Take One Action 2015: Festival Preview

Take One Action! Film Festival is back with a programme bursting with film set to stir Scottish cinemagoers' hearts and social consciousness. Here are our highlights

Preview by Rachel Bowles | 08 Sep 2015

The UK’s leading social change film festival, Take One Action!, returns this month to assorted cultural institutions across Glasgow and Edinburgh to inspire, educate and advocate for a diverse range of pressing global humanitarian concerns, from environmentalism and economic issues, to those affected by conflict and bigotry. Boasting two UK and ten Scottish premieres, the socially conscientious film lineup not only showcases those artists and documentarians pushing for social and environmental justice through cinema, but emphasises the importance of empowering audiences through innovative film events (cycle-powered screenings of Bikes vs. Cars, 22 Sep in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens anyone?), post-screening discussions, creative workshops and engagement with local and global charity organisations for those who want to get involved.

A highlight looks to be Democrats (24 Sep, GFT; 25 Sep, Filmhouse), a gripping political documentary-thriller offering a glimpse of nascent and fragile proto-democracy in Zimbabwe as two political opponents work hard to loosen Mugabe’s dictatorial grip on power. Director Camilla Nielsson will attend both screenings, with a masterclass hosted by the Scottish Documentary Institute before the Edinburgh screening for any budding documentarians.

Director Ryley Grunenwald will personally give a filmmaking masterclass before her UK premiere of The Shore Break (18 Sept, Filmhouse), which documents the life of two siblings and their disparate visions, one of ‘progress’ and one of ‘tradition,’ for their South African Wild Coast homeland. Post-screening discussions will include Grunenwald and land rights expert Andy Wightman.

For those concerned with global, intersectional feminism, Casablanca Calling (23 Sep, Filmhouse) charts the Moroccan movement to counter radical Islam, in particular the spate of suicide bombings of 2003, by training local women as ‘Morchidat’ or Muslim leaders – the post-screening discussions will include speakers from Christian Aid and the University of Edinburgh.

Scots playwright and poet Liz Lochhead will join the Scottish Palestinian Forum to discuss TOA's Glasgow screening of playful animated documentary The Wanted 18 (21 Sep, Filmhouse; 22 Sep, CCA), about a group of unarmed civilians in the West Bank who sought economic autonomy through the purchase of 18 cows, which Israel declared a national security threat.

There’s another touching doc in the form of Life is Sacred (20 Sep, Filmhouse; 21 Sep, CCA). Presented by UNISON, it tells the story of unorthodox political candidate Antanas Mockus and his brave supporters who made a stand against the vicious cycle of drug cartel violence in Colombia. Radical Independence campaigner Cat Boyd is guest speaker at the Glasgow screening.

There’s a whole lot more beyond these highlights. Head to takeoneaction.org.uk for full programme details to find the screenings that spark your passions – the revolution starts at your local cinema.


Take One Action! Film Festival takes place at various venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh from 16-27 Sep

For full programme details, go to takeoneaction.org.uk – and keep your eye on theskinny.co.uk/festivals/uk-festivals/film for further Take One Action! coverage