SQIFF

Legacies
2025-10-30 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | GMAC Film, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5HD, United Kingdom
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What shapes us? How do the stories of our families, the legacies we inherit, and the struggles of those before us live on in who we become? Legacies brings together films that gently unravel the complex and often tender realities of queer upbringings. These stories speak to the love, pain, hope, and resilience woven through generations, reminding us that identity is not just inherited, but felt deeply and continuously reshaped.
This programme is an invitation to connect with the intimate moments that define us, the memories that haunt us, and the courage it takes to claim our place in a world that often tries to erase us.
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:

English, Portuguese and Turkish audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction. The interpreter for this event is Lou Hanson.
Live Captioning for introduction

This screening is 119 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:
Birthdays, Dir. Adrian Jalily, 2024, Denmark, 19 min
Second-grader Bruno faces social isolation for being different, forcing his Iranian father Marlon to confront his son’s otherness and exclusion.
Access notes: Flashing imagery.

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

Burcu’s Angels (Preview Screening), Dir. Özgün Gündüz, 2025, Canada, 20 min
Turkish queer elder Burcu Özdemir’s Vancouver vintage store has served as a sanctuary and “coming out center” for thirty years.
Content notes: Discussion of racism.

While We Still Have Time, Dir. Ava Grimshaw-Hall, 2024, Australia, 15 min
A daughter reconciles with her distant sperm-donor father as he manages an aggressive prostate cancer, with little indication of how much time there is left to find out who he really is.

Find The Boy, Dir. Paulin.e Goasmat, 2025, France, 18min
As Charly, a young trans man, is laid to rest under his birth name, Tom, Louise and BB, his queer pals, decide to pay their last respects in his own image in a place where they used to meet, Charly’s childhood home. But Victor, his brother, had the same idea.
Content notes: Depiction of alcohol use, cigarette use, dead naming, misgendering, queerphobia. Discussion of death, loss.

Scattered Pictures, Dirs. Ibai Vigil-Escalera, Jose André Sibaja, 2025, United States of America, 8 min
Through the grainy nostalgia of 8mm film and the intimacy of voice-over narration, Gabriel takes us on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery.
Content notes: Discussion of death, sex.

Sole, Dir. Ana Berdeja, 2024, Mexico, 15 min
Veteran embalmer Sole faces a dilemma: honor a transgender man’s wishes or his family’s demands while hiding her own secret.
Content notes: Depiction of a dead body.

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: Oceania, Dir. Valentin Noujaïm, 2024

The Stage is a Body - SOLD OUT
2025-10-30 21:00 - 23:00 | GMAC Film, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5HD, 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. 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!**

What happens when the body becomes the stage and performance becomes a form of survival, protest, or transformation?
The Stage is a Body is a programme of short films by and about queer performance artists exploring the body as site, subject, and storyteller. Through movement, gesture, ritual, and persona these works blur the lines between performance and life, between what is shown and what is felt.
From meditations on gender and identity to acts of resistance and self-reclamation, these films reflect the unique ways queer artists use performance to navigate visibility, memory, and desire on stage, on screen, and in the world.
Following the screening join us for a panel talk with House Ball Scotland who will reflect on the intersections of performance, queer identity, and community building within and beyond the ballroom scene.
Curated by Huss.

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

Accessibility
This programme has:

Arabic, Burmese, English, Georgian, Portuguese audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and panel discussion. The interpreter for this event is Lisa Li.
Live Captioning for introduction and panel discussion

This screening is 78 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:
ANDRO, Dir. Dominik Gasser, 2025, Germany, 27 min
ANDRO DADIANI’s political performances dissect the oppression by state and church in Georgia and conquer Tbilisi’s urban spaces. As a queer, non-binary protest and performance art figure, their identity remains a secret. The danger of open resistance is too great.
Content notes: Depiction of blood and violence. Discussion of forced displacement, queerphobia, violence.

Thunder Bird, Dir. Yadanar Oo, 2025, Myanmar, 16 min
65-year-old Mommy Soe leads Myanmar’s pioneering Thunder Bird drag troupe, established 50 years ago. After surviving decades of social rejection, political upheaval, and recent civil war, she faces her greatest challenge: keeping the troupe alive after losing her life partner Abai, while navigating dangerous military checkpoints to perform.
Content notes: Discussion of death, military action, queerphobia.

Anziety, Dir. David O Carrol, 2024, Ireland, 10 min
Anziety is Ian’s journey to becoming a drag artist.
Weaving through death, loss, and foster care, he brings us to his darkest moments, yet we end up in a room full of love.
Both a celebration of unwavering loyalty and creative self-expression, Anziety moves between an intimate reflection on Ian’s past and a contemporary portrait of his present.
Content notes: Discussion of death, foster care system, loss.
Access notes: Flashing lights.

Shame (عيب), Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2024, Lebanon, 5 min
In the 19th century, in the Levant region, Salma Zahore, along with her parents and neighbors, participated in a photoshoot using a long exposure technique. At the end of it, Salma decided to take off her coat, revealing her body. Unaware of the chaos this gesture could cause within her circle, she did not know it could lead to shame (عيب).
Content notes: Discussion of patriarchy, social norms.

The Insect Graveyard, Dir. Alex Simões, 2023, Portugal, 20 min
Where were you when you realized the irreversibility of death? From mourning, Alex retrieves the environment of his childhood and transforms memory into a space of performance for overcoming.
Content notes: Discussion of death, loss.

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: Thunder Bird, Dir. Yadanar Oo, 2025

Aunties - SOLD OUT
2025-10-31 15:00 - 17:00 | GMAC Film, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5HD, 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. 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!**

Commonly used in many black and brown cultures, ‘Aunties’ is a term of respect for your elders. They may not be blood relatives, but they have lived lives longer than ours and gained invaluable wisdom and culture. The films in this screening honour these enlightened elders and demonstrate their care for younger generations. They also celebrate them as individuals going on their queer journeys. Expect non-nuclear families, aunties on tour and even a gay uncle.
After the screening, chai will be served by local aunties.
Curated by Nat Lall.

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

Accessibility
This programme has:

English, Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, Punjabi audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and chai tea chill session after screening. The interpreter for this event is Lou Hanson.
Live Captioning for introduction and chai tea chill session after screening

This screening is 61 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:
Two Travelling Aunties, Dir. Christine Seow, 2025, Singapore, 22 min
Two spirited Singaporean seniors ditch conventional living for van life, embracing adventure, newfound freedom, and the joy of living on their terms.
Content notes: Depiction of drug use. Discussion of family rejection.

Warm Shadows, Dir. Aakash Chhabra, 2025, India, Singapore, 15 min
Priya, 50, makes her maiden trip to the sea. At dusk, she stands at the shore and overlooks the vast horizon. In a distant part of the world, Raag, 20s, is in a taxi which passes through a metropolitan. A fragmented voice-over unfolds the tender relationship the two share.

Toad Song, Dir. Qin Qin, 2025, China, 15 min
Eight-year-old Xu Letian is called to bring his parents to school after getting into a fight and bringing tadpoles. Xu Letian must find a new home for the tadpoles, and on his journey, he stumbles upon a secret that sets his family apart from others.

Handwoven, Dirs. Dasha Levin, Mason Cazalet, Mihika Das, Matthew Wisdom, 2024, India, Ireland, United States of America, 9 min
A lyrical portrait of Nikyle Begay, a non-binary shepherd and weaver; working to preserve their way of life through the traditional art of weaving.
Content notes: Discussion of queerphobia.

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: Two Travelling Aunties, Dir. Christine Seow, 2025

We Are Here
2025-10-31 18:00 - 20:00 | GMAC Film, 103 Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5HD, United Kingdom
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This documentary from LGBT activists Zhao Jing and Shi Tou revisits the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, which was hosted in Beijing. The conference was attended by 300 lesbian women from around the world, whose organisers sought to facilitate queer participation, visibility, and recognition in the context of broader discussions around women’s rights. The first-ever lesbian tent at a UN NGO forum was created, where ideas were shared, connections were made, and identities were affirmed; the gathering helped spearhead the birth of the queer lala movement in China. Featuring footage of the event, and interview commentary from those who participated, We Are Here testifies to the importance of global queer interactions in shaping the ongoing struggle for equality.
Curated by Queer East.

