SQIFF

Drag & Performance Through Censorship - SOLD OUT
2024-10-11 21:00 - 23:00 UTC | Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD, United Kingdom
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**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. CCA Box Office are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please contact them directly or go to their website to be added to this!**
Drag & Performance through Censorship is a captivating short film screening programme that delves into the stories of Arab, Turkish, and displaced drag queens and performers. The programme highlights the ways these artists navigate and resist the censorship and social conservatism in their home countries, offering a powerful insight into their struggles, resilience, and artistry. These selection of short films paint a vivid and emotional portrait of the drag/performance community’s defiance, creativity, and spirit, offering audiences a deeper understanding of their fight for visibility and freedom.
Following the screening, Huss is hosting a panel discussion with drag queens Kiki Rivera and Caramella aka 3MR.
Curated by Huss.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.

Accessibility:
This programme has:

Arabic, English, French, Russian, Turkish audio with English language descriptive subtitles.
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and panel discussion.
Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion.

This screening is 58 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 15+.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2024 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2024, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:

Sultana’s Reign, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2023, France, 10 min
‘Sultana of New York’ is a Palestinian drag queen and artist. ‘Sultana’s Reign’ begins with her being painted by Jordanian artist RIDIKKULUZ. She reflects on her journey from the Middle East to New York, discussing the challenges of drag in conservative societies, her nostalgia for Egyptian cinema, and her commitment to self-expression and authenticity.
Content notes: Discussion of displacement, war, family discord, death, suicide.

Queen’s Illusion, Dirs. Ceren Özkanlı Samlı, Erinç Durlanık, 2024, Turkey, 21 min
In an era of political repression and growing conservatism in Turkey, Istanbul’s drag scene thrives. This documentary goes backstage with popular queens like Cake Mosq, Pepi IV, Ahsen Gönülce, Anna Tholia, and Gia Androgeny. They discuss the effort behind their personas, the threat of harassment, and new opportunities online, sharing the challenges of performing drag in a sometimes-hostile world.
Content notes: Discussion of drug use, homophobia. Depiction of alcohol use, cigarette use.

Show Up, Dir. Maria Zakhodiaichenko, 2024, United States, 11min
Friday evening. Coney Island, New York. Russian-American drag artist Maxim and his mom Ilona separately tell us the history of their family back in Russia and during their immigration to the US while getting ready for the Maxim’s performance. Soon they will reunite, just it should be.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, death.

ANYA KNEEZ: A Queen in Beirut, Dir. Mohamad Abdouni, 2017, Turkey, Lebanon, 11 min
Anya Kneez, an Arab Drag Queen, left Brooklyn in 2012 after 23 years in America and returned to live with her parents in Beirut. At 28, she still grapples with the values of a Middle Eastern society that struggles to accept her lifestyle. This short documentary glimpses the journey of the drag performer who brought Brooklyn’s drag scene to Beirut’s clubs.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, family discord.
Access notes: Flashing lights.

Bellydance Vogue, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2020, Lebanon, 5 min
“My birthday was on the 3rd of April 2020 during lockdown, and for the first time, I celebrated it all by myself. But even if I was alone, I decided to celebrate it as if it’s the last one”
The film was made during quarantine.

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: Sultana’s Reign, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2023

Dear Future Self
2024-10-12 12:30 - 14:30 | Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD, United Kingdom
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Dear Future Self is a heartfelt short film screening programme that explores the personal journeys of queer individuals through the art of letter writing and poetry. Each film delves into the self-reflection of its protagonists as they navigate various hurdles, offering intimate glimpses into their thoughts, emotions, and growth. The short film screening offers a compelling and deeply personal look into the lives of queer individuals as they reflect on their past and envision their futures. Through the medium of letters and poetry, these films capture the raw, unfiltered emotions and the transformative power of self-expression and introspection.
Following the screening, enjoy a letter writing workshop with creative practitioner and artist Huss Mitha. In this session participants will use tools from abolitionist theory and sci-fi to imagine liberated future selves and others. The writing exercise will seek to imagine emergent worlds out of the intersection of queer and anti-colonial struggles of the present.
Curated by Huss.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.

Accessibility:
This programme has:

English, Italian, Portuguese, Yue Chinese (Cantonese) audio with English language descriptive subtitles.
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and workshop.
Live Captioning for the introduction and workshop.

This screening is 73 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2024 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2024, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:

Twenty Something, Dir. João Nunes, 2024, Portugal, 14 min
After the end of a 3-year relationship, João writes a letter about the past, the future, love, friendship, fears and personal growth.
Content notes: Discussion of relationship grief.

Cara Mamma, Dir. Sky Neal, 2024, United Kingdom, 24 min
When dancer Naissa tells his mum, Daniela, that he is transitioning, she struggles to understand. Over three years of candid letters, dream-like sequences, and cinéma vérité, Cara Mamma follows Naissa as he asserts his identity and Daniela as she grapples with losing a daughter. As Naissa begins his dance career and embraces his gender, Daniela learns to listen with love.
Content notes: Discussion of transition, gender dysphoria, family discord, transphobia, mental health.

Letter To Dad, Dir. Rafael Ferreira, 2023, Portugal, 10 min
An audiovisual letter from a son to his dad in which he travels through his earlier memories and tries to fix their relationship. The director intends not only to create an environment where his sexuality related conflicts with his dad can be solved in order to repair their connection, but also heal himself from all the past wounds those issues may have caused.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, family discord.

Heart Murmurs, Dir. Dorothy Cheung, 2023, Hong Kong, 9 min
Heart Murmurs is a poetic dialogue between the filmmaker and Dean, a young man living in Hong Kong. In reflecting on his experience living with a congenital disability and HIV during the first years of the COVID pandemic, the film questions the boundary of care and control in relationships.
Content notes: Discussion of COVID-19 pandemic, hospital, medical treatments.

Letter To My Daughter, Dir. Jess T. Dugan, 2023, United States, 16 min
Letter to My Daughter is an autobiographical video about my journey to parenthood and my daughter’s first five years. Narrated through a letter, it features personal images like snapshots and ultrasound photos. It covers my expectations, challenges of having a child, miscarriage, and adjusting to parenthood as a queer, nonbinary person, while exploring the deep love and personal growth that come with being a parent.
Content notes: Discussion of miscarriage, homophobia. Depiction of pregnancy, nudity, hospitalisation.

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: Twenty Something, Dir. João Nunes, 2024

Music as Resistance - SOLD OUT
2024-10-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD, United Kingdom
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**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. CCA Box Office are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please contact them directly or go to their website to be added to this!**
People have been gathering to perform and listen to music since the dawn of time. How is it being utilised by queer people now? Music As Resistance delves into the universal language of music being used across the globe to gather and empower marginalised communities. Expect informative films on the history of newer sub-genres such as Bounce and Guaracha and current insights into underground music by Armenian and Asian-American artists.
This screening is followed by a panel discussion hosted by Nat Lall with Nxa and Queer History of Dance Music duo Duncan Ross McBride and Amy Rodgers.
Curated by Nat Lall.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.

Accessibility:
This programme has:

Armenian, English, Spanish audio with English language descriptive subtitles.
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and panel discussion.
Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion.

This screening is 47 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2024 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2024, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:

Symptom, Dir. Kamee Abrahamian, 2023, Armenia, 23 min
Embodying the dreams and poetics of a post-Soviet generation, two young Armenian women share their politics of justice and feminism with the world through their music.
Content notes: Discussion of queerphobia. Depiction of physical violence, police violence, alcohol use, cigarette use.
Access notes: Minimal flashing lights.

Confluence: A Meditation in Documentary Form, Dirs. ETA, Shanhuan Manton, 2021, United States, 15 min
CONFLUENCE is a meditation on ancestry and identity through the lens of APIDA and queer artists, filmed during moonroom’s 2019 PHASE event series celebrating APIDA Heritage Month in Southern California. This mix of hypnotic images and heartfelt testimonies explores the turmoil of being othered, while creatively shattering community and perceptual barriers. The film directly challenges reductive myths about the Asian American diaspora, advocating for self-defined identities.
Content notes: Discussion of colourism, racism, colonialism, fetishisation.
Access notes: Hypnotic layered imagery appears throughout the film.

furious guaracha (videomanifesto), Dir. Resonantes Ruido Trans, 2023, Colombia, 4 min
⚧️🔥🚨may the scream embrace us and our fury lead us to tenderize our emancipation🔥🚨⚧️
🏳️‍⚧️ we share with you the videomafiesto of our furious guaracha, a creation resulting from our outbreaks of trans love
In this piece we weave elements from our collective archive of the trans present, with the party as a struggle. 📢📢
Content notes: Discussion of sex work.
Access notes: Minimal glitchy imagery, flashing lights within party footage.

