Scotland Film Events Highlights – October 2013

All Night Horror Madness returns to Scotland this month with its usual selection of gore, guts and mayhem running from 11pm until the early hours of the morning. Five films are showing at the Grosvenor in Glasgow (12 Oct) and the Cameo in Edinburgh (19 Oct), as well as some vintage trailers and a free raffle. It's a chance to see Sissy Spacek as the original incarnation of Carrie, Tobe Hooper's classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the evocatively titled Frankenhooker, amongst others. Pyjamas are unnecessary – you won't be sleeping.

Now in its fourth year, Scotland Loves Anime returns with a new line-up, including a mystery movie and several European and UK premieres, from 11-13 Oct in Glasgow and 14-20 Oct in Edinburgh. Director Masayuki Miyaji is attending for a special Q&A following a screening of his latest film FUSE – Memoirs of the Hunter Girl at the GFT, while Makoto Shinkai will be at Filmhouse on 17 Oct for a discussion after his film Garden of Words is shown. For further details go to www.lovesanimation.com.

Two films are showing at The Glad Cafe in Glasgow as part of Black History Month, which aims to encourage debate and discussion about important current social situations. On 10 Oct Ben Curran, curator of Norwich's Museum of Drugs Paraphernalia and Related Antiquities, will be attending to introduce The House I Live In. The documentary, which won the Grand Jury Prize at last year's Sundance, examines the realities of America’s ‘war on drugs.’ Also showing is The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (16 Oct), which will be introduced by poet and novelist Dr Kei Miller.  

Filmhouse is hosting a series of films exploring witchcraft and gothic horror, beginning with Häxan (1 Nov). The Swedish film, which dramatises important moments in the history of witchcraft, has courted controversy and protest since its initial release in 1922. This screening is accompanied by a specially commissioned live score by Verity Susman of Electrelane, and those wishing to learn more about the movie can attend a free lecture hosted by the Scottish National Gallery (29 Oct).

Throughout October the DCA in Dundee is hosting Focus on Film, which concentrates on classic noir cinema. Each film, including Sweet Smell of Success (13 Oct) and The Asphalt Jungle (20 Oct), will be introduced by lecturers from the University of Dundee, and an optional discussion follows afterwards. Check out the DCA website for more information.