The 13th Edition of the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, screening at Filmhouse, French Institute and Vue Omni in Edinburgh, and touring across Tranent, Stirling, Ayr and Glasgow

Named after the practice of clandestine dissemination of censored and forbidden texts in communist states, Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival is an audience-focused film festival based in Scotland. The festival takes place annually, with a main programme of screenings in Glasgow taking place over a week in early autumn, and selected screenings in other locations: in 2026, returning to Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and, for the first time, travelling to Cromarty and Dunfermline. With a diverse programme of meticulously curated retrospectives and new films, as well as special events such as animation collections and short film showcases, Samizdat is the first Scotland-based festival dedicated exclusively to cinema from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.

Part of Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival 2026 A cultural celebration of cinema and dance with a distinctive Spanish flavour, presented with Cinetopia Salon Cinetopia’s Salon events bring cinema into conversation with performing arts in a convivial setting designed to spark conversation, inspired by the spirit of Paris’s literary salons. Each Salon pairs a thought-provoking film with dance, music, or performance, with drinks, nibbles, and time to discuss what you’ve seen with others in the beautiful surroundings of the French Institute of Scotland. Following the Flamenco event, we will screen Carlos Saura's Carmen Timetable 18:00: Drinks & Tapas Reception | 19:00: Live music TuFlamenco | 19:30: Film screening of Carmen introduced by Amaya Bañuelos Marco * Your ticket includes access to all the activities plus the first glass of wine. Synopsis Antonio, director of a flamenco dance company, is preparing a stage version of Carmen, inspired by Mérimée’s novella and Bizet’s opera. When he finds the ideal lead performer, a young dancer who is also named Carmen, he begins an obsessive relationship with her that gradually mirrors the tragic story of the work itself. Desire, jealousy, and theatrical performance become intertwined until they lead the characters toward destruction

A visually hypnotic and playful plunge into the underworld, this documentary follows a team of biologists racing to identify the strange creatures of the abyss before industrial mining threatens to wipe out their ecosystem forever.

Be United x Cinetopia present a special screening of Franco Rosso’s BABYLON (1980), followed by “We ‘Can’t Tek No More’ of That”: Sound as Resistance and Healing, a live interactive musical performance by Bahamian singer/songwriter Rue Cooper, accompanied by guitarist Michael Fallemann. Tuesday 13 October 2026 The Voodoo Rooms, 19A West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA Doors: 7:00pm | Film: 7:15pm | Live Music: 9:00pm PLEASE NOTE: This is an 18+ event. The Voodoo Rooms is strictly an over-18s venue. The Voodoo Rooms The film Set in Thatcher-era 1980s South London, Franco Rosso’s Babylon follows Blue, a young Jamaican sound system DJ in Brixton, as he and his crew prepare for a major Sound System competition. Driven by Dennis Bovell’s iconic soundtrack, Blue navigates racism, police brutality and systemic oppression in an uncompromising portrait of Black British youth. Initially denied a US theatrical release for being considered “too controversial, and likely to incite racial tension” (Time Out), Babylon eventually received its official US theatrical release in 2019. The film remains “a raw, fearless howl of defiance tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall” (Criterion Channel). Through film, live music and archival and contemporary imagery, the event considers how music and youth culture can become vehicles for resistance, community and belonging, and how the injustices depicted in Babylon continue to resonate today. Live music with Rue Cooper Following the film, Rue Cooper and Michael Fallemann present “We ‘Can’t Tek No More’ of That”: Sound as Resistance and Healing, a live interactive musical performance exploring how music can challenge systemic power while creating space for collective healing, community and solidarity. Guest Programmer: Muratiwa Chinake The event is curated by Muratiwa Chinake, a Zimbabwean filmmaker, curator and marketing professional based in Glasgow whose work explores representation, childhood nostalgia and mythology through themes of gender, race and sexuality. Muratiwa says: “I am screening Babylon because I love that the film focuses not only on the music but also on the political conversation surrounding Black British youth during Thatcherism. The film is unapologetic in nature, which has helped it remain a cult classic, as the social injustices it highlights still resonate in the UK today. Pairing the film with a live music performance and archives helps bridge the past, present and future, showing how sound can be used as a vehicle for intergenerational resistance and healing.” About the performers: Rue Cooper is a singer and songwriter from Nassau, Bahamas, bringing influences from gospel, Soul, Pop and R’n’B to her work. Inspired by artists including Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Lauryn Hill, her music explores womanhood, intimacy, self-discovery and family ties. Michael Fallemann is an Edinburgh-based guitarist and Rue Cooper’s guitarist and co-arranger. He has performed across Edinburgh at venues including The Caves, La Belle Angele and The Jazz Bar, as well as internationally. This event is part of Cinetopia’s Transmission: Youth Across Generations, a multi-event programme exploring how youth culture has shaped identity, belonging and collective memory in Britain from the 1980s to the present. Transmission is part of Rip It Up, supported by Film Hub Scotland as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by the National Lottery.

Mike Nichols directs Robin Williams and Gene Hackman in this queer comedy which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year Tickets £3/£5/£7 on a sliding scale, with free entry for Grassmarket Community Project Members, open door meal attendees, and anyone else in need of a free ticket. Please select the ticket price that feels right to you; all income from tickets will be directly used to support the continued running of our cinema screenings. Notes Duration: 119 minutes Certificate 15 - Contains strong language The film will screen with English descriptive subtitles, transcribing both dialogue and key audio information from the film The film will start promptly at 7pm without trailers The Grassmarket Community Project is a wheelchair accessible venue

Join us for our June film networking night back at our favourite autumn locale, the 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 industry 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. This event is free to attend, please RSVP - it helps us track numbers!

Silent comedy's 'third genius' Harold Lloyd is at his charming best in this rollicking comedy set on the vibrant streets of Roaring Twenties New York. Performing live: Mike Nolan (piano)

“A hard-hitting and authentic first feature film” Cineuropa Ethan, 20, becomes an apprentice jockey in a racing stable. He discovers a talent, a passion, and begins to dream of a better future. But among the jockeys, places are hard to come by and competition is fierce. Out of a hundred lads, only one will go pro. If he wants to stand out from the crowd, Ethan is going to have to take some risks…

The feature debut from director Dee Rees is a tender exploration of Black lesbian identity. Tickets £3/£5/£7 on a sliding scale, with free entry for Grassmarket Community Project Members, open door meal attendees, and anyone else in need of a free ticket. Please select the ticket price that feels right to you; all income from tickets will be directly used to support the continued running of our cinema screenings. Notes Duration: 86 minutes Certificate 15 - strong language, sex references, discrimination, domestic abuse The film will screen with English descriptive subtitles, transcribing both dialogue and key audio information from the film The film will start promptly at 7pm without trailers The Grassmarket Community Project is a wheelchair accessible venue