Jump, Dir. Wilberto Lucci, 2023, United States, 5 min
A history about the origins of twerking and the uber-successful Bounce Music genre of New Orleans. Narrated by New Orleans own LGBTIQA+ artist & award winning reality show star “Big Freedia”. Big Freedia is featured on Beyonce’s current #1 hit”Break My Soul” and Drake’s #1 bounce music hit “Nice For What”.
Content notes: Discussion of hurricane destruction.
Access notes: Minimal flashing laser lights within party footage.

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: Symptom, Dir. Kamee Abrahamian, 2023

In Rage and Grief - SOLD OUT
2024-10-12 15:30 - 17:30 | Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD, United Kingdom
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**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. CCA Box Office are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please contact them directly or go to their website to be added to this!**
In Rage, In Grief is a powerful and emotive short film screening programme that explores the harrowing experiences and resilient spirits of queer activists who have been forcefully displaced from their homelands. Each film captures the intersection of activism, identity, and the struggle for safety and acceptance in the face of adversity. This short film screening provides a profound and intimate look into the lives of queer activists who, despite being displaced, continue to fight for their rights and the rights of others. Through these films, audiences will gain insight into the courage, determination, and enduring spirit of those who face persecution yet remain committed to their cause.
This screening is in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council, who will be leading a panel discussion with LGBTIA+ people who have found safety in Scotland.
Curated by Huss.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.

Accessibility:
This programme has:

Arabic, Dutch, English, Georgian, German audio with English language descriptive subtitles.
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and panel discussion.
Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion.

This screening is 80 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2024 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2024, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:

Beirut Dreams In Color, Dir. Michael Collins, 2022, Lebanon, 28 min
At a Cairo concert, Mashrou’ Leila’s lead singer, Hamed, the first openly gay Arab rock star, performs for 35,000 fans. A fan waves a rainbow flag, creating a magical night that results in tragic fallout. Beirut Dreams in Color explores the band’s activism and the fight for LGBTQ equality in the Middle East, showcasing music’s power and the universal desire for freedom.
Content notes: Discussion of suicide, death, queerphobia, trauma, mental health, religion, death threat, police violence, torture, physical violence, prison, forced displacement. Depiction of bomb explosion.
Access notes: Minimal flashing lights.

Queer Exile, Dir. Ahmed Awadalla, 2024, Germany, 10 min
After fleeing Egypt post-2011 revolution, an activist seeks safety in Berlin but ends up in a refugee camp plagued by far-right protests. Torn between the hostility of his new environment and nostalgia for his past, he questions his choices and queer identity. Reflecting on his memories, he gains new insights into exile, forges friendships, and redefines “home” in Berlin.
Content notes: Depiction of police violence. Discussion of racism, forced displacement, police violence, queerphobia.

The Pride Liar, Dir. Andres Lübbert, 2023, Belgium, 19 min
Emzo, a courageous queer activist, escaped persecution in Georgia five years ago, finding refuge in Belgium. This short documentary captures his unyielding commitment to the LGBTQ+ cause, showcasing the indomitable spirit of one individual’s fight for acceptance and equality.
Content notes: Discussion of queerphobia, physical violence, forced displacement, family discord, war, mental health, drug use. Depiction of physical violence, queerphobia, police violence.

MOTHER, Dirs. Meg Shutzer, Brandon Yadegari Moreno, 2023, United States, 23 min
In San Francisco, a city known for its queer community and bustling gay nightlife, there hasn’t been a lesbian bar for almost a decade. Driven by nostalgia for a time when queer women had spaces, Malia Spanyol, a self-identified dyke sets out to build one for the next generation of women and femmes.
Content notes: Depiction of alcohol use, cigarette use, vape use. Discussion of homophobia, patriarchy.

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: Beirut Dreams In Color, Dir. Michael Collins, 2022

Closing Film: Lesvia - SOLD OUT
2024-10-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD, United Kingdom
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**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. CCA Box Office are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please contact them directly or go to their website to be added to this!**
Since the 1970s lesbians have been gathering in the village of Eressos, Lesvia, once home to the ancient Greek poet and ‘First Lesbian’, Sappho. Lesvia is a documentary film chronicling the site of queer pilgrimage and tensions felt between local villagers and new sapphic arrivals of the last four decades. The feature will be followed by two shorts exploring Barbara Hammer and the lesbian iconography of the carabiner, respectively.
This screening will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by Nat Lall with Looking for Barbara director Helen Kilbride.
Curated by Nat Lall.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.

Accessibility:
This programme has:

English, French, Italian, Greek with English language descriptive subtitles.
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and panel discussion.
Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion.

This screening is 93 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2024 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2024, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:

Lesvia, Dir. Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, 2024, Greece, 77 min
Since the 1970s, lesbians from around the world have been drawn to the island of Lesvos, the birthplace of the ancient Greek poet Sappho. When they find paradise in a local village and carve out their own queer lesbian community, tensions simmer with the local residents. With both groups claiming ownership of lesbian identity, filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou—a native and lesbian herself—is caught in the middle and chronicles 40+ years of love, community, conflict, and what it means to feel accepted.
Content notes: Depiction of nudity, sex toys, alcohol use, cigarette use. Discussion of homophobia, sex, harassment, political legislation, oppression, gender dysphoria, body image, fatphobia, childhood trauma, xenophobia, physical violence, police violence, patriarchy, sexism, alcohol.
Access notes: Minimal flashing light in some party scenes.

Looking for Barbara, Dir. Helen Eve Kilbride, 2021, United Kingdom, 9 min
Looking for Barbara is a short experimental film exploring personal archives—photos and cine film from home. Using the filmmaker’s mid-1990s Super 8 footage, it questions memory’s significance and whose stories are prioritised. Inspired by Barbara Hammer, the film blends an ethereal soundtrack with personal testimony, offering a queer perspective on memory and how archives can be reinterpreted to amplify marginalised narratives.
Content notes: Depiction of nudity. Discussion of queer erasure, sex.

The History of The Carabiner, Dir. Gianna Mazzeo, 2023, Netherlands, 7 min
A tongue-in-cheek, historical documentary / fashion film hybrid that takes viewers on a journey through queer history to trace the origins of the carabiner as a lesbian symbol.
Content notes: Discussion of sexism, sex, homophobia.

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: Lesvia, Dir. Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, 2024

Making Masculinities with Take One Action and Pillow Talk Scotland - SOLD OUT
2024-11-22 19:00 - 21:30 | Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD, United Kingdom
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**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening.**

A compelling evening of short films exploring the complexities of masculinity today – from harm to love.

What does it mean to be masculine today? Young men face increasing pressures, grappling with toxic stereotypes and the “loneliness epidemic,” often feeling isolated and inadequate. Data shows that young men are veering to the right globally, underscoring the urgent need to address these issues. However, masculinity is far more fluid and diverse than commonly portrayed, and we invite audiences to reflect on these nuances through a broader, more intersectional lens.

Featuring short films from Glasgow artist Trackie McLeod, filmmakers Miles Warren and Campbell X, director and writer Daniel Bailey and others, Making Masculinities takes us on a journey through masculinity’s many facets.

The event encourages attendees to participate as men or people who identify in some way with masculinity, to bring friends with them, and to bring the men in their lives. Together we’ll have meaningful conversations about male identity’s positive and negative aspects. Hosted by Take One Action, the Scottish Queer International Film Festival, and Pillow Talk Scotland, the screening will take place on 22nd November, shortly after International Men’s Day and just ahead of this year’s 16 Days of Activism. This event provides an opportunity to challenge traditional narratives and promote a healthier understanding of masculinity today.

