December Film Events

If you happen to find yourself near the Highland village of Cromarty you might want to check out their compact film festival which runs from the 4 – 6 Dec. A selection of films including several classics (Casablanca, Cinema Paradiso and The Apartment) as well as some recent choices (Twilight, The Last King of Scotland) and many local shorts are complemented by introductions from members of the film industry. Full details at www.cromartyfilmfestival.org

Cryptic Nights continue their monthly cross-platform evening at the CCA in Glasgow on 3 Dec. Adopting a festive theme there promises to be a surprise DJ set, two films and, for the first 25 to book tickets, a banquet in the CCA café. At the same venue on the 10 Dec is a screening of David Holzman’s Diary, a story of a young man infatuated by film-making. A combination of mockumentary and improvisation, Jim McBride’s film is often seen as a milestone in contemporary cinema.

Psycotronic Cinema presents Cult! USA at the GFT, screening some of the best films from 1970s America. In December you can see They Might be Giants, an eccentric yet heart-warming and rarely-screened classic about a millionaire who retreats into fantasy after the death of his wife.

In Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee the French Film Festival continues. We recommend I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster, a comedy set in the Parisian criminal underworld with influences as diverse as Tarantino and Jacques Tati; it shows at the GFT on 2 Dec. In St Andrews several films from the French Film Festival will be showing from the 3-6 Dec at the New Picture House. On 4 Dec Christophe Honoré’s high school drama The Beautiful Person based on 17th century novel La Princesse de Cleves will be showing alongside short film The Baker’s Daughter.

If you want to immerse yourself in all things festive there are several films to choose from. At the GFT their hugely successful Christmas classics are back, including It’s a Wonderful Life (11-12 Dec) and the recently restored Powell and Pressburger masterpiece The Red Shoes (27-29 Dec). At the Filmhouse you can see The Muppet Christmas Carol (13–14 Dec) and Brian Desmond Hurst’s 1951 version of Scrooge (18-20 Dec). And for Hogmanay there’s a series of dance based films, such as West Side Story and Singin’ in the Rain which will get you in the mood for welcoming in the New Year.