Take One Action has launched the programme for its 2025 film festivals across Scotland, with the theme of Real Utopias, using cinema as a way to gather together to imagine local and global solutions to some of the pressing issues of our time.
Festival dates are 17-21 September in Edinburgh, with most screenings take place at the freshly re-opened Filmhouse; 25-28 September in Glasgow, with films and workshops at GMAC; 10-12 October in Inverness at Eden Court; and 7-8 November in Dundee at the DCA and Dundee Libraries’ Steps Theatre.
The festivals will feature films from Mexico to Kenya via the US, UK and Philippines and will explore ideas from community responses to climate change to trans identity and thriving, workers’ rights and speculative futures where prisons no longer exist.
Scottish premieres include the creative documentaries Power Station, How To Build A Library and NIÑXS, as well as exploring unions and community organising through Amazon documentary Union and housing justice in Scotland through archive film Red Skirts on Clydeside in collaboration with local branches of Living Rent.
Explore the full programme on the Take One Action website.
Take One Action director Rachel Hamada said: "We are really excited for our 2025 Take One Action Film Festivals because the selection of films and events we have for you embody this year's theme of Real Utopias - both messy and beautiful. All of our screenings and workshops should hopefully leave you with a spring in your step and ideas for what to do next."
Curator Xuanlin Tham said: "At Take One Action, we know people regularly come to us for a sense of connection and active hope, which is a responsibility we take seriously. In ever-darker and more violent, despairing times all over the world, it’s utterly crucial for us to root into a sense of imagination and possibility – to harness our collective power, understand our intertwined and collective struggles, and begin to build the world we deserve right on our doorstep."
Take One Action are pleased to keep building on their access provision year on year. Commitments include:
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All films presented with descriptive subtitles
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Live BSL/English interpretation at a selection of events
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Live captions at a selection of events
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Tickets available on a pay-what-you-can basis across all venues
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Audience access fund for travel and childcare
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Detailed content notes and access notes available for each film
Take One Action’s 2025 film festivals have been made possible by an array of funders and supporters, including The National Lottery through Screen Scotland’s Film Festival and Screening Programme Fund, Film Hub Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council’s Local Events Open Fund, the Regenerative Futures Fund and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, as well as our generous crowdfund supporters and community members.
More information
Image credits
Header image: Still from NIÑXS, courtesy of Take One Action