Curated by Iris Pase, Rachel Hamada, and Zeo Fawcett, with support from Indigo Korres.

Tickets are FREE. To book, click here and you’ll be redirected to the Take One Action website.

Understanding Masculinity Trackie McLeod, 2018, UK, 5 minutes
​Trackie McLeod is a Scottish artist based in Glasgow. Best known for his text-based work, Trackie recontextualises our relationship with everyday colloquialisms. His punchy take on sculpture, textiles and print mixed with his love of Scottish patter creates a visual best described as ‘one part tongue-in-cheek, an ounce of sarcasm and a pint of Tennent’s Lager’. Here, in an early piece of his work, he explores experiences of masculinity.

I Love Hooligans Jan-Dirk Bouw, 2013, Netherlands, 13 minutes
In this animated short, a football hooligan feels unconditional love for his club. However, being gay, he has to hide his identity in order to survive in this world that is so precious to him.

Father and Son Mitchell Lazar, 2018, US, 7 minutes
An up and coming writer competes against his father for a prestigious book award. This portrait of male insecurity and psychological cruelty shows that violence doesn’t have to be physical to maim – but who will triumph?

Des!re Campbell X, 2017, UK, 9 minutes Trailer
DES!RE is an experimental film exploring desire for transmasc, transmen, butch, stud, aggressives, masculine of centre (MOC) people assigned female at birth. Stunning black and white images drift across the screen while transmen, femme women and butch and MOC people speak about the complexity of their desire.

Bruiser Miles Warren, 2022, USA, 10 minutes
After his father gets into a fight at a bowling alley, Darious begins to investigate the limitations of his own manhood. Inspired by Worldstar fight videos, this Sundance and SXSW selected short film interrogates the emotional fallout of macho violence, and inspired a later feature debut by the director.

Soft Bwoi Daniel Bailey, 2022, UK, 5 minutes
In yardie culture, “yuh too soft” can mark you from childhood, the equivocation of gentleness and sensitivity with weakness and irrelevance. This ensemble production refuses such sentiment and Babylon itself, using folklore and imagery from Caribbean carnival culture and queerness to redefine this misconception. The concealment of emotion, embracing norms, and the repression of femininity are no longer signs of power and strength. Instead, it is in seeking the divine feminine, deep connections with one another and the rejection of toxicity that will unite Black men to find better ways to survive in this harsh but limitless world. Yes lawd!

You Can’t Always Get What You Want But You Can Get Me Samira Elagoz/Z Walsh, 2023, Canada, 13 minutes
A unique slideshow documenting two longhaired trans men falling in love. Over the course of one year, the artist couple gathered photographs from real-life events such as their first kiss, meeting each other’s parents, long distance thirst traps, a beach wedding, and top surgery. A sweet and steamy celebration of T4T love with life and art all tangled up.

La Vita Semplice Lucas Tielke, 2022, Italy, 3 minutes
Pedro and Flavio live a simple and beautiful life together, filled to the brim with love, away from the distractions of the outside world. For the past 30 years, they have poured their heart and soul into their scenic property situated in the rolling hills of Bologna. The instant you meet them their commitment to “The Beautiful Life” becomes apparent.

BEYOND THE SCREEN: Following the films, a panel and interactive audience discussion will further explore the themes presented. The discussion will be hosted by Zeo Fawcett, and will feature actor, writer and storyteller Adam Kashmiry and Isaac Hoff from the University of Glasgow. We’ll also be asking the audience to share their experiences, good and bad, of masculinity and your ideas about what positive masculinity looks like.
Adam Kashmiry is a neurodivergent Egyptian-born and Glasgow-raised performer, storyteller, experimental mover and writer, and queer activist. Some of the projects Adam has worked on include autobiographical BAFTA-winning film Adam; As You Like It with Northern Broadsides; Tako Taal’s After Kinte; Where Are You From? at the Children’s Festival; Everyman and Who I am now? from Bombito Productions; Walter Sholto Douglas; and the exhibition The Untold Stories of People Who Shaped Scotland.
Isaac Hoff is a lecturer in media and sociology at the University of Glasgow with interests in masculinities, youth, culture and class. He has written about masculinities, transitions to adulthood and leisure. He completed his PhD at the University of Leicester’s research institute for cultural and media economies in 2021 and has been at Glasgow since September 2022.

Accessibility:

BSL-English interpretation for introduction and discussions.
English Descriptive Subtitles.
Wheelchair Access.
Content Notes:

I Love Hooligans: Depictions of physical violence, homophobia, strobing lights.
Bruiser: Depictions of physical violence
You Can’t Always Get What You Want But You Can Get Me: Discussion of surgery, sex, genitalia. Depiction of nudity, sex, bodily fluids, hospitalisation, surgical drains, needles, blood, stitches, fresh top surgery scars, pain medication, scabbing wounds.

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

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: La Vita Semplice (2022, Dir Lukas Tielke)

D.I.Why? (Filmmaking Workshops for QTIPOC+)
2025-03-02 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
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Are you LGBTQIA+ and Black/a Person of Colour and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Exhale Group C.I.C. are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Nat Lall and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Nat Lall is a Glasgow-based film curator, known for their work with the SQIFF. Nat is also an artist and DJ. Notable works include the film Pink Excavation (2018) and their musical alias is DJ FLUFFIE.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (1/4):
In our first session together we are going to look into why DIY(Do It Yourself) filmmaking is such a fun and accessible way to make film. What if we used our limitations as a starting point for our creativity? That’s what I did!
We’re going to play around with cheap, camp objects from our homes and pound shops. I personally love the look of cheap bits of tatt, they tend to be colourful, childish and inventive. They’re often not fit for purpose and how/why they could actually be used gets my creative juices flowing. We are going to use these objects as a starting point for our narratives. We will imagine new worlds from these precious, and cost-friendly wonders.
With a bit of observation, free-writing and plenty of imagination… we will think up conceptual bases for our films. We’ll do a bit of improvised narration as we ponder on our objects. And by the end of the session, each filmmaker will have a some clips about a fantastical world in which these objects exist.
PS. No equipment, or prior filmmaking knowledge is necessary. Everything will be shot on our phone cameras. If you do not have one to use, please be in touch and we will organise a camera for you to borrow. Also, be in touch if you have any access needs.

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

Acting is just me hanging out with my friends (Filmmaking Workshops for QTIPOC+)
2025-03-09 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

Are you LGBTQIA+ and Black/a Person of Colour and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Exhale Group C.I.C. are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Nat Lall and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Nat Lall is a Glasgow-based film curator, known for their work with the SQIFF. Nat is also an artist and DJ. Notable works include the film Pink Excavation (2018) and their musical alias is DJ FLUFFIE.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (2/4):
Don’t have the time or money or energy to write a script and cast actors? Don’t worry… just have a fun silly day with your pals and film it. Once again, that’s what I did.
We’ll chat about filming dialogue on the fly, making filming your friends into a fun hang out instead of a job, and ways to repay your pals in other ways than money.
I’ll be honest with you, you’re probably not going to earn loadsa cash from your DIY films, you could, but it’s unlikely. So make it fun and worth your time. Be honest, and kind, to yourself about it. I struggle with the awkwardness of asking for favours too, but maybe your pals/community actually love you..? Or if not at least maybe you could return the favour.
We’ll hang out together as a group, we’ll have tea and chat, and then we’ll devise rough ideas for acting in each others’ films. Then we’ll record our footage and help each other out. It won’t be too planned, it won’t be scripted, but it will be fun.
PS. No equipment, or prior filmmaking knowledge is necessary. Everything will be shot on our phone cameras. If you do not have one to use, please be in touch and we will organise a camera for you to borrow. Also, be in touch if you have any access needs.

