Samizdat is back for its fourth year! Glasgow: 30th September–4th October Aberdeen: 10 & 11th October Ayr: 23rd October Edinburgh: 9 & 10th November

This gripping melodrama follows two sisters whose lives diverge; Maria (Miroslava Stern) into privilege, Elena (Elda Peralta) into the city’s underworld, before colliding in a storm of passion, envy and betrayal. Here trailblazing director Matilde Landeta turns to the harsh realities of prostitution and power, crafting a daring critique of gender and class in Golden Age Mexican cinema. 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. 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.

Join us for a special evening bringing together cinema, literature, and dialogue on Colombia’s recent history of conflict and militancy. We begin with a screening of El rojo más puro (The Deepest Red; Yira Plaza O’Byrne, 2023), an intimate and political documentary exploring a daughter’s relationship with her father, survivor of a genocide and a committed leftist militant. Following the film, we will celebrate the launch of We Are Not Made of Sugar, the latest book by Colombian scholar, writer, and peace-builder, Andrei Gómez-Suárez. The event will be chaired by Dr Charlotte Gleghorn, who will guide a conversation with the author and the audience considering how both the film and Gómez-Suárez’s memoir illuminate the same historical period, revealing personal memories and political struggles. 📅 22nd October, 17:30 📍 University of Edinburgh – Screening Room G.04 (50 George Square, EH8 9JU) After the event, a few copies of the book will be available for purchase. Free entry (registration recommended)

This electrifying rumbera classic stars Ninón Sevilla as Violeta, a cabaret dancer whose act of compassion entangles her in a violent gangster’s revenge. Swept between danger, sacrifice, and the lure of redemption, her story unfolds in a world where noir grit collides with musical splendour. A titilating showcase for Sevilla, it also highlights the artistry of editor Gloria Schoemann, a driving force of Mexico’s Golden Age cinema. 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. 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.

ESEA Creatives is hosting another film screening with MilkTea "Can I Get A Witness?", starring Sandra Oh, at GMAC Film in Glasgow on Sunday, 26 October at 14:00. This eco-drama envisions a post-climate world where individuals voluntarily end their lives at 50 to restore ecological balance. The film blends live-action with animation, offering a poignant exploration of sacrifice, community, and environmental ethics. Following the screening, we'll host a eco workshop in relation to International Day of Climate Action! 🎟 Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1794353843649 We hope to see you there for an afternoon of thought-provoking cinema and meaningful conversation.

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. 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.

Join us for the very first Cinetopia Salon, a new monthly gathering where cinema meets live performance, nibbles and drinks, and good conversation. Experience Louis Malle’s hypnotic, cult début Ascenseur pour l’échafaud famous for its live, improvised score by jazz icon Miles Davis. A woman and her lover plot to murder her husband, but when their plan goes awry, Paris becomes a labyrinth of desire and paranoia. Jeanne Moreau’s face glows with desperate longing as Miles Davis’s haunting trumpet weaves through shadowy streets. This is noir poetry – beautiful, doomed, and unmistakably French. Before the screening, the evening will begin with a special introduction from the Edinburgh Film Guild, the world’s oldest continuously running film society, setting the scene for the film’s enduring legacy. The film will then be preceded by a live jazz set from two outstanding local musicians: Colin Steele (trumpet) is one of Scotland’s most acclaimed jazz musicians, renowned for his lyrical trumpet style and for blending jazz with the melodic richness of Scottish folk traditions. His work has been praised by The Guardian as “invitingly lyrical” and by The Scotsman as “triumphant and engaging,” marking him as a distinctive voice on the UK and European jazz scene. Dan Abrahams (guitar/bass) is an Edinburgh-based musician and composer active across Scotland’s jazz, folk and contemporary scenes. Alongside his work with award-winning trio Dowally, he also performs with bands including Wayward Jane, The Foo Birds and Bonzai Quartet. A versatile improviser and collaborator, his playing is marked by fluidity, expression and cross-genre creativity. Arrive early for our French-style apéro hour, with wine, beers, cocktails and soft drinks available to purchase at the pop-up bar, alongside complementary nibbles – a chance to mingle, relax and start the evening in true Salon style. Evening Schedule 6pm – Apéro hour in the Salon 7pm – Live jazz + film screening 9:15pm – Conversations continue back in the Salon until 10pm Please note: drinks can be purchased at our pop-up bar (cash or card), but are not included in the ticket price and are only allowed in the Salon space before and after the film. Complementary nibbles available on a first-come basis from 6pm. Cinetopia Salon is a new monthly gathering for film lovers and the culturally curious, where cinema meets live performance, nibbles and drinks, and good conversation. From archive treasures and silent classics to cult favourites and hidden gems, each screening is paired with live contributions or new creations from local artists – including musicians, dancers, poets and performers. The Salon is a platform to celebrate local talent and offers audiences a chance to experience film as part of a wider creative exchange. Cinetopia Salon is supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

Running between 30 October - 2 November, the inaugural Jali Film Weekender is a brand new film festival celebrating Black, African and diaspora stories, launched by Jali Collective. The theme of the 2025 Weekender is Dreams and Apparitions, carefully woven through a programme of films, events and extended realities. We invite you to join us on this evocative journey exploring grief, memory, imagination, new and alternate futures, and the seen and unseen in the African and diasporic experience. Find out more screenings, discussions, events and our XR exhibition, and purchase tickets via the link.

Central Scotland Documentary Festival brings cinema to the city! A unique documentary viewing experience taking place at Stirling's only indie bookshop café: The Book Nook (24 Upper Craigs, Stirling FK8 2DG). Come along for an unforgettable evening of film, celebrating the significance of storytelling from shelf to screen.

The inspirational story of iron-willed, working-class women who, during the 1984–85 Miners’ Strike, found themselves at the forefront of a battle against the British state. From Scotland down to Kent, women from the coalfields shed light on their experiences of the year long struggle trying to save their communities, and how they became the backbone of the Strike. With many still active today, their actions reshaped the landscape of political activism for working-class women. The showing of this film will be followed by a special Q&A session with contributor Linda Erskine, and is part of the Central Scotland Documentary Festival. The film is a 12A.