SQIFF

Scottish Shorts 2 - SOLD OUT
2025-11-01 15:30 - 17:30 UTC | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
Listen to this Event Page

**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. We are operating a waiting list for sold out events on the platform Ticket Tailor, where we sell our tickets for SQIFF 2025 – please add your name to the waitlist and you’ll be notified by Ticket Tailor if any tickets become available!**

Returning for another year at the festival, Scottish Shorts 2 is a bold and intimate programme of short films by queer filmmakers working across Scotland. This selection continues to explore the queer Scottish experience through stories shaped by displacement, desire, care, survival, and play.
These films move between personal documentary, narrative storytelling, and experimental textures. Some reflect on home and migration, others explore relationships, identity, and transformation. These films reveal queer lives in all their depth and nuance, telling stories with humour and heart.
At its core, this programme brings forward voices and perspectives too often absent from Scottish screens. It celebrates a growing queer cinema that is rooted, restless, and unapologetically present.
All filmmakers in this screening and in ‘Scottish Shorts 1’ are automatically entered into a competition to win the title of Best Scottish Short. The winner will be announced at the closing screening of SQIFF 2025.
Following the screening, we’ll be joined by the filmmakers for a Q&A to reflect on their work, share insights, and open up space for conversation.
Curated by Nat Lall and Huss.

Click here to book your ticket for this event
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20, in order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof/ID. We just ask that you are honest! Please find the ‘What Should I Pay?’ guidance here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

Chinese, English, Mandarin audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and panel discussion. The interpreter for this event is Lou Hanson.
Live Captioning for introduction and panel discussion

This screening is 76 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:
A Journey Of The Leaves, Dir. Yash Zhang, 2024, United Kingdom, 11 min
When memories of his father’s violence chase him from China, a queer filmmaker drifts into an autumn-touched Estonian town. There, a wandering traveler, a bookstore owner, a poet’s living statue, and another queer Chinese soul carrying similar wounds guide him through the scattered pieces of his past.
Content notes: Discussion of violence.

Be Honest!, Dir. Alice Harper, 2025, United Kingdom, 11 min
With a chance to win £100,000 for their ailing child, a couple enter a game show where they must face the most brutal challenge of all — being honest.

Before You Leave, Dir. Louise Thomas, 2024, United Kingdom, 12 min
On the day before her move to Australia, Innes, a veterinarian in her mid-twenties, grapples with mounting uncertainty as she and her sister, Saoirse, navigate the streets of Edinburgh. On this journey, they deliver the last of her belongings to a coworker, an ex-boyfriend, and a childhood friend. Each encounter becomes a poignant reminder of what she’s leaving behind.

Keith, Dir. Steven Fraser, 2024, United Kingdom, 8 min
A Glasgow filmmaker discovers a dead body behind bins and embarks on a phone-based investigation to identify the victim. Using animation techniques exploring social media, apps, and blogs, the film examines neurodiversity and autistic communication styles while building tension toward revealing the deceased person’s name.
Content notes: Depiction of animated nudity, drug use.

Bowl, Dir. John Kelbie, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min
Arthur is an elderly, quick-witted, gay man who has recently been diagnosed with arthritis. Upon finding out that his old foe and competitor Norma is playing in the upcoming lawn bowls charity match, Arthur seeks the chance to prove himself. He faces many challenges along the way as he bickers with Norma and comes to terms with his illness and the losses he has faced, but with a little help from Norma’s granddaughter Jenn, he is able to confront his past and learn what is truly important to him.
Content notes: Discussion of death, grief, illness, loss.

Cahā, Dir. Chak Hin Leung, 2024, United Kingdom, 10 min
Intimate documentary capturing two immigrants—Indian and Bruneian—meeting in a London teahouse. Over tea (“cahā”), their casual conversation reveals profound stories of sacrifice, identity, and adaptation. The film explores immigrant experiences and colonial tea legacy, showing how this simple ritual creates unexpected connection and understanding across borders.
Content notes: Discussion of colonialism, transphobia.

Changing Homes, Dir. Mano Mandal, 2025, United Kingdom, 6 min
An Indian nonbinary transmasculine person goes to a European beach for the first time since their top surgery. As they sit and read about a historical trans person, they navigate the idea of being shirtless in public for the very first time. While doing so, they reflect on Eurocentric body standards and on their sense of home — in their own body and amidst bodies of water.
Content notes: Depiction of surgery scars. Discussion of gender affirming surgery, racialisation of bodies and European body standards, and relationship with natal family.

