What's On Scotland 22-29 Feb: Glasgow Film Festival & more

It’s another banger of a programme from the folks at Glasgow Film Festival, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year with a one-for-the-books festival running from 28 February-10 March. Help them celebrate in style: things kick off with a screening of Rose Glass' queer, sexy neo-noir Love Lies Bleeding starring Kirsten Stewart and Anna Baryshnikov, which is sadly sold out, but there's still plenty to catch, from Alice Rohrwacher’s eagerly anticipated La Chimera (pictured, and finally on a UK cinema screen!) and French vampire horror The Vourdalak to Ava DuVernay’s blistering take on racial politics Origin.

There's also film strands on Czech cinema (featuring a screening of 1966 surrealist classic Daisies), the annual FrightFest, and a buzzing industry programme to boot. Head to their website to discover some gems and buy some tickets.

Solen Collet: NOW LOVE
Agitate Gallery, Edinburgh. 23 Feb-8 Mar
This powerful exhibition uses self-portraiture to explore and platform the artist’s reclamation of autonomy after sexual trauma. Employing folkloric and surrealist imagery, Solen Collet’s photography is an audacious examination of female vulnerability, power and desire. Image: Solen Collet.

Lime Garden
The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh. 28 Feb, 7pm
Lime Garden's musical output is just as warm as its origin story – four best friends who formed a band not expecting much, and rocketed into indie success. Sunny and upbeat, it's all marked by a dark, playful edge: a little post-punk energy that makes for a great live show. Image: Jono White.

Turbines + Club Sylkie present: Slim Soledad
Stereo, Glasgow. 25 Feb, 11pm
Club Sylkie, is headed to Glasgow’s Stereo for a night of celestial, dreamy music. Heading up the night is Brazilian-born, Berlin and Paris-based SJ Slim Soledad making her Scottish debut, with plenty of support from Lauren Duffus, Heartcoregirl and mixxu. Image: Courtesy of Stereo.

Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
DCA: Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. 17 Feb-16 Mar
The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme is the UK’s largest festival dedicated to Japanese cinema, and it’s fully mobile too. Discover eight new and classic films, from Keisuke Kinoshita’s moving 1959 melodrama The Snow Flurry (pictured) to the tragicomic Twilight Cinema Blues. Image: Shochiku Co. Ltd.

ADVERTISEMENT | Scotland Sings Bacharach
Usher Hall, Edinburgh. 3 Mar, 7:30pm
A stellar line-up of Scottish singers and musicians are planned to arrive at the Usher Hall, to celebrate the legendary songwriter and pianist Burt Bacharach in the brand-new show Scotland Sings Bacharach.

Stars including Blue Rose Code, Georgia Cécile, Justin Currie, Hamish Hawk, Horse, Karine Polwart and Emma Pollock will join a brilliant big band under the musical direction of Stuart Nisbet to pay respect to the giant of 20th century popular music in a three-venue tour in March 2024.

Scotland Sings Bacharach will be packed with iconic hits, familiar favourites, and the odd surprise as the dazzling array of Scottish musical talent put their very own very special stamp on some of the most recognisable and much-loved tunes of all time. Book tickets now for Scotland Sings Bacharach on 3 March at Usher Hall, Edinburgh.

↪ Alison Goldfrapp
Barrowlands, Glasgow. 24 Feb, 7pm
There's still a few tickets left for Alison Goldfrapp's Glasgow show but they're selling out so be quick. Blending synth pop and electronica, her music is ethereal and dreamlike, perfect to get lost to. Image: Matt Maitland.

→ GRDN: Love Bug
The Outhouse, Edinburgh. 23 Feb, 8pm
Clubbing collective GRDN are throwing another pop up party in Edinburgh, transforming a unique location (in this case, the top of the outhouse) into a – apropos for February – little love den, featuring sets by DJs Feena, Camy, Bartek and Releaf.

→ A Play, A Pie and A Pint
Oran Mor, Glasgow. From 19 Feb, 1pm
A Play, A Pie and A Pint (you get all three for less than £20) kicks off its 2024 season over at Oran Mor, with comic monologue Jack and farcical play Bread & Breakfast. For Edinburgh folk, the programme continues over at the Traverse.