Cinetopia presents a special screening of Charlotte Wells’ AFTERSUN (2022), followed by a post-film discussion exploring memory, family, youth and the things we leave unsaid. Thursday 22 October 2026 | Institut français d’Écosse, Edinburgh 7:00pm–9:30pm The event is part of 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. The film In Charlotte Wells’ debut feature, eleven-year-old Sophie travels with her young father, Calum, to a faded Turkish holiday resort in the summer of 1999. Filming the trip on a MiniDV camera, Sophie drifts between her father’s company and the teenagers she is curious to be like, while Calum, warm and playful on the surface, carries something heavier he can’t quite share. Years later, an adult Sophie revisits the footage, searching it for the father she knew and the man she didn’t. Aftersun finds its power in what goes unsaid: a glance, a silence, a song or a shared joke. Paul Mescal’s Oscar-nominated performance and Frankie Corio’s remarkable debut give the film a lived-in intimacy, while its use of music and MiniDV footage creates a deeply affecting portrait of memory, family and the ways we come to understand our parents differently as we grow older. Post-film discussion Following the film, audiences are invited to stay for an informal conversation reflecting on Aftersun and the memories and questions it might stir up. Taking inspiration from the film, we’ll explore growing up, relationships between generations, family memories and how our understanding of the past changes over time. Audiences will also have the opportunity to contribute to the developing Transmission Youth Archive, sharing memories and reflections across generations. Guest Programmer: Livvie Wharmby This screening has been programmed by Livvie Wharmby, a final-year German and English Literature student at the University of Edinburgh. Livvie is a member of the university’s Film Society and previously served as Film/Television Editor for The Student. She has covered Glasgow Film Festival as a press-accredited journalist and recently attended the Berlinale. Livvie says: “Since its release, Aftersun has quietly haunted everyone who has seen it. It makes you think about your own family, your childhood, mental health, or simply the beauty of the filmmaking. So much is left unsaid, and I love the idea of an event that lets people say it, opening up conversation rather than holding it all within.” Film information AFTERSUN (2022) Dir. Charlotte Wells UK/USA | 101 mins | Certificate 12 Starring Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio and Celia Rowlson-Hall Content note: The film contains infrequent strong language, mild sex references and themes relating to mental health and suicide. It also contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy. This screening is part of Cinetopia’s TRANSMISSION: YOUTH ACROSS GENERATIONS, 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. Cinetopia is an Edinburgh-based film events and exhibition company creating distinctive screenings, conversations and opportunities that connect audiences with film and the wider film community.