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

Fantasy Field Recording (Filmmaking Workshops for QTIPOC+)
2025-03-15 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
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Are you LGBTQIA+ and Black/a Person of Colour and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Exhale Group C.I.C. are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Nat Lall and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Nat Lall is a Glasgow-based film curator, known for their work with the SQIFF. Nat is also an artist and DJ. Notable works include the film Pink Excavation (2018) and their musical alias is DJ FLUFFIE.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (3/4):
We’re going to get creative and make immersive, otherworldly soundscapes, from the comfort of the gallery space. Expect an intro to Foley, Spatial Audio and my own concept of ‘IRL field recording’.
Foley lets you create a range of textural sound effects to add into films. You can create big, gory, explosive, slimy sounds simply with some everyday items and a microphone.
Spatial Audio lets you create a physical space with your recordings. Rather than flat mono sounds, you can place your sounds left or right, up or down and forwards or back. It lets your audience transport to vast otherworldly dimensions… without you having to leave the comfort of your home or studio.
IRL Field Recording is a concept I coined during my BA in Sound Arts. The soundscapes are not at all recorded ‘In Real Life’, rather they are dreamed up and carefully devised. The name represents my skeptical views towards the ‘facts’ of science, reality, and notably gender. Who constructed these ‘facts’ anyway? Is everything not sci-fi to an extent?
PS. No equipment, or prior audio recording knowledge is necessary. Also, be in touch if you have any access needs.

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

SQIFF Queer Screening: Edinburgh Takeover with Edinburgh Arts Festival & Rhubaba - SOLD OUT
2025-03-18 19:00 - 21:00 | French Institute, West Parliament Sq, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF, United Kingdom
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**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the screening. Edinburgh Arts Festival are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please contact elle@edinburghartfestival.com to be added to this!**

SQIFF are very excited to announce our collaboration with Rhubaba for the Edinburgh Art Festival. The evening will consist of a screening of short films, a panel discussion with Scottish QTIPOC filmmakers and food. The event will take place on the 18th March 2025 in the French Institute, Edinburgh.
All of the short films in the screening are taken from the SQIFF 2024 programme and with this we aim to bring a bit of the queer magic we experienced in Glasgow to Edinburgh. The selected films include works from our Scottish Shorts, Sci-Fi Meets Reality, Queer Asia, ★,。·::·ﾟ☆ “The Real Internet Is Inside You” ·ﾟ✧*:·ﾟ✧ and Drag & Performance Through Censorship events. The selection highlights a range of techniques and genres in queer filmmaking including digital animation, text-based film, collage and live-action. It also explores a diverse range of topics such as young trans girlhood, intimate friendships between men of colour, medical drag-satire and more.
All of the selected films are either directed by and/or have a central focus on QTIPOC. This event aims to spotlight and celebrate queer people of colour in film. We will explore filmmaking techniques, community initiatives and future hopes for people of colour in queer film with a panel discussion after the screenings. And after that, we will end by chatting over food and drink provided by the festival.
Curated by Nat Lall.
Tickets are FREE. To book, click here and you’ll be redirected to the Edinburgh Arts Festival website.

Films in this programme include:
A Float, Dir. Isabel Barfod, 2023, United Kingdom, 3 min

A Float explores subtle modes of refusal through the lens of a Black Queer swimmer in a hostile environment. Set in a Victorian era public swimming pool, A Float follows our protagonist as they access alternate realities, speculated futures and enact small acts of revenge.

Content Notes: Depiction of racism.

Access Notes: Contains flashing imagery.

Dr. XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology, Dir. El Jones, 2023, United Kingdom, 14 min

Dr. XYZ is a community-made trans+ healthcare training film and ethnofiction. It is an exercise in queering the public information film genre, shot in 16mm. The film weaves ethnographic healthcare accounts from Birmingham’s trans+ community with moments of drag-satire re-enactment to depict a collective vision of the UK’s healthcare system.

Content notes: Discussion of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, mental health issues, medical neglect within NHS, transphobia, ableism, racism, passing culture, self-medicating, gender dysphoria, medical waiting lists, explicit language. Depiction of animated genitalia.

Scrapped Fabric, Dir. Jake Muñoz Consing, 2024, Philippines, 11 min

Fearing her mother’s disapproval, a teenage trans girl secretly sews a prom dress from her mother’s scrap fabric (“retaso”).

Content notes: Discussion of transphobia.

Farewell, Dir. Soham Kundu, 2024, United Kingdom, 15 min

Two friends: one with a broken heart, the other on the brink of marriage. Together they set out on a day’s journey that leads them to confront their past amidst shared grief and hopes for a brighter future. Centred around intimate friendships between men of colour, Farewell presents evolving expressions of modern masculinity.

Content notes: Depiction of cigarette use.

Diffused in Marginalised Orders, Dir. Florence To, 2024, United Kingdom, 3 min

Words have a powerful role in shaping identity and transforming our lived experiences. The Scottish-born Hong Kong artist uses texts that ignite deep connections and solidarity. Their work confronts the dispossessions wrought by imperialism and challenges complicity in public amnesia about ongoing injustices, redefining our relationship within social barriers and power struggles in public spaces.

Access notes: Flashing light and rapid visual effects.

Bellydance Vogue, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2020, Lebanon, 5 min

“My birthday was on the 3rd of April 2020 during lockdown, and for the first time, I celebrated it all by myself. But even if I was alone, I decided to celebrate it as if it’s the last one”

The film was made during quarantine.

Accessibility:

BSL-English interpretation for introduction and discussions.
English Descriptive Subtitles.
This event is located upstairs in the Salle Emilienne Moreau-Evrard space at the French Institute of Scotland, accessible via stairs or lift.
You will enter the building at street level via the entrance on George IV Bridge, where a reception desk is available for directions to the space or the lift.
Accessing this venue is an uphill walk from Waverley Station. For a step-free journey, travel along Market Street, left along North Bank Street towards the Bank of Scotland, and find the French Institute across the road.
If travel costs would be a barrier to attending this workshop, please contact Rhubaba (admin@rhubaba.org) or EAF (info@edinburghartfestival.com) to arrange travel reimbursement.

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

This event is part of Refractions: New Conceptions of Film + Photography (15 Jan—18 Mar). Co-created by the EAF Civic Programme and Rhubaba, this free event series aims to connect marginalised people with creativity through film, ceramics, writing, and more. Find out more here.

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

Collaging our Films (Filmmaking Workshops for QTIPOC+)
2025-03-30 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

Are you LGBTQIA+ and Black/a Person of Colour and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Exhale Group C.I.C. are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Nat Lall and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Nat Lall is a Glasgow-based film curator, known for their work with the SQIFF. Nat is also an artist and DJ. Notable works include the film Pink Excavation (2018) and their musical alias is DJ FLUFFIE.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (4/4):
In our final session, we will edit the film and sound clips from previous sessions into a finished film.
I’ll show you where and how you can download free film editing software. then I’ll give you a little demonstration of how I edit films.
I treat the editing process the same way I would treat a paper collage. I start editing when I have all my materials to hand and then I cut, copy and paste the clips in and around each other.
For me, this is really when the whole narrative comes together. I don’t start with a clear structure. Using the clips of improvised sound and image, I piece together a story and add in a little bits narration of when needed.
PS. No existing software licenses or experience of film software is necessary. I will show you free-to-use options and help you install them on your own laptops. If you do not own laptop, please be in touch and we will organise one for you to borrow.

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

How a film can be found: Ideation//Process (Filmmaking Workshops for Trans and Non-Binary People) - SOLD OUT
2025-04-06 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the event. We are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please go to the ticket link to be added to this!**

Are you trans and/or non-binary and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Scottish Trans are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Erica Monde and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Erica Monde is a filmmaker, academic and educator working as a writer and director across documentary, experimental, and fiction film. They currently run IMPRINT Documentary Collective, teach on film courses at the University of Edinburgh and are completing their Short Circuit funded film, This Desert Will Rust Your Bones. Their recent documentary There’s Not Much We Can Do was funded by the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap scheme, and they have also worked as a producer and story consultant on award winning short films.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (1/4):
What makes a compelling idea for a short film? How can a short film be created in one month? In week 1 we will explore what type of film (documentary, fiction, experimental or hybrid) we want to make and why we want to make it. This session will focus on short filmmaking as a creative process, finding potential layers to explore within our film and understanding in more depth the stories we want to tell. Touching briefly on the short film landscape, participants will walk away from this session with a draft film treatment and production plan for the next few weeks. Filmmaking teams will be organised as needed based on interest, skill, and desire to collaborate.
Please bring either: a general idea for a film you want to make, or an idea of the kind of film you may want to work on with others.
All roles (directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers, composers, editors, production designers, costume designers, etc.) and levels of experience (from none to advanced) are welcome!

