Theatre | 7 May, 7pm
Desire: The Carl Craig Story + recorded Q&A | Detroit techno legend Carl Craig offers insights into his life and the development of his unique style in this pacy portrait that features contributions from Gilles Peterson, Laurent Garnier and others. This special screening will be followed by a recorded Q&A with director Jean-Cosme Delaloye and Carl Craig himself, hosted by Marcus Barnes. | GFT | 8 May, 7.55pm
DIG 2025: Elyla Artists’ Film Programme (Nicaragua) | As part of Tramway's Dance International Glasgow festival their gallery programme presents an exhibition of three performance films by multi-disciplinary artist and activist Elyla. | Tramway | 9-16 May
Björk: Cornucopia | Björk: Cornucopia, the highly anticipated concert film recorded live in Lisbon, captures the celebrated artist’s groundbreaking tour that mesmerised audiences worldwide for five years. | GFT | 7 May, 8.20pm (also on 11 May) / also showing in Edinburgh at Everyman Cinema from 7 May
Creatives of Colour Festival: Screenings + Q&A | The Creatives of Colour Festival features a dynamic screening of Sudanese comedic film aKasha (2018, Hajooj Kuka), along with two shorts: Palestinian filmmaker, Razan Madhoon’s new film The Nobody (2024) and A to B (2018) by Iranian visual artist Iman Tajik. The screening will be followed by a discussion chaired by Zahra Khosroshahi and filmmakers Razan Madhoon and Iman Tajik, along with scholar of Sudanese cinema Umloda Ibrahim.
This screening is part of larger festival curated by Kevin Leomo and Zahra Khosroshahi, aimed at celebrating the diverse and intersectional range of art forms and practices by creatives of colour. Learn more about the programme here.
aKasha is in Arabic with English subtitles | GFT | 10 May, 6pm
EVENTS:
FP Arts Short Film Festival - 1st Annual Event - Friday | Get ready for a full day of all of our nommies films for the 1st year annual event at the FP Arts Short Film Festival. | East Kilbride Arts Centre | 9 May, 3pm
Falastin Film Festival | Falastin Film Festival Scotland brings Palestinian cinema, culture, and art to Scotland, raising awareness of Zionist colonization. We strive to highlight Palestinian resistance, cultural pride, stories of love, and, in the words of poet Rafeef Ziadah, teachings of life.
9-10 May at CCA Glasgow
15-19 May at Scottish Storytelling Centre
Wurlitzer Cinema Organ Performance with Iain of Scottish Cinema Organ Trust | You've all seen it on the stage, all lit up and looking snazzy, at our markets... well now is your chance to see it being played! | Pollokshaws Burgh Hall | 11 May, 5pm
FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD!
Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!
ON TOUR - TUMMY MONSTER | Support Scottish-made films - Tummy Monster by local writer director Ciaran Lyons is touring across UK and Scotland with several Scottish dates upcoming! | Multiple dates and venues
STIRLING - Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story Screening & Roundtable | A documentary celebrating the life and career of the hailed Hollywood star and genius inventor Hedy Lamarr. The screening will be followed by a roundtable discussion on feminist media led by Dr Darren Elliott-Smith and Dr Susan Berridge from the University of Stirling. | Creative Sterling | 8 May, 6pm
OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:
Volunteer Social Media Coordinator - Edinburgh Cine & Video Club
Hires & Events Assistant - Dundee Contemporary Arts - Salary: £23,244, 35 hrs per week, apply before 9 May
Cinema Duty Managers | £13.50 ph - apply by 9 May
Chef de partie | £12.60 ph - apply by 9 May
Hospitality Supervisor | £13.10 ph - apply by 9 May
Hospitality Team | £12.60 pm - apply by 9 May
Assistant AV Technician - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Glasgow - £24,530 per annum | Apply before 13 May
Marketing Manager - Manipulate Arts | £35k per annum pro rata (£21k per annum) - 3 days per week, apply before 15 May
Film & TV Executive Producer - LS Productions - seeking a dynamic and experienced Film & TV Executive Producer to lead and grow our Film & TV division across the UK and internationally. - £80,000 - £90,000 (depending on experience) | Apply before 23 May
COURSES & WORKSHOPS:
NFTS: Interviewing for Documentary and Factual Filmmaker / From actuality interviews to formal sit-downs, we will spend two days developing your interviewing skills and experimenting with different techniques and approach / NFTS Scotland / 8 & 9 May
FREE: Documentary Masterclass | Young DIY filmmakers, join award-winning director Juliet Klottrup for a free online masterclass on documentary filmmaking hosted by Film Hub North! You’ll learn how to capture powerful real-life stories on a budget, connect with your community, and get inspired by Juliet’s creative process. | online | 15 May, 6.30pm
Solar Reels - Deaf Film School - Looking for 3 deaf people to take part in a 2 week summer film school | Mentored by two deaf film and television professionals, you’ll gain hands-on experience in story development, production skills, filming, and editing. This includes creating your own film! | Solar Bear, Glasgow | 14-26 July, apply by 12 May
Scottish Youth Film Foundation Sean Connery Talent Lab opens for applications | This summer school will take place near Alness in the Highlands and will be free to all participants. | Scottish Youth Film Foundation | Apply Now