First Contact, Dir. James Crang, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min
In isolation on the moon, a gardener tends to his small patch of life. When another person appears, he is forced to confront his fears of connection. Will he nurture a bond that could bring light to his lonely existence, or will his anxiety keep him in darkness?

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Supported by Screen Scotland, the BFI Audience Projects Fund and Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI Film Audience Network), all awarding National Lottery funding.

Image Credit: Keith, Dir. Steven Fraser, 2024

Queerly Beloved
2025-11-01 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
Listen to this Event Page

Join us for a vibrant collection of short films that dive into queer experiences with wit, warmth, and a generous dose of heart. These stories celebrate the everyday absurdities, quiet triumphs, and unapologetic joy that shape queer life. In a world that so often focuses on queer pain, this programme shifts the spotlight to laughter, love, and the resilience found in connection.
Expect a dynamic mix of voices and perspectives. From awkward firsts to bold declarations, from moments of celebration to quiet self-discovery, each film brings its own spark. What unites them is a spirit of humour that uplifts, disarms, and gently insists on being seen.
The evening opens with a stand-up set by the brilliant Kathleen Hughes, whose sharp comedy sets the tone for what’s to come. After the films, stay with us for a live performance by the electrifying Craig Manson.
Come laugh with us. Maybe cry a little too. This is queer storytelling at its most joyful, defiant and alive.
Curated by Huss.

Click here to book your ticket for this event
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20, in order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof/ID. We just ask that you are honest! Please find the ‘What Should I Pay?’ guidance here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

Audio Description
English and French audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and performance. The interpreter for this event is Lisa Li.
Live Captioning for introduction and performance

This screening is 77 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:
Bury Your Gays, Dir. Charlotte Serena Cooper, 2025, United Kingdom, 20 min
Bury Your Gays follows actor Grace, who can’t understand why every role she lands ends in her untimely death—until a mysterious agent explains the ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope. Now, trapped in a genre-hopping battle for survival, Grace has one mission: do not die.
Content notes: Depiction of comedic death.

ASL, Dir. Cal Freeman, 2024, United Kingdom, 5 min
Rulf (19) meets Ziggy (38) for a car hookup, but attraction turns awkward when Ziggy’s internalized homophobia clashes with Rulf’s progressive views. After confronting contradictions and guilt, a flamboyant radio ad breaks the tension. They reconnect through laughter, reconsidering their desires before finally embracing their mutual attraction.
Content notes: Discussion of sex.

Bi-Nocular Panic, Dir. Anouk Witkowska Hiffle, 2024, United Kingdom, 7 min
Cass and Jane spend their afternoon doing what every normal teenager does on a sunny day: spying on boys. But when the captivating Melody appears, Cass realises she might be interested in more than just boys.

Gender Reveal, Dir. Mo Matton, 2024, Canada, 13 min
Rhys, a dedicated people pleaser, winds up at their boss’ gender reveal party with their two partners. The trans throuple soon realize that they are dealing with more than they were prepared for and their ability to survive the event comes into question.
Content notes: Depiction of blood, cigarette use, death, strong language use.

Sriracha, Dir. Weili Hsing, 2024, United Kingdom, 10 min
In a chaotic London kebab shop, Asian drag king Li clashes with traditional Turkish chef Hamza over sriracha. When drunk British lads arrive seeking trouble, a simple condiment dispute erupts into a full food fight. Through the mayhem, Li and Hamza discover their shared experience bridges cultural divides, forging unexpected friendship.
Content notes: Depiction of transphobia.

Principal Boy, Dir. Maz Murray, 2024, United Kingdom, 22 min
Principal Boy follows the audition, rehearsal, and performance of British pantomime’s traditional lead—a male hero conventionally played by a woman in drag. Using and subverting pantomime conventions, it explores trans and gender-nonconforming representation in mainstream culture, examining presence and absence in film and theatre.
Content notes: Discussion of discrimination, gaslighting, violence towards Trans people.
Access notes: Brief use of laser.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Supported by Screen Scotland, the BFI Audience Projects Fund and Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI Film Audience Network), all awarding National Lottery funding.