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

Do you think Memory will ever land on the statue of someone like you and me?
2025-04-11 12:00 - 2025-06-30 00:00 | Curate-It
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

This screening features four films that explore the distinct ways in which we build relationships with one another as trans people. These relationships can be romantic, platonic, familial, or even that mutual feeling of care between strangers. The programme starts with I Feel (For) You, an euphoric documentary about a group of queer and trans friends. This is followed by A Bird Called Memory, Les garçons dans l’eau, and Dismantle Me; three narrative fiction films delving into the various ways we give and receive love. This trans-focused programme is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of love within our community.
Curated by Indigo Korres.

SQIFF is working with Curate-It to bring this programme online and wide. You can watch it by signing up to the Curate-It platform here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

English, French, Portuguese, Spanish audio with English language descriptive subtitles

This screening is 75 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 15+.

Films in this programme include:

I Feel (For) You, Dir. Bella Cintra, 2023, Spain, 7 min
We embark on a journey in which the deepest feelings of a group of trans individuals will guide an intimate and emotional relationship between two trans people through their experiences.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobic slur, transmisogyny.

A Bird Called Memory, Dir. Leonardo Martinelli, 2023, Brazil, 15 min
A bird called Memory has forgotten how to come back home. Lua, a trans woman, tries to find Memory in the streets, but the city can be a hostile place.
Content notes: Depiction of transphobia.

Les garçons dans l’eau, Dir. Pawel Thomas Larue, 2023, France, 40 min
End of summer on the Breton coast. Oscar invites his group of friends to spend a week’s vacation at his grandparents’ house. He hasn’t been back to his childhood home for years – not since he came out as a trans boy. On the beach, the gang meets Malo, a handsome local guy, also trans. The story is about their meeting, which will turn everything upside down.
Content notes: Depiction of sex, alcohol use, cigarette use. Discussion of internalised homophobia.

Dismantle Me, Dir. Max Disgrace, 2023, United Kingdom, 13 min
A comical proposition turns into an arousing powerplay when a smoldering-hot trans woman helps a heartbroken trans man tidy his messy bedroom.
Associate produced by Lilly Wachowski, Dismantle Me is a dark comedy-romance by trans people of colour, and created with a majority transgender and non-binary cast and crew. Made in collaboration with Trans+ On Screen.
Content notes: Depiction of sex, cuts, blood. Discussion of sex, sexual language.

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: Les garçons dans l’eau, Dir. Pawel Thomas Larue, 2023

The parts that make a film whole: Directing//Shooting (Filmmaking Workshops for Trans and Non-Binary People) - SOLD OUT
2025-04-13 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the event. We are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please go to the ticket link to be added to this!**

Are you trans and/or non-binary and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Scottish Trans are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Erica Monde and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Erica Monde is a filmmaker, academic and educator working as a writer and director across documentary, experimental, and fiction film. They currently run IMPRINT Documentary Collective, teach on film courses at the University of Edinburgh and are completing their Short Circuit funded film, This Desert Will Rust Your Bones. Their recent documentary There’s Not Much We Can Do was funded by the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap scheme, and they have also worked as a producer and story consultant on award winning short films.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (2/4):
How do we want to tell our film’s story? What elements of filmmaking can we use to capture material for our short? In week 2 we will focus on various approaches to directing and methods of creating footage and capturing sound. Drawing on the concept of developing a visual language, we will explore how different creative elements in film can be designed to craft emotion and tell our stories. Participants will leave this session with a practical plan (whether with a crew, alone, or using found/archive footage) to shoot their film over the following week. Skills in camera and sound will be collaboratively explored depending on the interests of the group.
Please bring any film equipment (camera, phone, audio recorder, etc.) you may want to work with to this session.
All roles (directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers, composers, editors, production designers, costume designers, etc.) and levels of experience (from none to advanced) are welcome!

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

The shape a film holds: Editing//Story (Filmmaking Workshops for Trans and Non-Binary People) - SOLD OUT
2025-04-20 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the event. We are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please go to the ticket link to be added to this!**

Are you trans and/or non-binary and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Scottish Trans are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Erica Monde and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Erica Monde is a filmmaker, academic and educator working as a writer and director across documentary, experimental, and fiction film. They currently run IMPRINT Documentary Collective, teach on film courses at the University of Edinburgh and are completing their Short Circuit funded film, This Desert Will Rust Your Bones. Their recent documentary There’s Not Much We Can Do was funded by the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap scheme, and they have also worked as a producer and story consultant on award winning short films.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (3/4):
How can we work creatively with our footage to design our films? How can we use specific techniques of editing and sound design to add depth and emotion to our stories? In week 3 we will begin our hands-on work with the footage shot over the previous week. Building on traditional methods of storytelling and moving into more experimental and conceptual approaches, this session will focus on working with and developing story structure through editing. Participants will leave this session with a rough cut of their films and a plan for further editing over the following week. Skills in using editing software such as Davinci Resolve will be explored as needed depending on the interest of the group.
Please bring your footage and a laptop (if you have one you’d like to use) to this session.
All roles (directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers, composers, editors, production designers, costume designers, etc.) and levels of experience (from none to advanced) are welcome!

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

Where a film lives: Screening//Distribution (Filmmaking Workshops for Trans and Non-Binary People) - SOLD OUT
2025-04-27 14:00 - 18:00 | Transmission Gallery, 28 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QP, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

**Please note this event is now sold out – we may be able to release more tickets nearer the event. We are operating a waiting list for sold out events – please go to the ticket link to be added to this!**

Are you trans and/or non-binary and would like to learn how to make your own short films?
SQIFF and Scottish Trans are bringing you 4x filmmaking workshop sessions, making film an accessible medium to get into. All sessions will be facilitated by Erica Monde and hosted at Transmission Gallery.
Erica Monde is a filmmaker, academic and educator working as a writer and director across documentary, experimental, and fiction film. They currently run IMPRINT Documentary Collective, teach on film courses at the University of Edinburgh and are completing their Short Circuit funded film, This Desert Will Rust Your Bones. Their recent documentary There’s Not Much We Can Do was funded by the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap scheme, and they have also worked as a producer and story consultant on award winning short films.
Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. It’d be great if you could attend all four sessions, but don’t be discouraged to come if you can only come for a couple of sessions that you’re really excited about!

Information on this session (4/4):
How are our films experienced by others? Where do we want our films to be seen and what impact do we want them to have? In week 4 we will share our films with the wider group, and each filmmaker will have a chance to discuss their process with fellow participants. This session will be a space for creative feedback and ideation, exploring if and how we may want to develop our films further, whether on our own or in collaboration with other members of the group. We will also focus on the concept of distribution and the places and ways we want our films to be seen, as well as the idea of impact, or what place we want our film to inhabit in the world. Finally, we will discuss opportunities for further development as independent filmmakers.
Please bring your completed film to this session.
All roles (directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers, composers, editors, production designers, costume designers, etc.) and levels of experience (from none to advanced) are welcome!

Tickets are FREE. To book a spot, click here.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair Access Including Accessible Bathroom.
Snacks and Drinks will be provided.
Quiet Space – A designated quiet space will be available during these workshop sessions.
Audience Travel and Access Fund – We have an Audience Access Fund that can support any audience member with costs within Scotland to be able to attend our events (ie. travel or childcare costs). Please get in touch by emailing info@sqiff.org or speak to our team at the event if you require this. You do not need to give a reason for accessing the fund.
Face Masks – FFP2 masks will be available for free around the venue.
Support Animals – Support animals and service animals such as guide dogs are welcome at Transmission Gallery.
The SQIFF Team will be available to support with navigating the venue for anyone that needs it.

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 and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

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: SQIFF

Floating in Ecosystems
2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, London, E8 2PB, United Kingdom
🔊 Listen to this Event Page

This screening brings together the work of queer East and Southeast Asian artists based in Scotland, showcasing bold explorations of identity, transformation, and community. The films in this programme experiment with dynamic visual narratives that challenge cultural and bodily boundaries, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, self and other. From fictional work to artist moving image work, these films offer a range of experiences where body and identity intersect with culture and memory.
Florence To will introduce this event by presenting an expansive overview of queer East and Southeast Asian filmmaking in Scotland today.
Curated by Indigo Korres.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of £3, £6, £9, £12, £15. To book, click here or call the Rio Cinema Box Office on 020 7241 9410.

