Cinetopia: Recommends - August Special Edition!🍿
Film screenings, events, opportunities and film news for the month of August, covering EIFF, festival shenanigans and more across Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond! 🎉
Greetings movie nerds! This is our last newsletter until September and we’re celebrating all things EIFF, and August film events!
To feature your screening, event, opportunity or news in our future issues - from 31 August onward, simply complete our: EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES SUBMISSION FORM.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY GUARANTEED WAY TO GET FEATURED (we do our best to trawl all the sites every week, but submitting to us directly makes sure we see it!)
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AROUND TOWN
Film screenings & events in Edinburgh and Glasgow 🍿
EDINBURGH
CINETOPIA’S BEST OF THE EIFF FEST PICKS!
Look out for team Cinetopia during the Edinburgh International Film Festival, (14-20 August), we’ll be out and about throughout and as a preview, we’ve picked the films and events we’re most excited for!
IN COMPETITION:
Bulk - A quintessential midnight movie, Ben Wheatley’s wildly inventive, darkly funny and completely unpredictable new film draws on a wealth of references from Airfix and Thunderbirds to Philip K Dick and Zelda in a delightful melting pot of ideas, noirish conspiracy thriller tropes and sheer joy in filmmaking.
Two Neighbours - A wealthy socialite (Cherry) and a struggling writer (Chalotra) are thrown together at a debauched party in this remarkable satire of greed and excess with a supernatural twist in the tale.
Novak - An ostracised Croatian neuroscientist is drawn out of hiding in Athens by an activist group of idealistic young scientists fascinated by his previously discredited theories about electromagnetic pollution. As egos swell and actions take momentum, the community they form starts to unravel.
On the Sea - The humdrum contentment and daily routine of a married mussel farmer are thrown into chaos by the arrival of a mysterious stranger in novellist and filmmaker Helen Walsh’s beautiful, erotic love story set on the Welsh coast. With its elegant visual style, powerful performances and disarmingly frank script, this is queer cinema at its most candid, sensual and raw.
RETROSPECTIVE:
The Cranes are Flying - Selected by EIFF special guest, Kevin Macdonald, as a film that has hugely influenced him, this classic 1957 Soviet era war film directed by Mikhail Kalatozov explores the physical and pyschological impact of WWII on the Russian psyche. Winner of the Palme D’Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.
Budd Boetticher: The Ranown Cycle - EIFF presents six compact and beautiful films directed by Budd Boetticher, which present the apotheosis of the Western genre and all star classic Hollywood golden age movie icon Randolph Scott. Presented in collaboration with Edinburgh Film Guild and introduced by Ehsan Khoshbakht from Il Cinema Ritrovato.
OUT OF COMPETITION:
Dossier 137 - Powered by a topical resonance and quiet anger at institutional corruption, Dominik Moll’s excellent new thriller explores the murky moral maze surrounding a civilian casualty on the streets of Paris during a riot, and the excessive force that may have been used by police officers on the ground.
Young Mothers - The intersecting and colliding lives of the women at a shelter for young mothers form the subject of this beautiful and poetic film from the Dardennes. This is direct and profoundly emotional cinema of the highest order and essential viewing in the cinema.
IN CONVERSATION:
Ben Wheatley & Andy Starke - Acclaimed director Ben Wheatley and his longtime producing partner Andy Starke discuss their collaborations, their dynamic and the impressive range of films they have created together. From breakout horror thriller KILL LIST to EIFF Midnight Madness Opener BULK, via hilarious black comedy SIGHTSEERS and many more
Kevin and Andrew Macdonald - Director and documentarian Kevin Macdonald is joined by his brother, producer Andrew Macdonald for a wide ranging conversation about filmmaking and their respective careers.
Nia Dacosta - Trailblazing American writer/director Nia DaCosta’s diverse body of work spans independent film, franchise remakes and major studio comic adaptations. The Marvels was the highest-grossing film ever directed by a Black female filmmaker, the remake of Candyman was box office smash and upcoming sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the latest instalment of the cult independent horror series.
Andrea Arnold - Award-winning writer/director Andrea Arnold is one of the UK’s most outstanding filmmakers, her searing debut feature Red Road, also screening at EIFF this year, won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut in 2006, followed by the critically acclaimed and Cannes Jury Prize winning Fish Tank (which also won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film) and American Honey. Cow and, most recently, Bird, were both nominated for BAFTAs. Andrea has also created brilliant work in television, including Transparent, I Love Dick and the second season of Big Little Lies.