Image Credit: Gender Reveal, Dir. Mo Matton, 2024

Closing Film: Dreams in Nightmares - SOLD OUT
2025-11-01 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
Listen to this Event Page

**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. We are operating a waiting list for sold out events on the platform Ticket Tailor, where we sell our tickets for SQIFF 2025 – please add your name to the waitlist and you’ll be notified by Ticket Tailor if any tickets become available!**

Three queer black femmes embark on a road trip across the Midwest United States in search of their missing friend. The trio face challenges as they encounter different communities along their journey and this prompts reflection on the group as friends, as well as individuals.
Expect tender friends and lovers, open country roads and a chance to dream in a world of nightmares.
The winner of Best Scottish Shorts will be announced at the end of this event.
Curated by Nat Lall.

Click here to book your ticket for this event
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20, in order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof/ID. We just ask that you are honest! Please find the ‘What Should I Pay?’ guidance here.

Accessibility:
This programme has:

Content notes: Depiction of alcohol use, distressing argument scenes, nudity, sex. Discussion of racism and transphobia.
English audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction. The interpreter for this event is Sula Brookes.
Live Captioning for introduction

This screening is 128 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Supported by Screen Scotland, the BFI Audience Projects Fund and Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI Film Audience Network), all awarding National Lottery funding.

Image Credit: Dreams in Nightmares, Dir. Shatara Michelle Ford, 2024

NIÑXS (Dundee)
2025-11-08 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | Steps Theatre, Central Library, The Wellgate Dundee, Dundee, DD1 1DB, United Kingdom
Listen to this Event Page
In the rural small town of Tepoztlán, Mexico, fifteen-year-old Karla gets to tell her own coming-of-age story as she navigates the joys and complexities of trans adolescence. Irresistibly warm and funny, NIÑXS bursts the seams of documentary convention by dissolving the distance between filmmaker and subject. Director Kani Lapuerta and Karla reflect together on their transness as they watch eight years’ worth of footage documenting this formative period of Karla’s life: from trying out for the cheer team, playing with makeup, to being embarrassed by her loving and supportive parents. In an era where trans kids are spoken over and spoken for, NIÑXS sparkles with confidence, wit, and magic: a joyous demand that trans youth get to narrate their own stories. Presented as part of Take One Action Film Festivals 2025!
Grasping with both hands the joy, tenderness and tenacity that jumps through the screen in NIÑXS, stay on after the screening for a celebration of trans life lived to its fullest.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £5, £10, £15, or £20. To book your ticket for this event, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

Content Notes: Discussions of transphobia, gender dysphoria, death and surgery. Contains two brief depictions of fake blood.
Access Notes: Mix of explanatory dialogue (in Spanish) and visual storytelling. Mainly bright images, with a short sequence of darker images towards the end of the film.
Spanish audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and workshop
Live Captioning for introduction

This screening is 86 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 15+.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: NINXS, Dir. Kani Lapuerta, 2025

¡Quba!
2025-11-16 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | The Boardwalk, The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, Glasgow, G1 1TF
Listen to this Event Page
¡QUBA! chronicles the raw, revolutionary fight of Cuba’s LGBTQIA+ activists as they battle deep-rooted homophobia to achieve a historic victory.
¡Quba! documents Cuba’s extraordinary journey toward LGBTQIA+ equality, culminating in one of the most unexpected civil rights victories of the 21st century – the historic 2022 referendum that overwhelmingly approved the new Family Code, legalizing same-sex marriage and adoption.
Against the backdrop of Havana’s sun-drenched streets and the countryside’s conservative heartlands, the film traces the decades-long struggle of activists who turned a revolution within the Revolution into reality.
At its heart are two iconic trailblazers: Adela Hernández, Cuba’s first openly transgender elected official, whose quiet perseverance broke barriers in rural Caibarién, and Ramón Silverio, the subversive theater director who transformed his cultural hub, El Mejunje, into a sanctuary for queer art and resistance. Through their friendship, we witness how Cuba’s LGBTQ movement took root—from the dark days of UMAP labor camps to the defiant drag performances that challenged homophobia in Santa Clara. Ramón’s rainbow caravan of artists brought radical acceptance to Cuba’s most isolated towns, proving that change could bloom even in hardened soil.
Their legacy fuels a new generation of firebrands. In Santiago, the lesbian collective Las Isabelas —Maritza, Ana, and Isel—combat machismo with radical visibility, conducting educational campaigns to empower women and girls. In Havana, young activists like Ulises push boundaries through relentless advocacy, while Mariela Castro, head of CENESEX, navigates Cuba’s political machinery to bridge grassroots movements and government policy. Their efforts collide with a rising evangelical backlash, setting the stage for a cultural battle that divides families and tests the nation’s revolutionary ideals.
Archival footage reveals the shadows of state persecution and religious bigotry, but the film pulses with the defiant rhythms of resistance—drag spectacles, underground queer gatherings, and clandestine activism that kept hope alive. As the campaign for the 2022 Family Code reaches its climax, activists hold their breath: will Cuba, a nation that once imprisoned its LGBTQ citizens, now embrace them?
Set to the defiant rhythms that fueled this movement, ¡Quba! captures a paradox shattered: in a nation that had already overturned capitalism but still wrestled with patriarchal traditions, the people themselves became the vanguard. This victory—won through art, organizing, and unapologetic joy—proves that revolution is never finished. From Adela’s trailblazing resilience to Ramón’s artistic insurgency and the bold fury of Las Isabelas, the film is a testament to love’s power to rewrite history.
In collaboration with Havana Glasgow Film Festival.
Followed by Q&A with Director Kim Anno, SQIFF Director Indigo Korres and HGFF co-Director Hugo Rivalta.
READ HGFF’S INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR KIM ANNO.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book your ticket for this event, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