Accessibility
This programme has:

British Sign Language, Chinese, and English audio with English language descriptive subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction.
Rio Cinema is a wheelchair accessible venue.

This screening is 90 minutes long.

Films in this programme include:

Strangers, Dir. Klarissa Webster, 2023, United Kingdom, 4 min
2 peoples worlds collide in a graveyard. One dealing with a near loss, another still harbouring the pain after many years.

In the penumbra, the strange wave, Dir. Wei Zhang, 2022, United Kingdom, 11 min
This 11-minute collage film explores Zhang’s personal trauma through a blend of various media forms and techniques, creating an alternate reality with symbolic characters representing complex emotions.
Access notes: Distorted voice.

Fluid, Dir. Wei Zhou, 2016, United Kingdom, 13 min
An autobiographical story traces the filmmaker’s very own personal growing-up experiences of love and desire as a Chinese born and raised queer woman.
Access notes: Static imagery.
Content notes: Discussion of porn, self harm.

body is/as landscape, Dir. Joanne Lee, 2020, United Kingdom, 13 min
‘Body as/is Landscape’ shows the landscapes of St Andrews, Dunoon, a human body and the now demolished site of the Red Road flats in Glasgow. Lee asks what frames of references we are using to understand and relate to these landscapes? Attempting to situate the self among these places of privilege, absence, ruin and industry by observing in front and behind the camera. Questioning how we relate to and consume these landscapes – through the frame of the phone, the lens of the digital camera.

In Conversation with, Dir. Eye Suriyanon, 2024, United Kingdom, 11 min
‘In Conversation with ‘ (2024) is an animated film in collaboration with Members of the Children’s Parliament (MCP) from Stirling and Eye Suriyanon. As part of the ‘Fairness and Bias in AI’ workshop for the ‘Exploring Children’s Rights and AI’ project by Children’s Parliament Scotland. Featuring elements of graphic scores created by MCP and sound effects from DIY instruments, animated in Processing, additional music by Eye Suriyanon.
Access notes: Flashing imagery.

Narratives and Counternarratives, Dir. Chaoying Rao, 2022, United Kingdom, 9 min
This work examines representations of the self, dissecting the persistent fetishisation of Asian women through collaging and reviewing memorable moments in Western culture. Questioning the ideas of the ‘Asian mystique’ and how it manifests in popular culture, this film examines how the legacy of orientalism continues to manifest in spaces both physical and digital.
Content notes: Depiction of nudity, physical violence, body modification, fetishisation, racism, sex, sensual dancing, death, gun violence, knife violence, sword violence, decapitated head, blood. Discussion of harassment, violence.

Wah Yen, Dir. Wei Zhang, 2024, United Kingdom, 29 min
Set in 1970s Glasgow, the film explores the rich inner world of young, queer, and neurodivergent Chinese immigrant Chen through their emerging kinship with Scottish shipbuilder, James. Wah Yen employs a non-linear narrative, underpinned by Wei’s interweaving of 3D animation, archival footage, and drag performances, creating a dynamic and compelling visual language. The visually diverse film highlights the intimate relationships and struggles of marginalised identities, resonating particularly with Glasgow’s Chinese and queer residents.

Donate:
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Image Credit: Wah Yen, Dir. Wei Zhang, 2024

Fun Family Event!
2025-05-17 10:30 - 13:30 | The Deep End, The Deep End 21 Nithsdale Street, Glasgow, G41 2PZ, United Kingdom
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Queer Families and SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) have worked together to plan a fun, inclusive film event for all families with children! 🌈🦕🌞
You can drop in on the day, or send us a message or comment (so we know how many people will join)!
It’ll be a relaxed event, with some fun child-friendly (all ages) films to watch, fun creative activities, toys and storybooks, snacks and hot drinks, and space to meet other families and make friends.
Nat Lall (SQIFF curator) has selected lovely films for us to watch, including short animations with LGBTIQ+ families.
We’re holding this event because people who come to Queer Families have talked about not seeing many families like them in children’s films. So we’re trying to create more space for LGBTIQ+ families to feel more seen and valued.
All families with children are invited and welcome to join! The event is planned to meet the needs of LGBTIQ+ families especially, but every family is welcome. So please invite your friends and more people in your communities along! And of course wider family, chosen family, grandparents, and anyone else who matters to you too.
Send us a message (or email Leon@otbds.org) if you have any questions, or if we can help you feel welcome and take part.

Accessibility:

The Deep End is a wheelchair accessible venue.
Snacks, Coffee and Tea will be provided.

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

Films in this programme include:
Dear Nana, Dir. Han Nguyen, 2023
Dear Nana is a deeply personal work that reflects my own childhood memory of living as a queer kid in a small, conservative town in North Central Coast, Vietnam. It is made in memory of my maternal grandmother who passed away in 2011. She was the first person to teach me that there is no shame in being myself and doing whatever makes me happy instead of trying to conform to the norm and doing what is expected of me. This work is both about remembering her and reassuring myself that she would still be supportive of me now that I have come so far in my journey of self-expression. The film also features aspects of Vietnamese culture, such as the tradition to venerate our ancestors and pray for their blessings.

Forza, Rea!, Dirs. Isabel Pahud, Isabel Clerici, Laura Zimmermann, Polina Tyrsa, 2023, Switzerland, 3 min
In a hillside village in Ticino, Rea sets out to deliver a love letter to her crush while roller skating. As she heads to the house, the letter is swept away downhill, sending Rea on a frantic chase through the village. Navigating obstacles on the rough old town streets, she races to catch the letter before finally delivering it.

Little One, Dir. John Clister Santos, 2023, Philippines, 9 min
In Manila, Ili-Ili follows Joy, a pregnant mother seeking advice from her gay dads, Iko and Tino. When Iko has a heart attack, Tino reflects on their family’s journey through old footage. Joy learns that true parenting is defined by love and support, not gender, as the film’s painterly visuals convey a timeless message of parental devotion.
Content notes: Depiction of hospitalisation.

Alwan, Dir. Qais Sarhan, 2024, United Kingdom, 3 min
Meet Alwan, a cheerful child longing for a friend. After a series of disappointments, a box of crayons unexpectedly brings magic into his life. The crayons come alive, creating a magical world filled with joy and friendship. Here, Alwan discovers that his imagination holds the key to happiness, celebrating the power of creativity and the simple joys found within our imagination.

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: Forza Rea!, Dirs. Isabel Pahud, Isabel Clerici, Laura Zimmermann, Polina Tyrsa, 2023

SQIFF x Porty Pride Film Night
2025-06-06 19:00 - 22:00 | Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1AF
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This year, SQIFF and Porty Pride team up once again to present a bold and eclectic mix of queer short films from around the world, screening at the beautiful Portobello Town Hall!
This vibrant programme spans narrative, documentary, and experimental work, delving into themes of memory, transformation, identity, and history. A Bird Called Memory is a striking meditation on love, loss, and the haunting nature of recollection. (Untitled)2025 is an incantation to our Indigenous ancestors from the Global Majority who experienced enforced binary genders, colonialism and the theft of land and resources. Twenty Something offers intimate glimpses into queer youth, as João writes a personal letter about the past, the future, love, friendship, fears and personal growth. In Cornelius, a powerful documentary that delves into the inspiring life and work of Cornelius Wilson, a dedicated community health advocate who has tirelessly fought against the AIDS epidemic within the Black LGBTQIA+ community for over four decades. Dr. XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology brings together drag, medical history, and trans narratives in a wildly original documentary format. Finally, Hot Young Geek Seeks Blood Sucking Freak is a comedy-horror short about the two scariest things on earth: vampires, and coming out. You don’t want to miss it!
Stick around after the screening for a lively discussion with special guest Heath Virgoe, Director of Hot Young Geek Seeks Blood Sucking Freak, hosted by Indigo Korres.
Curated by Indigo Korres.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of £5, £10, £15. To book, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

An age recommendation of N/C 16+.
English language descriptive subtitles.
BSL-English interpretation provided for the introduction and panel discussion.