SHORTS:
Bridging the Gap Shorts - SDI present the short documentary films created through the Bridging the Gap training programme. Inner forces and outside influences shape this collection which takes us into intimate, poetic and surprising worlds.
NFTS Sean Connery Lab Shorts - NFTS Scotland and The Sean Connery Foundation present the World Premiere of six short films created via the inaugural Sean Connery Talent Lab. These rich, vibrant and diverse films showcase six new filmmakers of immense talent and promise, and spotlight a variety of perspectives on Scotland and Scottish stories.
Experimental Shorts - A journey from the microscopic to the planetary, these ten works collectively map an unsettled present and an unknown future. Beginning in the quiet, observational terrain of nature, light, and breath, and unfolding through questions of memory, identity, and power, they gradually expand into fractured landscapes of bodies, history, and ultimately, speculative imaginations.
CLOSING NIGHT:
Reality is Not Enough by Paul Sng - Whether discussing his writing process, experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs or mixing music in his life as a DJ, acclaimed Scottish author and outsider icon Irvine Welsh remains a figure of fascination, and in this striking new film director Paul Sng (Tish, Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché) pays fittingly eclectic homage with an approach that is richly detailed, playful and complex.
IN CINEMAS OVER AUGUST - OUR PICKS!
Oslo Stories Trilogy: Dreams Love Sex (Triple Bill) - MULTIPLE VENUES, LINKS BELOW- The Oslo Stories Trilogy (Dreams, Love, Sex) is an ambitious set of films from novelist-turned-filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud. Each film explores themes of love, intimacy, and desire in contemporary Norway, with each existing as a different character study. Dreams, which centres around the sexual awakening of a teenager writing about her crush on her French teacher, won the Berlinale Golden Bear in 2025. Love follows the relationship and sexual experiences between a heterosexual urologist and her gay colleague. Sex tells the compelling story of two men in committed heterosexual relationships who, after an unexpected experience, are prompted to reflect on their own sexuality, gender, and sense of identity.
Cinemasters: ROB REINER: This CineMasters season celebrates Reiner’s enduring legacy with a carefully curated selection of his triumphs on the big screen. Experience the sharp wit and charm of the classic romcom When Harry Met Sally, the enchanting fantasy adventure The Princess Bride, and the chilling psychological thriller Misery. The season culminates with two special screenings of his dazzling debut, the cult heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. | Glasgow Film Theatre throughout August
OTHER SCREENINGS & EVENTS:
(Un)borderings + Post Screening Discussion | This screening will have a short 5-minute introduction and will be followed by a 45-minute post-film discussion with directors Alex Nevill, Mariana Duarte and Aria Danaparamita, moderated by Rachel Hamada. 2024 was the deadliest year on record for Channel crossings. This should have been a call for compassion. Instead, the government has responded with more anti-migrant policies, including the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill and the Migration White Paper, while echoing far-right racism in both rhetoric and policy. Through this film screening and conversation, we hold space for people to come together to reflect on how borders affect our communities and how we can cultivate more care, compassion, and justice for migrants and refugees. This screening is part of Doc Screen, an initiative run by Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) in partnership with Filmhouse.
Dover 82 (2025, 5min, Aria Danaparamita)
Notes from Brook House (2025, 28min, Alex Nevill)
Vittne (2024, 12min, Ahmad Al Shehabi)
Headland (2024, 13min, Mariana Duarte)
EDINBURGH FILMHOUSE | 27 August, 5.30pm
GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PICTURE HOUSE, Edinburgh | Double bills galore!
One Of Them Days (2025) and Barbershop (2002) | 13 August 7pm
Adventureland (2009) & Zombieland (2009) | 20 August, 7pm
McDonald Road Library Film Club August 2025 | Award winning 2020 documentary that examines the FBI's surveillance and harrassment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Utilising newly discovered and declassified files, it explores the US Government's long history of targeting black activists. As ever, all McDonald Road library Film Club screenings are free, but spaces are limited, so we do ask that you reserve your ticket here. This film has been rated as only being suitable for persons aged 12 years and over. | Macdonald Road Library, EDINBURGH | 6 August, 5.30pm
MA Documentary Film Directing Graduate Screening & Exhibition 2025 | Edinburgh College of Art welcomes visitors to a screening and exhibition of work by our Master’s students on the MA Documentary Film Directing Programme.