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

Accessibility
This programme has:

Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, incarceration.
Chinese and English audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction. The interpreter for this event is Lou Hanson.
Live Captioning for introduction

This screening is 78 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

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

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

Image Credit: We Are Here, Dirs. Zhao Jing, Shi Tou, 2015

Halloween Night: The Serpent's Skin
2025-10-31 21:00 - 23:00 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
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Join us for a ghoulishly good night of queer horror at SQIFF’s Halloween screening! This chilling double bill sinks its teeth into the monstrous and the sensual, the grotesque and the beautiful.
First up is ¡Beso de lengua! by José Luiz Zorrero, a surreal and seductive descent into a world where desire takes monstrous form. Then, The Serpent’s Skin by Alice Maio Mackay slithers into darker territory, weaving a tale of trans identity, vengeance, and the supernatural, with all the blood-soaked camp you’d expect from a Mackay horror.
Both films push the boundaries of body, gender, and genre, creating a perfect night of queer frights and delights. The fabulous Jaye Hudson from TGirlsOnFilm will introduce the films and host a Best Halloween Costume Competition! Come dressed to impress for a chance to win a pint of SQIFF and Closet Brewing’s Director’s Cut. Let’s celebrate Halloween the queerest way we know how!
Curated by Indigo Korres.

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:

English, Spanish audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and costume competition. The interpreter for this event is Lisa Li.
Live Captioning for introduction and costume competition

This screening is 98 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:
¡Beso de lengua!, Dir. José Luis Zorrero, 2024, Mexico, 15 min
Itzcóatl and Moisés are on their first date. After a couple of hours of getting to know each other, they both “play” a very unusual and riveting game that strengthens their romantic chemistry.
Content notes: Depiction of blood, hospitalisation, wounds.

The Serpent’s Skin, Dir. Alice Maio Mackay, 2025, Australia, 83 min
Two young women form a romantic bond after discovering they have supernatural powers. Their insecurities unknowingly release a demon, which possesses one of their exes and begins feeding on their friends. As the bodies pile up, it becomes up to the women to face their pasts and stop the growing evil.
Content notes: Depiction of alcohol use, blood, cigarette use, death, drug use, gore, self-harm, sex.
Access notes: Flashing imagery, flashing lights.

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 Serpent’s Skin, Dir. Alice Maio Mackay, 2025

Queer Freedom
2025-11-01 10:00 - 12:00 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
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Oska Brights very own Head Programmer, Matthew Hellett is back at SQIFF with a fearless, unapologetic celebration of Learning Disabled and autistic filmmakers stories, who are reshaping cinema with their unique voices, powerful stories, and visionary perspectives. He presents a specially curated programme of some of his highlights from over the years at Oska Bright Film Festival. After the screening, stay tuned for a special conversation hosted by Stella Nicholson with Matthew Hellett.
Curated by Matthew Hellett.

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:

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

This screening is 54 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:
Just Me, Dir. Mattie Kennedy, 2014, United Kingdom, 3 min
A film about individual identities and family ties, Versions is made through the technique of stop-motion and collage in which the filmmaker uses various silhouettes, which could potentially represent rebirth.
Content notes: Discussion of ableism.

Izzy Aman: The Joy of Drag, Dir. Isabella Walton, 2023, United Kingdom, 13 min
This film explores the rich expressive world of drag kinging through the experience of one individual: Isabel Adomakoh Young, known as Izzy Aman in the drag world.
Content notes: Discussion of patriarchy, racism, toxic masculinity.

Coming out Autistic, Dir. Steven Fraser, 2023, United Kingdom, 4 min
Coming out Autistic is a short animated documentary that explores the experience of telling the world that you are autistic when you also identify as LGBTQ+.

S.A.M., Dirs. Neil Ely, Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, 2020, United Kingdom, 16 min
S.A.M. is a short drama film in which two teenagers bond after meeting in a park after school.
Content notes: Depiction of ableism.

Sparkle, Dir. Matthew Hellett, 2008, United Kingdom, 3 min
Sparkle, made by Matthew Hellett, charts his transformation into a glamorous alternative persona, the drag queen Mrs. Sparkle.

(Un)fit to Work, Dir. Yasmin Godo, 2023, United Kingdom, 5 min
A disabled mechanic takes us on a musical journey of 80s disco & ballroom through his imagination after he’s denied access to apply for the job he’s best suited for at his local job center.
Content notes: Depiction of ableism.

