Scottish Film Events Highlights – May 2014

There's something for everyone this month, with horror at Dundead, celebrity impressions in The Trip to Italy at GFT and a celebration of one of Scotland's great underappreciated filmmakers, Norman McLaren

Feature by Becky Bartlett | 30 Apr 2014

Dundead, Dundee's horror film festival, returns this month with an excellent selection of new and old movies. As well as screening Sam Raimi's classic Evil Dead trilogy (2-4 May), the UK premiere of The Unwanted is also showing (3 May). A Southern gothic vampire film based on Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 novella Carmilla, it stars Hannah Fierman, last seen in one of horror compilation film V/H/S's most unsettling stories, Amateur Night. For people more interested in 80s nostalgia than horror, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bogus Journey are also showing as part of the line-up (3-4 May).

Cult favourite Crispin Glover will be at the Cameo in Edinburgh (12 May) for Crispin Hellion Glover's Big Slide Show, a one hour dramatic reading from his books, accompanied by projected images. Also showing is What Is It?, a surreal black comedy written and directed by Glover, about a young man struggling with real and metaphorical demons. The film, featuring predominantly actors with Down's syndrome, initially showed at Sundance in 2005 and was met with critical acclaim. The event also includes a Q&A session with Glover.

The GFT in Glasgow and the Cameo are both hosting a special screening of The Trip to Italy (21 May). Currently screening on BBC Two, Michael Winterbottom's follow-up to his hit BBC series The Trip follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they travel through Italy so they can review restaurants for the Observer – competing to see who can do the most convincing Michael Caine impression as they go. There will be a satellite Q&A session following the movie, with both comedians on hand to answer questions.

There are two events celebrating the work of Scottish-born, Oscar-winning animator Norman McLaren at the GFT this month. On 3 May, The Art of Drawn Movements is screening in collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art, showing a selection of work by GSA alumni inspired by McLaren, followed by a Q&A session with some of the filmmakers. There's also a chance to see some of McLaren's own films on 25 May with the aptly named Norman McLaren Centenary Film Tour, marking one hundred years since his birth.

On 17 May, it's International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and the Filmhouse is hosting a special evening of music, poetry and film to mark the occasion. Who's Your Dandy? includes short films by queer and trans filmmakers, and includes performances by Andra Simons, Lake Montgomery and They They Theys.