Take the chance to see the cohort's work on the big screen throughout the day or pop along to the exhibition space where you can select from works to watch. A schedule of screening times for the main space will be announced closer to the date. | E22 Lecture Theatre, Edniburgh College of Art | 15 August, 9.30am - 5pm
Rot Your Brain: A Television Reading Group | Discuss theories and themes in contemporary and past television. This month: True Blood & "Beach Read" television | GLASGOW ZINE LIBRARY | 21 August, 7pm
P-Rock the Doc: Feature Film Screening | Feature Documentary screening about P-Rock TV with chance to meet P-Rock TV and the filmmakers, buy some merch and watch the old archive. In the era of boybands and pop music, the early 2000s TV channels didn’t offer much for the “alternative” music scene. Two South Londoners tried to change that, starting up their own music video channel, they soared above the top dogs, until they tried to bring them down. Through Interviews with bands, fan’s and the creator’s of P-Rock TV we look into DIY nature of the punk, ska, “alternative” music industry. Shining a light on the community this music scene has as well as answering the age old mystery of what happened to P-Rock TV. | Strip Joint Glasgow : Cold Beer, Pizza, Vinyl Records | 19 August, 8pm
FURTHER AFIELD AND FURTHER AHEAD
Film-related treats happening around the rest of Scotland and UK!
NORTH BERWICK: Wavelength Film Festival at Fringe by the Sea 2025 | The Wavelength programme has been curated by a team passionate about both music and film. Co-curators presenter, writer and DJ Vic Galloway and filmmaker Lewis Gourlay have joined forces with the creative team at Fringe by the Sea and, with support from music documentary festival Doc ‘N Roll, who developed a distinctly spirited Scottish celebration of screen and sound. Wavelength offers a mix of screenings, director Q&As & post-film gigs. | North Berwick from 1-10th August.
Films include: Secret Lives: The Untold Story of British Hip Hop; If the Stars Had a Sound; Hello Universe
Guests include: Irvine Welsh, Tim Pope, Dave Rowntree of Blur, Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch
CRIEFF: Creative Crieff Film Festival - The theme of Crieff’s first-ever Film Festival is ‘Local Heroes’. We’re proud to celebrate the achievements of two of the town’s most renowned actors – Ewan McGregor and Denis Lawson – both of whom grew up in Crieff and were inspired by visits to their local cinema. Creative Crieff aims to rekindle that same magic by bringing the joy of cinema to residents of Crieff and the wider Perth and Kinross community.| Strathearn Arts | 8-10 August
MONTROSE: LandxSea Monthly: Rivers & Tides (25th anniversary screening) Celebrate the launch of the 2025 LandxSea Film Festival theme Creative Ground: Artists Respond to the Climate with this special 25th anniversary screening of Rivers and Tides, Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy’s iconic collaboration with director Thomas Riedelsheimer. In Rivers & Tides, Riedelsheimer follows Goldsworthy as he constructs his art everywhere from upstate New York to his home village in Scotland, and questions the solitary artist about his inspirations, frustrations and artistic goals. Captured on film both in real time and through timelapse, we witness the creation and collapse of Goldsworthy’s works accompanied by his soft, thoughtful musings. | Montrose Playhouse | 18 August, 7.30pm
OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS / WORK OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP:
Seeking Sound Recordist for Indie Short Film (Glasgow) | August 16–17 (2 days, indoors) | Expenses covered + meals + credit + footage (self-funded indie) | 📩 To apply: Send a brief intro, gear list, and links or credits (if any) to kyle@concretefilms.co
Production Manager - Film and TV, Napier University | Salary: £37,174 - £45,413 (dependent on experience) | Contract: Permanent, part time (28 hrs pw) | Deadline, 3 August
Programme Manager, GLASGOW FILM THEATRE | Salary: £38,010 | Apply before 28 August
Executive Director, GLASGOW FILM THEATRE | Salary: £51,570 | Apply before 29 August
Sales Executive (German-speaking) - Park Circus Films | Full time, 35 hours per week | Location: Glasgow | Salary: £27,500
COURSES & WORKSHOPS:
Filmmaking & Narrative Therapy Consultation Group | (delivered virtually over Zoom) - 4 weekly sessions, Filmmaking & Narrative Therapy Consultation group for filmmakers across form and genre throughout September 2025. This consultation group will explore creative approach, creative risk; working with participants, crew, and friends, crew dynamics; and non-extractive and decolonia ways of creating. | Hosted by Film In Mind | 2-23 September