Content Notes: This documentary contains mature thematic material including discussions of discrimination, homophobia, and political conflict. Suitable for mature audiences.
Spanish audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and Q&A

This screening is 70 minutes long.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: ¡Quba!, Dir. Kim Anno, 2025

Queer Filmmakers Group - 48 Hour Film Challenge 2026
2026-05-27 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/Paris) | The Boardwalk, The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, Glasgow, G1 1TF
Listen to this Event Page

Are you a queer filmmaker? Do you want to meet other queer filmmakers? Do you want to make a film in two days? Join SQIFF for the return of the Queer Filmmakers Group for a 48 Hour Film Challenge!
The SQIFF 48 Hour Film Challenge works like this: by signing up you will work with a group of other filmmakers to complete the challenge of making an entire film from beginning to end in just two days.
The Brief, which includes film themes, required elements, guidelines, and time frames for the challenge will be discussed in person at the start of our 48 hours. You will then set out in your teams to make your films. All completed films will then be screened at the next Queer Filmmaker’s Group session in June (bring your friends)!
The challenge is open for any and all levels of filmmaking experience and we encourage people who are brand-new to film to attend. You can either sign up as a group or as an individual, where we will assign you to a group.

CLICK HERE to book your ticket for this event.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20, in order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof/ID. We just ask that you are honest! Please find the ‘What Should I Pay?’ guidance here.

About the group:
The SQIFF Queer Filmmakers Group is a monthly meetup designed for LGBTQIA+ filmmakers in Scotland to meet other queer creatives and do everything film. From challenges to networking events, skills development to special guest speakers, the SQIFF Queer Filmmakers Group is THE place to be if you’re queer and into film.
The group is open for any level of filmmaking or film supporting arts (ie. acting, prop making, music and sound design…) and we really encourage people just starting out in these mediums to come along.
Join a very friendly and supportive cohort of queer artists in Scotland making films!

Accessibility:

BSL-English interpretation for the whole event.
Relaxed event.
Wheelchair Access.
We have an Audience Access Fund for travel costs. If you would like to take this up, please contact info@sqiff.org.

If you have any other access needs you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org.

Supported by Screen Scotland.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: Tiu Makkonen

SQIFF x Porty Pride Film Night
2026-06-07 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1AF
Listen to this Event Page

Once again, SQIFF and Porty Pride are teaming up to bring you an eclectic mix of queer short films.
This edition celebrates multi-cultural intersections in queer cinema. The first film, Who Will Be Remembered Here, is a brave tale of reclaiming history against the backdrop of rural Scotland. Next is Dissonance which follows a young Black woman fleeing a homophobic upbringing and discovering herself in Glasgow.
Then we have Oceania, a colourful, softly lit short about a teenage gamer dealing with grief. This is followed by a moving animation named Two Black Boys in Paradise that explores the joys and woes of queer black gays passionately in love.
Then comes Two Travelling Aunties, the adorable and funny story of two older lesbians from Singapore living out their dream travelling the world together in their van. Last but not least is the hilarious Sriracha. An east-asian drag king and a Turkish kebab chef clash over the condiment but are brought together by their rage towards some drunk British lads.
Then please join us for a chatty informal Q&A with some of the filmmakers, hosted by Nat Lall.
Curated by Nat Lall
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of £5, £10, £15. To book your ticket for this event, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

An age recommendation of N/C 16+.
British Sign Language and English, French, Scottish Gaelic audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
BSL-English interpretation provided for the introduction and panel discussion.