Born to Dance with an Extra Chromosome: the Drag Queens (and Kings) with Down’s Syndrome, Dir. Nikolay Nikolov, 2020, United Kingdom, 10 min
Born to dance with an extra chromosome: the drag queens (and kings) with Down syndrome. This short film follows Drag Syndrome during a performance at the Ace Hotel in East London.

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: Izzy Aman: The Joy of Drag, Dir. Isabella Walton, 2023

Re:Frame
2025-11-01 12:30 - 14:30 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
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This special screening showcases bold and original short films created by participants of the SQIFF Filmmaking Workshops for Trans and Non-Binary People, led by artist and filmmaker Erica Monde. Delivered in collaboration with Scottish Trans, the workshops offered a series of collaborative sessions where participants explored storytelling, visual language, and filmmaking techniques in a supportive, trans-led space. The result is a powerful collection of short works that reflect the diversity, complexity, and creativity of trans and non-binary lives and perspectives. From personal reflection to experimental narrative, these films challenge the mainstream gaze and reclaim the frame through authentic self-expression. Whether playful, political, poetic, or all of the above, each piece is a testament to the value of community-centred filmmaking and the importance of trans voices in cinema. Join us in celebrating these emerging filmmakers and the stories they’ve chosen to share with the world. There will be a Q&A with the filmmakers following the screening.
Hosted by Erica Monde.

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:

English and Portuguese audio with English language Descriptive Subtitles
English-BSL interpretation for introduction and panel discussion. The interpreter for this event is Louise Rodgers.
Live Captioning for introduction and panel discussion

This screening is 58 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 18+.
If you require access seating please get in touch. Access seating includes: wheelchair spaces, bean bag seating, sitting in the front row / in the aisle / at the back. If you need any other provisions, please let us know by emailing info@sqiff.org with your name, ticket information and access request. If you are attending with companions and they need seating with you please also let us know. We will provide one free PA ticket for people who require any type of assistance (all tickets are pay what you can). We will do our best to work with you whilst also managing the capacity of each venue. Thank you for working with us on this.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2025 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2025, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

Films in this programme include:
Pretty Sick, Dirs. Zed Von Benzon, Aster Emschild, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min
Glasgow-based disability advocate and artist Sara, who masked before COVID, creates bold glittering mask jewelry, transforming survival symbols into defiance and hope. This intimate documentary explores ongoing pandemic impacts on those still masking, weaving together disability, activism, and fashion while advocating for visibility and inclusion.
Content notes: Discussion of Covid-19 pandemic.

Modernism/Us, Dir. Morgan Black, 2025, United Kingdom, 14 min
Two lovers – Isla and Tris – find themselves emotionally, verbally and physically dancing around the consummation of their mutual affections. Driven by music, they discuss and express their feelings for each other in a series of vignettes, leading towards an emotional and ultimately fulfilling climax.
Content notes: Depiction of nudity.

Thresh/olding, Dir. Deviji Jaani-Jaan, 2025, United Kingdom, 5 min
Thresh/olding is an experimental film dreaming the QTIPoC body through poetry, movement, selkies and mangroves roots as radical, fecund sites of queer and trans resilience and resistance.

WORM, Dirs. Lish Adam, Jules Brick, Jo Hauge, Cal Mowatt, 2025, United Kingdom, 13 min
I want to share a body with you and also with a worm. Worms can feel with their whole bodies.
Content notes: Depiction of sensual language.

Bianca, Dir. Priscila Fróes, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min
A trans woman blends documentary footage of her past as a sex worker in Porto Alegre and Rio de Janeiro with experimental visuals and a hybrid soundscape to transform marginalised memories into a powerful act of cinematic reclamation.
Content notes: Depiction of sex work, stalking.
Access notes: Distorted imagery.

Lock In, Dir. Louis Utieyin, 2025, United Kingdom, 8 min
JJ decides to try out a new spiritual retreat because they are struggling with their mental health. 24 hours later they are in an interrogation room and try to make sense of what happened at the retreat. Reality and imagination begin to blur. What is real and what is fake?
Content notes: Discussion of mental health, murder.

