Scottish Film Events: April 2023

To Hawick this month as Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival returns for its 13th edition! As ever, it’s a beautifully curated lineup of experimental cinema, moving-image exhibitions and live performance events. Highlights look to be Jules Horne’s Rebel Cello, described as “a foot-tapping, cello-strumming, pedal-looping assemblage of tall tales and cinematic journeys through the Scottish Borders”, four new films from Julia Parks made during her residency at Alchemy and a night of music with Alchemy’s recent musician in residence, Miwa Nagato-Apthorp, followed by a ceilidh. Running 27-30 Apr, full programme at alchemyfilmandarts.org.uk/festival.

International Film Festival of St Andrews (aka SANDS) is newer to the scene, but this second edition boasts some impressive special guests like costume designer Ellen Mirojnick (The Greatest Showman), producer Paul Mezey (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) and friend of the festival Joe Russo (co-director of Avengers: Endgame). And if that wasn't enough, they've only just bloody added the legendary Stanley Tucci to the lineup. The actor, director, pasta chef and internet dreamboat will be in town to present his excellent directorial debut, the cult-classic Big Night from 1996, on 15 April, followed by a Q&A with Joe Russo, who's just directed Tucci in the Amazon Prime show Citadel. The festival runs 14-16 Apr, full programme sands-iff.com

Glasgow Film Theatre continues its Martin Scorsese love with New York, New York (17 Apr), a lavish musical experiment which sees a couple take their act on the road, with much turbulence in the relationship ensuing. The couple is ferociously played by Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli – her final big band performance is one of the greatest in all cinema. Justin Currie of Del Amitri is a fan of this underseen Scorsese joint (taste!) and will be providing an intro.

New York, New York

There are a few noteworthy anniversary screenings this month too, including a centenary screening for the iconic silent-era comedy Safety Last! (Cameo, 1 Apr), the 25th-anniversary screening of the Big Lebowski (Cameo, 1 Apr) and GFT have a 4K rerelease of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colours trilogy to mark its 30th birthday. Each film (Red, White and Blue) will screen individually at the Glasgow cinema from 21 April, with a rare chance to watch all three as a triple bill on 23 April.

If you’re looking for something more contemporary, Cameo is celebrating ten years of Gen Z’s fave film distributor, A24, with an extensive season. Moonlight (2 Apr), Midsommar (3 Apr), Eighth Grade (9 Apr) and American Honey (23 Apr) are some of the highlights from the 12-film season.

And if you’ll forgive us some self-promoting, our CineSkinny Film Club in collaboration with MUBI continues with a free preview of the brilliant drama Return to Seoul, a bittersweet portrait of a young Korean woman who was adopted at birth by French parents and his returning to her homeland to try and find herself – 24 Apr, Summerhall, Edinburgh; 26 April, CCA, Glasgow.