What's On Scotland 15-22 Aug: Edinburgh International Film Festival & more

Edinburgh International Film Festival returns under its own banner this week with a packed programme of screenings and events. Elsewhere, scandal.gla host an open decks at Stereo and Jupiter Rising take over Jupiter Artland

Feature by Anahit Behrooz | 15 Aug 2024
  • Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun

It has been a real rollercoaster for the Edinburgh International Film Festival over the past couple of years but this year it returns under its own banner, running across various cinemas and venues from 15-21 August.

There’s some gorgeous world and UK premieres here and plenty of buzzy films from the likes of Sundance and Cannes: highlights include opening film The Outrun, based on Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir and female-led horror The Substance, and a host of excellent in competition films such as Arash Rakhsha’s urgent documentary All the Mountains Give. Browse the full programme here and buy your tickets!

ADVERTORIAL | the sun this summer with An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location
Royal Scottish Academy building, Edinburgh. Until 27 Oct. Tickets £5-£19
Indulge your wanderlust with National Galleries of Scotland’s An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location, on now until Sunday 27 Oct. Dip your toes in the sun, sea and society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with over 90 works by renowned Glasgow Boy, Sir John Lavery. Discover some of the Irish impressionists most notable paintings as you take a trip through his extraordinary life from Scotland to New York, Paris, Morocco and more.

A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First
theSpace @ Niddry Street, Edinburgh. 2-24 Aug, various times
From double Fringe First Award winners Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland comes a new show about the fragility of the American Dream. This absurdist two-hander follows two Boy Scouts, offering an unforgettably innovative examination of the idealised American childhood. Image: SpaceUK

Majazz Project x Sumud: Archival Resistance
Dissenter Space, Edinburgh. 18 Aug, 7:30pm
A session on the decolonial possibilities of archival practices, this immersive evening with Palestinian sound archive The Majazz Project explores archiving as an act of resistance, featuring sounds from the project as well as a discussion on cultural preservation. Image: The Majazz Project.

The Fifth Step
Dundee Rep, Dundee. 17 Aug, 7:30pm
Fresh from a run at EIF, David Ireland's blackly comic play about addiction, masculinity and intimacy arrives at Dundee Rep for just one night. Starring Jack Lowden, it is currently (unsurprisingly) sold out but keep an eye on returns. Image: Simon Murphy.

Stereo Open Decks: Scandal.gla
Stereo, Glasgow. 17 Aug, 11pm
Scandal.gla returns to Stereo with a third installment of their open decks series, welcoming a new and familiar rosta of names, from TWeak! and DJ Aladji to all three of the scandal.gla family Rahul.mp3, DJ Bellarosa and Priya playing a range of Baile funk, Bhangra, and Amapiano.

ADVERTISEMENT | Ibrahim Mahama: Songs about Roses
Fruitmarket, Edinburgh. Until 6 Oct. Daily 11am–6pm
For Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama art is about ‘the exploration of freedom’. He is interested in materials and histories. In this exhibition Mahama uses the lens of Ghana’s now defunct colonial-era railway network to think through issues of nationhood, citizenship and global exchange.


Jupiter Rising x EAF
Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh. 17 Aug, 6pm
This year’s Jupiter Rising is themed around Queer Summer Fête, with a gorgeous lineup of artistic voices to explore, queer performance and karaoke from Sgàiraoke and an evening of dance curated by queer DJ collective Femmergy.

Faerie Circle
Summerhall, Edinburgh. 17 Aug, 10pm
An exciting new night dedicated to feminine and queer performers, Faerie Circle is a meeting point of the soft and hard, melding beautiful visuals and an impish mischief with fast and hard rhythms with 3DMA, Pewtwo, Miira, al gu and malicedeejay on the decks.

GLAD DAYS: The Glad Cafe's 12th Birthday Party!!
The Glad Cafe, Glasgow. 18 Aug, 7:30pm
The Glad Cafe are celebrating their 12th birthday and you're invited! There'll be cake, confetti, and exciting new work that's been happening at Glad, as well as scrappy cover from the Cozytown house band and a DJ set from f.aye-i will.