This screening is 126 minutes long with a introduction and panel discussion.

Films in this programme include:
who will be remembered here, Dirs. Michael Sherrington, Lewis Hetherington, CJ Mahony, 2025, United Kingdom, 30 min
A cry against cultural erasure. Four queer people across Scotland’s historic landscapes question the stories we tell and their impact on future generations. This intimate film archives marginalized identities, claiming space in history as a beacon for those who follow a tender refusal to be forgotten.
Content notes: Discussion of death, war, queer and disabled erasure.

Dissonance, Dir. Aderayo Adenekan, 2025, United Kingdom, 30 min
Experimental short following a young Black woman exploring her queerness after moving cities, battling internal conflict from homophobic upbringing. Split between wordless narrative and documentary epilogue, the film uses movement, sound, and symbolism to capture psychological dissonance between taught identity and authentic self-discovery.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, racism, transphobia.
Access notes: Flashing lights.

Oceania, Dir. Valentin Noujaïm, 2024, Lebanon, 24 min
Najib, 16, spends his summer on a video game, until his mother, Asma, discovers the death of their elderly and lonely neighbour. He steals the keys to the apartment, and dives into an unexpected world.
Content notes: Discussion of death, HIV stigma.
Access notes: Flashing imagery, flashing lights.

Two Black Boys in Paradise, Dir. Baz Sells, 2025, United Kingdom, 9 min
A movingly tender animation, based on Dean Atta’s eponymous poem, sees two boys (Edan, 19 and Dula, 18) on a journey of self-acceptance and love – for each other and themselves.
Content notes: Depiction of animated nudity, homophobia, police harassment, racism, sex.

Two Travelling Aunties, Dir. Christine Seow, 2025, Singapore, 22 min
Two spirited Singaporean seniors ditch conventional living for van life, embracing adventure, newfound freedom, and the joy of living on their terms.
Content notes: Depiction of drug use. Discussion of family rejection.

Sriracha, Dir. Weili Hsing, 2024, United Kingdom, 10 min
In a chaotic London kebab shop, Asian drag king Li clashes with traditional Turkish chef Hamza over sriracha. When drunk British lads arrive seeking trouble, a simple condiment dispute erupts into a full food fight. Through the mayhem, Li and Hamza discover their shared experience bridges cultural divides, forging unexpected friendship.
Content notes: Depiction of transphobia.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: Porty Pride, 2025

Queer Filmmakers Group - 48 Hour Film Screening and SQIFF Trailer
2026-06-17 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | The Boardwalk, The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, Glasgow, G1 1TF
Listen to this Event Page

Want to see what the Queer Filmmakers Group made last month, and help shape what thousands of festival-goers will see this autumn? Join The Queer Filmmaker’s Group in a creative and practical session making the official festival trailer for the 2026 edition of the Scottish Queer International Film Festival!
Working as a group, we will use this session to brainstorm and come up with ideas for making a short trailer over the course of the month. This session is a casual, fun, and hands-on way to get creative with a group of other queer filmmakers in Scotland.The completed trailer will be shown before each screening of the 2026 film festival, and will be watched by over 5000 people.
This session will also start with special screening of all the completed films made in the SQIFF 48 Hour Film Challenge in the previous month’s Queer Filmmaker’s Group.

CLICK HERE to book your ticket for this event.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20, in order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof/ID. We just ask that you are honest! Please find the ‘What Should I Pay?’ guidance here.

About the group:
The SQIFF Queer Filmmakers Group is a monthly meetup designed for LGBTQIA+ filmmakers in Scotland to meet other queer creatives and do everything film. From challenges to networking events, skills development to special guest speakers, the SQIFF Queer Filmmakers Group is THE place to be if you’re queer and into film.
The group is open for any level of filmmaking or film supporting arts (ie. acting, prop making, music and sound design…) and we really encourage people just starting out in these mediums to come along.
Join a very friendly and supportive cohort of queer artists in Scotland making films!

