The richness of Asian and queer communities forms a vital part of the UK’s identity and over the past six years Queer East has forged a space for bold, alternative and multifaceted expressions of artistic queerness. This ambition continues when, from October to December, Queer East: On The Road 2025 will introduce remarkable entries from this year’s programme at two cinemas in Edinburgh. Expect a boundary pushing line-up of features, documentaries and shorts that explore the ever-evolving queer landscape across East and Southeast Asia. Activism, community and the collective memory of queer history take centre stage in this year’s programme: from a drama which subtly critiques the social expectations surrounding gender and sexuality set on a small Japanese island (My Sunshine), to the strikingly violent Kubi, which comprehensively debunks the myths of masculinity, ethics and honour that have defined the samurai genre onscreen. Screenings will take place at the Cameo Picturehouse from 19-26 November, and at Edinburgh Filmhouse on 9 and 11 December.

Eat your heart out 50 Shades of Grey! Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader star in this sordid tale of an office-based subdom relationship. This screening will be introduced by Xuanlin Tham, who will be reading an excerpt from their book Revolutionary Desires, part of the Inkling series printed by 404 Ink. Tickets cost £5 and we have allocated handful of free tickets for those not in a position to pay. Please support your local Leith Kino! Drinks and refreshments are available to purchase at the Depot bar, alongside our monthly posters, each designed by a different Leith-based artist. Leith Kino Access Information - English subtitles will be onscreen for every screening, including descriptive captions where possible. - The screening room is on ground level and is wheelchair accessible from the Leith Depot bar with flexible seating to accomodate specific requirements. - There are accessible toilets in both the screening room and the bar. Leith Depot is well-served by public transport. It's a short walk from the Foot of the Walk tram stop and there is a bus stop outside the venue for services: 7, 14, 16, 25, and 49 Leith Kino is kindly supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery.

This intoxicating melodrama stars Miroslava Stern as Barbara, a wealthy industrialist’s daughter whose desire for Carlos (Jorge Mistral), a former worker turned business partner, defies social codes and patriarchal control. With torrential storms, moonlit beaches and sweeping Cuban backdrops, Stronger than Love ignites with passion, situating female lust and agency at the heart of its fiery drama. Screening as part of 'Stronger Than Love: ¡Too Much Mexican Melodrama!', a programme that celebrates the lavish, emotionally charged world of 1930s–50s Mexican cinema with four restored classics that put women’s stories front and centre. From tempestuous romances to daring acts of defiance, these films showcase melodrama as a space where female desire, ambition, and artistry take the spotlight. Curated and presented by Invisible Women. With an introduction by Camilla Baier. Stronger Than Love ¡Too Much Mexican Melodrama! is delivered with the support of BFI FAN, awarding funds from The National Lottery.​ With special thanks to Viviana García Besné, Filmoteca UNAM and Film Noir UK.

CinemaAttic presents a special screening of Killa (dir. Alberto Muenala), the first feature-length film written, directed, and produced by Kichwa filmmakers in Kichwa language. The screening will include an introduction and Q&A with Dr Peter Baker, Senior Lecturer at the University of Stirling, drawing from his research on the history of Kichwa cinema in Ecuador. His current project, “Against the Grain”, highlights the voices and productions of Alberto Muenala and other Kichwa filmmakers to deepen our understanding of Indigenous film history from Abya Yala/Latin America. Synopsis: A photograph and a news story at an inopportune moment form the beginning of a story about love, racism, and persecution centred on the relationship between a journalist (Alicia) and a Kichwa photographer (Sayri). As an Indigenous leader takes up the defence of a community against a mining company, his determination will lead to a personal confrontation with a corrupt high-ranking government official, which will have repercussions on the lives of Alicia and Sayri. The positions taken by the government official and the Indigenous leader show two different conceptions of how to approach life. The official is concerned with development, while the leader fights to defend nature. The couple and the community will pay the price for the outcome of this confrontation. The screening will be accompanied by the 2-minute short film Warmikuna Kaypimikanchik, which focuses on the involvement of Kichwa women in recent protests in Ecuador, and the trailer for Alberto Muenala’s forthcoming film Allpamamapak Shunku (Heart of the Earth), which centres on the peaceful occupation of the Santo Domingo Church in Quito which marked the beginning of a nationwide Indigenous uprising in 1990 in Ecuador. 📅 Wednesday 3rd December – 6pm 📍 MacRobert Arts Centre – Stirling Accessibility This screening is wheelchair accessible

We are hosting a work-in-progress session on Matt Robinson’s experimental documentary Portencross, which follows experimental musician Richard Youngs as he explores 4 ancient steel buoys on the shore at Portencross. Come join us in giving feedback to Matt to help him shape his film. Free, open to film makers and non film makers alike.