This screening is 72 minutes long with a introduction and panel discussion.

Films in this programme include:
A Bird Called Memory, Dir. Leonardo Martinelli, 2023, Brazil, 15 min
A bird called Memory has forgotten how to come back home. Lua, a trans woman, tries to find Memory in the streets, but the city can be a hostile place.
Content notes: Depiction of transphobia.

Twenty Something, Dir. João Nunes, 2024, Portugal, 14 min
After the end of a 3-year relationship, João writes a letter about the past, the future, love, friendship, fears and personal growth.
Content notes: Discussion of relationship grief.

Cornelius, Dir. Ken Gregory, 2024, United States, 7 min
“Cornelius” is a powerful documentary about Cornelius Wilson, who has been a tireless advocate for AIDS awareness in the black LGBTQ community for over forty years. It highlights his dedication through personal interviews and showcases his impact on health and education. Celebrating his significant contributions, “Cornelius” is a tribute to his enduring influence and the importance of compassionate community advocacy.
Content notes: Discussion of HIV stigmatisation, racism.

Dr. XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology, Dir. El Jones, 2023, United Kingdom, 14 min
Dr. XYZ is a community-made trans+ healthcare training film and ethnofiction. It is an exercise in queering the public information film genre, shot in 16mm. The film weaves ethnographic healthcare accounts from Birmingham’s trans+ community with moments of drag-satire re-enactment to depict a collective vision of the UK’s healthcare system.
Content notes: Discussion of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, mental health issues, medical neglect within NHS, transphobia, ableism, racism, passing culture, self-medicating, gender dysphoria, medical waiting lists, explicit language. Depiction of animated genitalia.

(Untitled)2025, Dir. Campbell X, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min
(Untitled)2025 is an incantation to our Indigenous ancestors from the Global Majority who experienced enforced binary genders, colonialism and the theft of land and resources. Campbell X explores these themes through a lyrical script, innovative camera techniques which explore the human form in close detail, a haunting soundscape and visuals from lush and devastating extraction from both countries and bodies.
Content notes: Discussion of colonialism. Depiction of bombing.

Hot Young Geek Seeks Bloodsucking Freak, Dir. Heath Virgoe, 2024, United Kingdom, 12 min
When best friends Max and Ricky find themselves the prey of an angry vampire, they must ditch their Halloween plans to hide out at home. But when a forgotten pizza delivery shows up, can they risk letting the driver in? Can they stop arguing with each other? And can Max find the courage to face the one thing worse than death – coming out?
Content Notes: Discussion of sex, role-play. Depiction of death.
Access Notes: Contains flashing imagery.

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: Cornelius, Dir. Ken Gregory, 2024

Building Solidarity & Kinship: Short Film Screenings + Panel Discussion (Inverness)
2025-06-21 15:00 - 17:30 | Eden Court, Bishops Road, Inverness, IV3 5SA, United Kingdom
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This event is part of the Building Solidarity & Kinship programme curated by Esraa Husain at the Refugee Festival Scotland 2025.
We will feature a selection of short films followed by a panel discussion exploring the Festival’s theme Milestones and elements connected to finding refuge and belonging and the importance of community building.
After the screening, we will be joined by local creatives and community organisers in Inverness who come from migrant backgrounds to discuss the themes mentioned and share reflections.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £3, £5, £10. To book, click here or call the Eden Court Box Office on 01463 234 234 or email at boxoffice@eden-court.co.uk.

Accessibility
This programme has:

English language descriptive subtitles
Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion
Glasgow Film Theatre is a wheelchair accessible venue

This screening is 93 minutes long.

Films in this programme include:

Mark Thomas, Permissible Beauty (2023)
Baz Sells, Two Black Boys in Paradise (2025)
Theo Panagopoulos, The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing (2024)
Adéráyọ̀, DISSONANCE (2025)

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: Permissible Beauty, Dir. Mark Thomas, 2023

Building Solidarity & Kinship: Short Film Screenings + Panel Discussion (Glasgow)
2025-06-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AW, United Kingdom
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This event is part of the Building Solidarity & Kinship programme curated by Esraa Husain at the Refugee Festival Scotland 2025.
We are featuring a selection of short films followed by a panel discussion exploring the Festival’s theme Milestones and elements connected to finding refuge and belonging and the importance of community building.
After the screening we are joined by the directors Adéráyọ̀ Adenekan and Theo Panagopoulos, community organisers Mahasin from Exhale Group, Solidarity Screenings, and Xuanlin Tham the author of Revolutionary Desires: The Political Power of the Sex Scene to discuss the themes mentioned and share reflections.
Tickets are FREE. To book, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

English language descriptive subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and panel discussion
Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion
Kelvin Hall is a wheelchair accessible venue

Films in this programme include:

Mark Thomas, Permissible Beauty (2023)
Baz Sells, Two Black Boys in Paradise (2025)
Theo Panagopoulos, The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing (2024)
Adéráyọ̀, DISSONANCE (2025)

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: Permissible Beauty, Dir. Mark Thomas, 2023

Pride Hub - SQIFF x Excuse My Beauty Movie Night
2025-07-15 06:00 - 21:30 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
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Join us for a movie night curated by SQIFF and Excuse My Beauty, with a special screening of Hot Young Geek Seeks Blood Sucking Freak by Heath Virgoe and Tops by Ames Pennington and Jos Bitelli.
Following the film screenings there will be a panel with members of trans collectives Excuse My Beauty, Trans Healthcare Access Glasgow, and Glasgow Electrolysis Project. All money raised from this event will be split between the three collectives.
This event is open to all, and is run by and for trans people to celebrate our community’s creativity and resilience. If you are an ally planning to attend we ask that you come with respect and awareness of how your privileges might show up in the space, and encourage you to pay the maximum donation of £12.

Excuse My Beauty is a trans artist/activist collective that organises events to fundraise for their database of trans healthcare and survival GoFundMes. Follow us and support our work @excusemybeauty.gla
Trans Healthcare Access Glasgow are a group of trans people working to improve access to blood tests for HRT monitoring through community-led research and direct provision of services.
Glasgow Electrolysis Project are a group of trans women fundraising to equip and train a transfem electrolysis in Glasgow.

Tickets are free with a sliding scale donation of £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here.

Accessibility:

An age recommendation of N/C 16+.
English language descriptive subtitles.
BSL-English interpretation provided for the introduction and panel discussion.
The Social Hub is wheelchair accessible, with gender neutral toilets.
Please let us know at check in if you don’t want to be in pictures or video.

This screening is 82 minutes long with an introduction and panel discussion.
If you have any other access needs you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org.

Films in this programme include:
Hot Young Geek Seeks Bloodsucking Freak, Dir. Heath Virgoe, 2024, United Kingdom, 12 min
When best friends Max and Ricky find themselves the prey of an angry vampire, they must ditch their Halloween plans to hide out at home. But when a forgotten pizza delivery shows up, can they risk letting the driver in? Can they stop arguing with each other? And can Max find the courage to face the one thing worse than death – coming out?
Content Notes: Discussion of sex, role-play. Depiction of death.
Access Notes: Contains flashing imagery.

TOPS, Dir. Ames Pennington and Jos Bitelli, 2024, United Kingdom, 70 min
Fun, satirical and a pastiche of the chaotic, brash, self-deprecating and clueless 1990s/2000s British reality TV, TOPS sees self-proclaimed future award winning filmmaker Ames Pennington present their landmark faux-documentary. Casting themselves as an invasive TV presenter, Ames goes on a satirical odyssey through the lives and homes of four unique individuals, exploring the crucial question that defines trans masc experience, “What TOP did you wanna wear after TOP surgery?”.
Content notes: Discussions of gender dysphoria, sex toys, surgery.