Intro to Editing with Avid Media Composer | Designed to provide you with a thorough, rapid and practical introduction to operational editing techniques using AVID. Class time is divided between short illustrated lectures, demonstrations and (lots of) hands-on practice. Experience with Avid systems is not necessary. A working background in editing, production or post-production is recommended but not essential, and participants are able to download Avid free of charge for a 30 day trial | Course takes place: Tues 14th - Thurs 16th October 2025 | NFTS | Deadline to apply: 29 September 2025
AI in Film & Television | This two-day course introduces participants to the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence in film and television, focusing on both the creative possibilities and ethical responsibilities of using AI in the production pipeline. | NFTS Glasgow | Two days 31 July + 1 August
Assisting Camera Short Course | Are you looking to start a career or progress in the camera department for film and high-end television drama? Our brand new training course, supported by the Connery Foundation, is designed to give new and early entrants the hands-on skills, technical understanding, and on-set insight needed to confidently step into the role of a camera trainee or junior assistant on professional productions and understand the career progression route available within the department. | NFTS | Apply Now (course begins in September)
FUNDING / AWARDS / FESTIVALS:
FESTIVALS / ORGS LOOKING FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS:
Shetland Arts Looking for Submissions | Homemade 2025 Short Films | Homemade was a perennial audience favourite at the former Screenplay Film Festival, bringing together local film makers of all ages and abilities. We’d love to have your short films (up to 4 minutes) be part of our screenings in September. Whether you're into storytelling, comedy, documentaries, or animation - we want to see it! Selected short films will be shown on the big screen on Saturday 6th September and Sunday 7th September. There will be support from Shetland ForWirds who will offer their annual cash prizes for the most effective use of Shetland dialect, and the audience will get to choose their favourite on the day. | Shetland Arts (Mareel) | Deadline 6 August
London Short Film Festival | LSFF exists to spotlight a multiplicity of filmmakers, visual artists and creatives, across intersections and with a commitment to peripheral voices. | Last Deadline, 8 August
Dublin Film Festival | Taking place every spring, the Dublin International Film Festival is one of the most iconic events in Ireland’s cultural calendar. Each Festival offers an enticing mix of public and industry events, In Conversations, and playful and powerful cinema from around the world, including a growing programme of short films. | Regular Deadline, 15 August
The Activists Without Borders Film Festival (AWBFF) is an in-person event held in the UK, celebrating powerful documentaries and dramas that address critical issues such as human rights violations, the climate crisis, and social inequality. | Final deadline October 2025
FUNDS, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, MENTORSHIPS:
Regional Creatives Fund by Amazon | The fund is available for applications from charities that are currently running a programme that focuses on upskilling people from underserved communities for careers in creative industries. | Apply by 31 August
T A P E x Invisible Women Curatorial Retreat 2025 | Independent curators are a vital resource for creative institutions, offering genuinely diverse perspectives, challenging orthodoxies, championing artists and bringing hard won specialist knowledge to the table. Yet our work is often undervalued, with low pay and bad working conditions meaning too many of us are burning out or losing momentum. We firmly believe we need to build our own eco-system and networks to help break these cycles and to ensure that progressive, innovative curation can continue to survive in the industry. That's why, with our friends T A P E, we have established a new retreat for like-minded fellow working with film and moving image. After a wonderful first retreat last year, we're excited to be returning once again to beautiful Smygehuk in Sweden for our second trip. | retreat will take place 28 Oct - 31 Oct at the Smygehuk Lighthouse Hostel in the South of Sweden. | Apply before 18 August
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
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!
Bectu welcomes "critical" UK government crackdown on late payments for freelancers 👏
More Scots should benefit from Scotland's screen industry, John Swinney says 🫰
Cosmic Cat films to bring From Ground Zero Gaza documentary to UK cinemas 🎞️
Film Festivals currently running / coming up:
Edinburgh International Film Festival / 14-20 August | Edinburgh, UK
Venice Biennalle del Cinema / 27 August - 6 September / Venice, Italy
Toronto International Film Festival / 4-14 September / Toronto, Canada
BFI London Film Festival / 8-19 October / London, UK
IDFA / 12-23 November / Amsterdam, Netherlands