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: WORM, Dirs. Lish Adam, Jules Brick, Jo Hauge, Cal Mowatt, 2025

Animation Now
2025-11-01 13:00 - 15:00 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
Listen to this Event Page

Back for the third year ‘Animation Now’ showcases the best of contemporary queer animation. In this screening there are complex and mature characters that challenge the assumption that cartoons are just for kids. We are taken on journeys exploring sex, love, death, parenting and protest. And of course, there are also moments of playfulness, colour and childlike imagination in this selection. Expect everything in this jam packed screening showing 10 films.
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:

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

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

Films in this programme include:
The Last Garden, Dir Eloise Jenninger, 2024, United Kingdom, 8 min
For Henry, the community garden is his escape from the daily toil in the city. However, the day has come for it to be demolished, Henry and his community can’t agree on how to save it.

The Prospectors, episode 1 Pip Pop’s Find, Dir. David Hutchison, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min
Cat dads Ahab and Gert discover rejuvenating goo on their asteroid, but sharing it leads to capture by space cannibal Sunny Bean.

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

Beacon, Dir. Alicia Brown, 2025, United Kingdom, 2 min
An animation about finding a way home after crash-landing on an unknown planet.

Colour Me Pink, Dir. Anika O’Hagan-Ploug, 2024, Ireland, 3 min
Music Video for indie pop song Colour Me Pink by K E L, created by Anika O’Hagan-Ploug.

Dragfox, Dir. Lisa Ott, 2024, United Kingdom, Switzerland, 8 min
Sam’s search for identity gets interrupted by a mysterious neighbourhood fox. Together they embark on a magical journey to the attic to discover the surprising things they might have in common, and how to celebrate the ways in which they differ.

Falling for Greta, Dir. Gustavo Arteaga, 2023, United Kingdom, 11 min
When love comes knocking Greta’s world is turned upside down. As her passion grows complications follow but change is coming in the shape of water.

Hey Dad, Dir. WeiFan Wang, 2023, Taiwan, 6 min
I’ve practiced these words for 20 years now, but maybe being candid isn’t the best idea. I’m starting my countdown again, another 20 years. Maybe it might be the right time by then.
Access notes: Flashing imagery.

Grand Dandy (For Ezra), Dirs. The Campbells (Jen and Crystal Campbell), 2024, United Kingdom, 4 min
Non-binary grandparent Libro Levi Bridgeman shares tender moments with grandson Ezra while exploring how to explain their queer identity lovingly.

Fried!, Dir. Lizzie Watts, 2025, United Kingdom, 10 min
As Dev drives home from a mysterious, ageing nuclear facility, he becomes stranded at an isolated emu farm run by old mystic lesbians. Suspicious of their intentions, Dev fears they will sacrifice him at the local stone circle.
Content notes: Depiction of animated nudity.
Access notes: Flashing imagery.

Midnight at Mickey’s, Dir. Vin Wolff, 2024, United Kingdom, 5 min
Two tough guys face off in a seedy late-night diner.

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: Two Black Boys In Paradise, Dir. Baz Sells, 2025

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

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

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

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

Accessibility
This programme has:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image Credit: Keith, Dir. Steven Fraser, 2024

Queerly Beloved
2025-11-01 16:00 - 18:00 | The Social Hub, The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ
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Join us for a vibrant collection of short films that dive into queer experiences with wit, warmth, and a generous dose of heart. These stories celebrate the everyday absurdities, quiet triumphs, and unapologetic joy that shape queer life. In a world that so often focuses on queer pain, this programme shifts the spotlight to laughter, love, and the resilience found in connection.
Expect a dynamic mix of voices and perspectives. From awkward firsts to bold declarations, from moments of celebration to quiet self-discovery, each film brings its own spark. What unites them is a spirit of humour that uplifts, disarms, and gently insists on being seen.
The evening opens with a stand-up set by the brilliant Kathleen Hughes, whose sharp comedy sets the tone for what’s to come. After the films, stay with us for a live performance by the electrifying Craig Manson.
Come laugh with us. Maybe cry a little too. This is queer storytelling at its most joyful, defiant and alive.
Curated by Huss.

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

Accessibility
This programme has:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Accessibility:
This programme has:

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

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

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

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

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