Borscht Film Club and Glasgow Women’s Library invite you to a powerful evening of film and conversation—Girls’ Stories is a rare documentary crafted for young audiences, directed by Polish filmmaker Aga Borzym. Following two teenage girls in contemporary Poland, the film explores identity, friendship, first love, and the tension between dreams and societal expectations. Animated interludes by Monika Kuczyniecka and an original score by Barbara Wrońska enhance its poetic tone. Celebrated at Millennium Docs Against Gravity, IDFA, Thessaloniki, and Porto/Post/Doc (Youth Award winner), Girls’ Stories has been praised for its artistic quality and educational value. Stay after the screening for a live Q&A with Aga Borzym, attending in person. Supported by Film Hub Scotland, Screen Scotland, the BFI, and the Consulate General of Poland in Edinburgh. Curated by Agnieszka Koperniak-Kerr for the Beetroots Collective, promoting Eastern European culture in Scotland.

Join us for our last film networking night of 2025, festive edition, and let's celebrate together as a community! 🙌 Meet and connect with fellow film industry folks over informal drinks and chats, whether you're a seasoned pro, or just starting out and keen to learn more. 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. We're in the cafe/bar at the Filmhouse where you can purchase food and drink. This event is free to attend, please RSVP below - it helps us track numbers!

CinemaAttic presents a special screening of Killa (dir. Alberto Muenala), the first feature-length film written, directed, and produced by Kichwa filmmakers in Kichwa language. The screening will include an introduction and Q&A with Dr Peter Baker, Senior Lecturer at the University of Stirling, drawing from his research on the history of Kichwa cinema in Ecuador. His current project, “Against the Grain”, highlights the voices and productions of Alberto Muenala and other Kichwa filmmakers to deepen our understanding of Indigenous film history from Abya Yala/Latin America. Synopsis: A photograph and a news story at an inopportune moment form the beginning of a story about love, racism, and persecution centred on the relationship between a journalist (Alicia) and a Kichwa photographer (Sayri). As an Indigenous leader takes up the defence of a community against a mining company, his determination will lead to a personal confrontation with a corrupt high-ranking government official, which will have repercussions on the lives of Alicia and Sayri. The positions taken by the government official and the Indigenous leader show two different conceptions of how to approach life. The official is concerned with development, while the leader fights to defend nature. The couple and the community will pay the price for the outcome of this confrontation. The screening will be accompanied by the 2-minute short film Warmikuna Kaypimikanchik, which focuses on the involvement of Kichwa women in recent protests in Ecuador, and the trailer for Alberto Muenala’s forthcoming film Allpamamapak Shunku (Heart of the Earth), which centres on the peaceful occupation of the Santo Domingo Church in Quito which marked the beginning of a nationwide Indigenous uprising in 1990 in Ecuador. 📅 Wednesday 4th December – 7.30pm – 9.30pm 📍 Summerhall, Edinburgh Accessibility This screening is wheelchair accessible

A gay man takes up a multitude of personas: an actor, a scientist, a teacher, an architect. His identity is constantly evolving - all impersonations, as he becomes his previous lover in the next casual encounter. He reimagines the lives of these intimate strangers, stringing together a new version of himself from their homes, spaces, and brief stories, wondering if this is the only way he can truly be himself. In gorgeous black and white, Golden-Horse winning writer-director Jun Li (Tracey, Drifting) invites us into an erotic labyrinth of bodies, connections, performance, desire and conversations, as we follow our protagonist in his external and internal seeking of closeness, meaning and the real. Officially selected at Berlinale Panorama 2025 and Frameline Film Festival, Queerpanorama is a tender and introspective exploration into Hong Kong’s queer lives, led by a riveting and revelatory performance by Jayden Cheung in his acting debut.

MilkTea are proud to be partnering with ESEA Creatives Scotland for a special community preview screening of 'Preparation for the Next Life' at The Cameo. Directed by Oscar nominee Bing Liu, the film follows a Uyghur woman, trained by her military father, who migrates to NYC where she finds herself labouring in Chinatown's underground kitchens. She fatefully encounters a young American soldier who just returned from three tours in the Middle East. This ESEAHM screening comes with special treats - join us to find out what! Run of Show: 2:30PM: Doors open 2.45PM: Intro, film starts https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/edinburgh-preparation-for-the-next-life-with-esea-creatives-and-milktea-tickets-1973188155891