How to get there:
Address: The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
Train: the venue is only a 10 minute walk from Queen Street Station or Central station
Driving: parking is a 4 minute walk at NCP Glassford Street – The Glasshouse NCP Car Park
Subway: the nearest subway station is a 10 minute walk from St Enoch station
Bikes: bike racks are available just outside the venue

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: TOPS, Dir. Ames Pennington and Jos Bitelli, 2024, United Kingdom

Reas + Post Screening Discussion
2025-08-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Edinburgh Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9BZ
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In collaboration with Scottish Documentary Institute, we’re proud to present REAS: a ground-breaking documentary-musical by Lola Arias that explores queer solidarity and kinship within the carceral system. The screening will be enriched by a post-film relaxed 30-minute workshop with filmmaker Erica Monde.
Yoseli has a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower on her back and has always wanted to travel, but she was arrested at the airport for drug trafficking. Nacho is a trans man who was arrested for swindling and started a rock band in jail. Gentle or rough, blonde or shaved, cis or trans, long-term inmates or newly admitted: in this hybrid musical, they all re-enact their lives in a Buenos Aires prison.
Reas is a collective work that reinvents the musical genre: the performers dance and sing about their past in prison, relive their life as fiction, and invent, through fantasy and imagination, a possible future for themselves.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale. To book, click here.

Accessibility:

An age recommendation of BBFC 15.
Content Notes: Contains mentions of drug and people trafficking.
Spanish language audio with English language descriptive subtitles.
Filmhouse is wheelchair accessible, with gender neutral toilets.

This screening is 79 minutes long with an introduction and post-film workshop.
If you have any other access needs you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org.

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: Reas, Dir. Lola Arias, 2024, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland

Neirud (Edinburgh) - SOLD OUT
2025-09-13 18:15 - 20:15 | Edinburgh Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9BZ
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Neirud died shrouded in mystery, leaving behind no trace of her past. Confronting family secrets, the filmmaker pieces together the mysterious life of her enigmatic “aunt”. In doing so, she discovers Neirud’s colourful life as a pioneering black lesbian wrestler in an all-female circus troupe through the 60s and 80s. As she investigates Neirud’s controversial ring persona, the filmmaker paints a fascinating story touching on race, identity and queer life through changing Brazilian society.

To book your ticket for this event, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

Portuguese audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and panel discussion

This screening is 72 minutes long and has a BBFC U age rating.

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: Neirud, Dir. Fernanda Faya, 2023

Neirud (Glasgow)
2025-09-19 18:00 - 20:00 | GMAC Film, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5HD, United Kingdom
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Neirud died shrouded in mystery, leaving behind no trace of her past. Confronting family secrets, the filmmaker pieces together the mysterious life of her enigmatic “aunt”. In doing so, she discovers Neirud’s colourful life as a pioneering black lesbian wrestler in an all-female circus troupe through the 60s and 80s. As she investigates Neirud’s controversial ring persona, the filmmaker paints a fascinating story touching on race, identity and queer life through changing Brazilian society.

To book your ticket for this event, click here.

Accessibility
This programme has:

Portuguese audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction

This screening is 72 minutes long and has a BBFC U age rating.

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: Neirud, Dir. Fernanda Faya, 2023

NIÑXS (Edinburgh) - SOLD OUT
2025-09-21 17:45 - 20:15 | Edinburgh Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9BZ
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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!
Join Listen Gallery’s Riah for a sounding workshop where we will collectively create sounds and explore sonic inspirations drawn from the film Niñxs. Together, we’ll move through vocal exercises designed to open a shared space for auditory imagination in response to the film. This workshop welcomes people of all backgrounds and mobilities. If there’s anything that would help make it easier for you to take part, just let Riah know — no musical experience needed.

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

NIÑXS (Glasgow)
2025-09-27 20:00 - 22:30 | GMAC Film, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5HD, United Kingdom
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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 to learn all about the amazing trans mutual aid initiatives flourishing in Glasgow, how you can access their resources, and how you can get involved.

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

NIÑXS (Inverness)
2025-10-12 17:30 - 20:00 | Eden Court, Bishops Road, Inverness, IV3 5SA, United Kingdom
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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

The River and The Glen, Camp Trans Scotland: The Exhibition
2025-10-27 14:00 - 2025-10-31 19:00 | Listen Gallery, 60 York Street, Glasgow, G2 8JX
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Cradled by the mountains, refreshed by the clear river, walk into the deep magic of Camp Trans Scotland. This exhibition holds its viewers in a moment of peace, pausing the chaos outside. It leads the audience into a time and space built on and by nature, community care and trans ancestry.
Photographs from 2024 and 2025 take the viewer into a world still vibrating within the camp trans folks. It invites the viewer under its green shield, to breathe the golden air, heal, and restore the strength we need to face the relentless attacks on trans people.
Stones, and other objects from the Camp will be in the space, available to touch, smell, creating a palpable, alive, archive. The stones will be returned to the glen, taking with them those who touched them.
The film made at the first camp, The River and The Glen, will play every hour.
Curated by Jules Lacave-Fontourcy.

This is a FREE exhibition.
2pm-7pm daily from 27th October – 1st November.

Accessibility
This exhibition has English Language descriptive subtitles.
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.

This exhibition features the film:
The River and The Glen, Dir. Jules Lacave-Fontourcy, 2025, United Kingdom, 30 min
The first Scottish Camp Trans happened in September 2024, near Aberfeldy. Cradled by the mountains, far away from cis-society for a weekend, we existed on our own terms. Far from being a commodified retreat, Camp Trans was a coming together of trans people to rest and restore our strength.
Content notes: Depiction of one image of naked people (chest up) & seen from behind from feet up to head. Discussions of ableism, alcohol use, current trans panic, drug use, racism, 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 🌈✨

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: The River and The Glen, Dir. Jules Lacave-Fontourcy, 2025

SQIFF 2025 Opening Night Scottish Shorts - SOLD OUT
2025-10-27 20:00 - 22:00 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
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**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!**
We are once again back with an opening event celebrating Scottish queer cinema! This screening exclusively contains short films by artists based in Scotland. The selected short films highlight the diversity of LGBTQIA+ films being made right here in Scotland. Before we spend the week enjoying cinematic treats from across the globe, let’s take a moment to appreciate the talented and close-knit queer community we are so grateful to have right here. Expect bright colours, lovely creatures, big laughs and plenty of fun informal chat in our post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers.
All filmmakers in this screening and ‘Scottish Shorts 2’ 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.
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:

Audio Description
English audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and panel discussion
Live Captioning for introduction and panel discussion

This screening is 75 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 15+.
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:
This Werewolf Complex, Dir. Heather E Andrews, 2024, United Kingdom, 15 min
Moving portrait explores brain auras through personal voices, examining seizure warnings, social stigma, and their positive impact on artistic expression.

TWISTED PAIR, Dir. Edward Gwyn Jones, 2023, United Kingdom, 13 min
Two characters engage in erotic, absurdist phone calls that invert power dynamics, sampling 1975-1985 queer cinema and pop culture.

Late Bloomers, Dir. Axel Gutapfel, 2024, United Kingdom, 6 min
Late Bloomers depicts a post-nature world where Glasgow’s queer community creates reality through mimicking wilderness they’ve never known.

Three Act Structure, Dir. Iona Rose Wheeler, 2025, United Kingdom, 3 min
Iona recounts and imagines experiences discussing gender with doctors.
Content notes: Discussion of difficulties in accessing trans healthcare, medical conversations, transphobia.

TAPS, Dir. Louis O. Utieyin, 2025, United Kingdom, 7 min
When Max unknowingly summons a demon on Grindr, he must do whatever it takes to survive.
Content notes: Discussion of drug use, sex.
Access notes: Flashing imagery.

Taxonomy, Dir. Ren Leverentz, 2025, United Kingdom, 11 min
Using a combination of movement art and conversation, Taxonomy is a short documentary that explores the relationship between language and gender for trans and non-binary people.
Content notes: Discussion of dysphoria, misgendering.

The Figure in the Carpet, Dir. Fibi Cowley, 2024, United Kingdom, 7 min
Personal reflection on living with hallucinations, told through experimental puppetry and informed by the director’s lived sensory experiences.

Well … Actually, Dir. Zyra Evangelista, 2025, United Kingdom, 13 min
When xeir best friend pulls a prank that goes terribly wrong, an agoraphobic doomsday pepper becomes the world’s last hope for survival… or so they think.
Content notes: Depiction of misgendering, strong language use. Discussion of climate change, genocide, homelessness, intense fears and phobias.

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: TAPS, Dir. Louis O. Utieyin, 2025