Accessibility:

BSL-English interpretation for the whole event.
Relaxed event.
Wheelchair Access.
We have an Audience Travel and Access Fund for travel costs. If you would like to take this up, please contact info@sqiff.org.

If you have any other access needs you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org.

Supported by Screen Scotland.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: Tiu Makkonen

Queer Filmmakers Group - Industry Speed Dating
2026-07-29 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | The Boardwalk, The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, Glasgow, G1 1TF
Listen to this Event Page

Looking to find collaborators, crew, or just more queer people to talk about film with? Join the Queer Filmmaker’s Group for an Industry Speed Dating session and get to know other LGBTQIA+ film workers in Scotland!
In classic speed dating fashion, participants will have 5 minutes to connect with another film worker before moving on to the next person. This session can be used to network for an upcoming project, find crew or make connections for future work, or just get more involved in the queer filmmaking scene in Scotland.
The speed dating session will last an hour and twenty minutes, with a short introduction and half an hour at the end for casual networking.
Bring yourself and an openness to meet new people!

CLICK HERE to book your ticket for this event.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20, in order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income. You can choose what you pay based on your circumstances – you won’t be asked for any proof/ID. We just ask that you are honest! Please find the ‘What Should I Pay?’ guidance here.

About the group:
The SQIFF Queer Filmmakers Group is a monthly meetup designed for LGBTQIA+ filmmakers in Scotland to meet other queer creatives and do everything film. From challenges to networking events, skills development to special guest speakers, the SQIFF Queer Filmmakers Group is THE place to be if you’re queer and into film.
The group is open for any level of filmmaking or film supporting arts (ie. acting, prop making, music and sound design…) and we really encourage people just starting out in these mediums to come along.
Join a very friendly and supportive cohort of queer artists in Scotland making films!

Accessibility:

BSL-English interpretation for the whole event.
Relaxed event.
Wheelchair Access.
We have an Audience Travel and Access Fund for travel costs. If you would like to take this up, please contact info@sqiff.org.

If you have any other access needs you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org.

Supported by Screen Scotland.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: Tiu Makkonen

BSL Film Club x SQIFF: Reconnection + Close to You + Q&A
2026-09-20 14:30 - 17:30 UTC
Listen to this Event Page
This screening will have an introduction and be followed by a Q&A with Reconnection director Amy Helena, moderated by BSL Film Club co-programmer Charlie Little.

BSL Film Club are delighted to be collaborating with Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) on a partnership screening with Filmhouse.

BSL Film Club is Deaf Action’s monthly community screening, programmed by Charlie Little and Tomas Gerrard. These screenings are designed for all deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences with an interest in British Sign Language. Our screenings are presented with on-screen descriptive subtitles, and all fluency levels of BSL are welcome.

SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) is a charity formed with the aim of showcasing diverse queer cinema and uplifting creative voices from the LGBTQIA+ community in Scotland and beyond. The organisation runs an annual film festival in Glasgow, pop-up and year-round events, and community-focused programmes across Scotland.

Join us afterwards for a Q&A with Reconnection director Amy Helena, moderated by BSL Film Club co-programmer Charlie Little.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £4, £8, £12, £16, or £20. To book your ticket for this event, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

English audio and British Sing Language with English language Descriptive Subtitles
BSL-English Interpretation for the intro and panel discussion.
Live Captioning for the intro and panel discussion.

This screening is 110 minutes long.

Films in this programme includes:

Reconnection (dir. Amy Helena, UK, 2026, 11 mins, British Sign Language w/ English subtitles)

A couple’s argument is interrupted by a blackout. In candlelight, silence gives way to honesty, helping them reconnect and bridge the emotional distance between them.

Close to You (dir. Dominic Savage, Canada/UK/USA, 2023, 99 mins, English and American Sign Language w/ English subtitles)

Elliot Page stars in this gentle romantic drama alongside co-star Hillary Baack (Sound of Metal). Close to You follows a trans man as he returns to his hometown, facing family tensions and complicated dynamics. He reunites with a former love interest, and begins a journey of self-acceptance.

This event is 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.

Donate:
Donate to SQIFF via PayPal or sign up to one of our four Patreon tiers to support our work and show us you’re a big SQIFF fan 🌈✨

Image Credit: Close to You Dir. Dominic Savage, 2023