Directors Prep by National Film & Television School Scotland | Having directed film and television for over thirty years, and authored the book ' The Film Director Prepares', Jonas Grimas will explain, simplify and de-mystify the abstract elements of filmmaking - and share a string of his secrets.| NFTS Glasgow | 2 days 10am -5pm, in-person, 31 May - 1 June
Story for Pitch Decks / You’ve got a great idea and a script you think industry producers and execs should read. But how do you convince them? 2 day course. / ONLINE / 6 + 20 June
FUNDING / AWARDS / FESTIVALS:
FESTIVALS / ORGS LOOKING FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS:
Shortcutz Amsterdam | Want your short film to screen at Shortcutz Amsterdam this season? We’re looking for bold, original short films to be part of our May and June screenings. This is your chance to connect with audiences and industry guests in the heart of Amsterdam. | Deadline 11 May
SQIFF 2025 Festival: Short Film Submissions Now Open | SQIFF is bringing our 2025 edition to Glasgow from 28th October until 1st November 2025! We are open to short films (50 minutes and under). Films must have had people with lived LGBTQIA+ experience in the production. We will prioritise films made by people/communities with typically less access to film industries. For example Black and PoC, Deaf, Disabled, working class, and refugee and immigrant filmmakers. | Deadline 25 May
Edinburgh Short Film Festival / The 15th edition with International Film Festival showcases, more short film screenings, trophies, cash prizes and awards! / Regular deadline 16 May
CPH:DOX + Futura Cinema: CALL FOR PROJECTS | CPH:DOX and Futura Cinema have partnered to launch the 4th edition, featuring two intensive support programmes for innovation across cinema and the creative industries. Find out more about the incubation programme and experimentation programme | Applications for both close on 30 June
London Breeze Film Festival | Calling black british filmmakers who are already doing the work - Introducing a brand new £10,000 fund, mentorship, and a UK premiere slot at London Breeze 2026 | Submit via MySmashMedia | Deadline 1 August 2025
FUNDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, MENTORSHIPS:
BIFA Springboard | BIFA’s yearly programme designed to support film writers, directors and producers to continue and develop their careers is once again open for applications. | Deadline 5 May
Open Call for Southeast Asian Storytellers! | Join the Just Futures Impact Story Lab — a new initiative for creators working on audiovisual projects that tackle regional issues. | Apply by 18 May, lab takes place 6-9 September in Bali, Indonesia
The Film Fund up to $10,000 for your short | Craft and submit one sentence with a compelling premise that also conveys why you need this funding to achieve your vision. Our judges will choose the best one. Get creative capital to use for the production of a short, or use it as a film finishing fund. See examples here, and enter below. | Apply before 28 May
Creative Grants From the Hugo Burge Foundation | The Hugo Burge Foundation are offering up to £15,000 to individuals and organisations engaged in creative projects across Scotland. The grants will support projects, people, and organisations in three key areas:
Creative Individuals – funding towards the creation of a specific project, work or piece.
Creative Education – furthering the creative skills and expertise of young people.
Creative Communities - supporting people to engage and connect with arts and culture.
Apply before 31 May
Creative Scotland Open Fund for Individuals / Supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. / Until 8 October 2025
25% bursary for women in video games | John Yorke Story - Covers 25% of the regular course price and is available to one female applicant for each iteration of this course. The only requirements are that you are a woman who loves and plays video games, and is interested in how to tell engaging game stories. | Apply before 2 June
BFI Creative Fund Opens | UK screen organisations can apply for funding ranging from £12,000 to £150,000 | Ongoing until March 2026
NFTS Sylvia Anderson Scholarship | A new funding opportunity for aspiring storytellers, created in partnership with ITV Studios. The Sylvia Anderson Scholarship will support students on the NFTS’ world-renowned two year Screenwriting MA, ensuring that the next generation of screenwriters continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. | Starting Jan 2026
Schools Screen Education Fund | Funding to support schools across Scotland in their delivery of film and screen education. £500 - £5,000 per project. | Screen Scotland | apply before March 2026
NEWS:
Film stories, productions, news, reports, industry insights, and other tidbits that have caught our attention this week!
Scottish director warns grassroots film losing out to Hollywood
East Kilbride film fan honoured for being UK's biggest spender on Odeon movie snacks 🌭
200 producers call on BBC Film, Film4 to reaffirm commitment to UK independent film sector 🎥
BFI Doc Society selects six UK producers for Rise programme 🎞️
Research into the UK’s current nations & regions TV production regime 💯
Film Festivals currently running / coming up:
Folk Film Gathering / 26 April - 11 May / Multiple locations, Edinburgh
Falastin Film Festival Scotland / 9-19 May / various locations Edinburgh & Glasgow
Festival de Cannes / 14-23 May - Cannes, France
SXSW London / 2-7 June / London, UK
Tribeca Film Festival / 4-15 June / New York, US
Sheffield DocFest / 18 - 23 June - Sheffield, UK
Raindance / 18-27 June / London, UK