Named after the practice of clandestine dissemination of censored and forbidden texts in communist states, Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival is returning for 2025 with an as-ever eclectic mix of some of the most exciting, powerful, thoughtful, weird and wonderful filmmaking from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. After a five-day festival in Glasgow (30 Sept to 4 Oct), a weekend in Aberdeen (10 & 11 Oct), and a screening in Ayr (23 Oct), Samizdat is back in Edinburgh for the second time this November!
The latest instalment of our beloved animations programme, Ani-masters: Pioneers in Czech animation, breaks from the broader curatorial approach of past editions, instead spotlighting master Czech animators and how their works, renowned for their craftsmanship, act as a prism of shifting social, political, and cultural landscapes.
Meanwhile, the spotlight from our genre strand, Slackers, Misfits, Rebels: Teens on Film, is Cristi Puiu’s remarkable Y2K teen road movie Stuff and Dough – the spark that ignited the Romanian New Wave in the 2000s – preceded by the winning short from this year’s Short Film Competition.
Audience Access Fund
At Samizdat, we know that the cost of tickets – as well as things like childcare or travel – can make it harder for some people to attend events. We have the Audience Access Fund to support with such costs, no proof of eligibility required: you can find out more and fill out the application form on our website, or email us at hello@samizdatfest.co.uk.
The 2025 edition of Samizdat is supported by Screen Scotland’s Film Festival and Screening Programme Fund and Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI.