Films & Shows

Films & Shows

Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Mint on Tour “薄荷紫云行巡展计划” is a touring programme of Chinese cinema coming to Scotland this Autumn. The programme is presented by MINT Chinese Film Festival (MINT CFF) x Aya Films and is a mix of contemporary, classic and short Chinese films made by and about women. Diversity Audience Bursary opportunities are available.

The programme will run from 8th September – 26th October across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, Aberfeldy, and St Andrews and the tour consists of 7 feature films, 2 short film programmes, live music accompaniments, discussions, introductions and more! Scroll down to browse the full film selection and get ready to book screenings and shows near you with your friends and family!

Xi Xiang Ji 西厢记 plus live music performance (Romance of the Western Chamber)

China | Costume Romance Comedy | 43 mins | 1927 | Traditional Chinese and French intertitles with English subtitles

The programme offers the opportunities to enjoy a rare 35mm film screening of Romance of the Western Chamber /Xi Xiang Ji:西厢记 with live music accompaniment. This film is one of the many classical renditions of the play Xi Xiang Ji which exemplified a Chinese classic genre of storytelling written by the Yuan dynasty playwright Wang Shifu. A Romeo and Juliet narrative, the film demonstrates love’s ability to transcend social restrictions. 

🐰 The reception desk will be ready at both shows. Arrive a bit early to pick up exclusive MINT gifts, specially designed for you!

Dundee Contemporary Arts : tickets available now

Intro by Dr Julian Ward, who was a senior lecturer in Chinese studies from the University of Edinburgh

Now showing:

Glasgow Film Theatre : tickets available now

Guián 奶奶

Documentary | 76mins | 2023 | Spanish and Mandarin with English subtitles

After grandma Guián passes away, Nicole decides to go to China to look for the house Guián left when she emigrated to Costa Rica. This is a journey to answer the questions she was never able to ask because they never shared the same language.

Now showing:

Dundee Contemporary Arts : tickets available now

This Woman 这个女人

Documentary | 90mins | 2022 | Mandarin with English subtitles

Beibei is an ordinary, married, and motherly woman, who lives a standard, methodical life. She was laid off from her job, the primary source of her family's income, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She decides to return to her southern hometown in search of opportunities, initiating the process of settling her family and reorganizing her various relationships. With courage and endurance, she embarks on a continuous exploration, while striving to preserve her desires.

🐰 Arrive a bit early to pick up exclusive MINT gifts at the venue, specially designed for you! There will be introduction by festival organisers, curators from MINT CFF/Aya films or local film society before each screening.

Now showing:

Aberfeldy, The Birks Cinema : tickets available now

Inverness, Eden Court : tickets available now

Glasgow Women‘s library：free entry

Yangzi's Confusion 洋子的困惑

Drama Family ｜101mins｜2023 | Mandarin with English subtitles

Yangzi, a 10-year-old girl, steals her mom's diary to discover why her mom abandoned her. But her mom does not want to communicate with her. On her grandma's 60th birthday, they have to face each other.Yangzi, a 10-year-old girl, steals her mom's diary to discover why her mom abandoned her. But her mom does not want to communicate with her. On her grandma's 60th birthday, they have to face each other.

Dundee Contemporary Arts : tickets available now

Now showing:

Inverness, Eden Court : tickets available now

Edinburgh, Cameo Picturehouse ：tickets available now

University of Edinburgh: FREE ENTRY

Location: University of Edinburgh, Project Room 1.06, 50 George Square (hosted by Confucius Insitute for Scotland)

Drama｜111mins｜2023

Cantonese, Mandarin, Hunan Dialect, Japanese with English subtitles

'Perhaps all our likings come later in life. All our affections come from a piece of childhood memory.' Yuen moves to Hong Kong with her mother from Hunan at the age of 8 to reunite with her father. Everything in the city is dazzling and new to her. However, the family face poverty and a cultural barrier. Worse still, the father has a drug habit and has a difficult relationship with the family. This certainly is not the dream home Yuen has been looking forward to. All she wants is that her younger sister could reunite with them as soon as possible. Out of fear, the sisters try to appease their father in their younger years. As soon as they reach adolescence, they start to resist and escape from him. However, even after they grow up and move away from him, Yuen realizes all the people she loves and treasures resemble her father in her childhood memories.

Fly Me to the Moon 但愿人长久

Glasgow Film Theatre : tickets available now

Now showing:

Edinburgh, Cameo Picturehouse： tickets avaliable now

M. Butterfly 蝴蝶君

Drama Romance ｜101mins｜1993 | English

In 1960s China, French diplomat Rene Gallimard falls in love with an opera singer, Song Liling - but Song is not at all who Gallimard thinks.

Glasgow Film Theatre : tickets available now

Now showing:

St. Andrews, The Byres Theatre : tickets available now

A Song Sang Blue 小白船

Drama LGBTQ | 92 mins | China | 2023 | Mandarin/ Korean Dialect with with English stubtitles

Xian will always remember the loneliest and bluest of summers when she was 15. After her mother has to go abroad for work, Xian is thrown into the care of her father, a free-spirited photographer, who she has barely seen since her parents divorce. He’s struggling financially and is fooling around with his assistant who has an 18-year-old daughter, Mingmei. Soon, Mingmei appears like a ray of shining light to Xian. During this restless summer, the conflict between the innocence and the impulses of youth will leave an indelible mark on Liu...

🐰 The reception desk will be ready at the venue. Arrive a bit early to pick up exclusive MINT gifts, specially designed for you!

Now showing:

Edinburgh, Cameo Picturehouse : tickets available now

We are pround to present two specially curated programmes: the Best Short from the 2024 MINT Chinese Film Festival and a selection of new shorts by Chinese filmmakers or exploring themes related to China. These films offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives through which to explore topics such as diaspora, gender, family, and philosophy.

Short Film Programme 1

Thirstygirl

Dear Parents,

Wena

Blunt Dissection (World premiere)

To Write from Memory

Apocalypse Later

Now showing:

Edinburgh, Grassmarket Community Cinema : FREE ENRTY

Short Film Programme 2

Sunflower Girl

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Both Make Sense

Lucky Fish

ACROSS THE WATERS (UK premiere)

Innermost

Now showing:

Edinburgh, Cameo picturehouse: tickets available now

 FAQs

  • You can click on the available time slots under each film or show and it will direct you to the page for payment and booking seats at the relevant venue.

    You need to pay for each film or show through the venues. We recommend that you view ticket information through their websites, see below.

    Cameo Picturehouse, Grassmarket Community Cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow Women‘s Library, Dundee Contemporary Arts, The Byres Theatre, The Birks Cinema, Eden Court.

  • We know you're excited about getting your tickets! On-sale times may vary depending on each venue's schedule.

    Most tickets will be available for purchase within one week, with some becoming available at least 10 days before the release date.

    For example, you can already book seats for This Woman shows on 15th Sep at The Birks Cinema.

    Please check this page regularly for updates!

    We recommend giving the reception desk or box office a call for films or shows you're interested in—they can provide more details on ticket availability and discounts.

  • Can I get a refund on my film tickets if I can't attend the event?

    Please refer to the ticket info and refund policy of each venue listed below. Please contact the venue for any ticket issues.

    Cameo Picturehouse, Grassmarket Community Cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow Women‘s Library, Dundee Contemporary Arts, The Byres Theatre, The Birks Cinema, Eden Court.

  • Sorry, we don’t provide group accommodation or travel assistance for this project, and the screening locations vary . To make the most of your cinematic journey, we recommend planning your trip in advance.

    We encourage you to use public transport to attend the screenings or shows.

    If you're travelling from England, Wales, or anywhere outside of Scotland, you can find helpful information about travel and accommodation at VisitScotland: https://www.visitscotland.com/.

    You are welcome to give the reception desk or box office a call for films or shows you're interested in—they can provide more details on how to get to their venues.

    Cameo Picturehouse, Grassmarket Community Cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow Women‘s Library, Dundee Contemporary Arts, The Byres Theatre, The Birks Cinema, Eden Court.

  • We recommend that interested audiences add our WeChat assistant（ID: MintCFF）to connect with the MINT community to arrange your group trip soon.

    You are welcomed to join our WhatsApp group to connect with Minters living in the UK through this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JrEyfDnO2w52rJHhGI34pr

  • We wish we could answer all of your questions, but due to the limited capacity of our project team, we'll prioritise those related to screenings and shows.

    We'll do our best to respond to you within 5 working days. Thank you for your understanding!

    For festival sponsorship, collaboration opportunities, and general project information, please contact:

    Yixiang Shirley Lin: Co-founder and Lead Curator of MINT CFF
    yixiangshirleylin@outlook.com

    For Chinese media collaboration and press-related inquiries, please contact:

    Wenqi Zhang: Marketing Manager and Co-curator of MINT CFF
    wenqizhangmintcff@gmail.com

    For English media collaboration and press-related inquiries, please contact:

    Justine Atkinson: Director of Aya Films
    j.atkinson@ayafilms.org

About the project

Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Mint on Tour “薄荷紫云行巡展计划” is a touring programme of Chinese cinema coming to Scotland this Autumn. The programme is presented by MINT Chinese Film Festival (MINT CFF) x Aya Films and is a mix of contemporary, classic and short Chinese films made by and about women. We bring the 2024 MINT CFF's award-winning films, exciting programs and new Chinese films to audiences in Scotland's urban and rural areas.

The programme will run from 8th September – 26th October across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, Aberfeldy, and St Andrews and the tour consists of 7 feature films, 2 short film programmes, live music accompaniments, discussions, introductions and more!

Please stay tuned for this project via our websites: unicornscreening.com, ayafilms.org and our socials:

EN: Instagram: @mintchinesefilmfestival @weareayafilms

CN: Xiaohongshu小红书 @薄荷紫华语电影节

Mint Chinese Film Festival (MINT CFF) is an award-winning social enterprise and festival founded by Chinese film curator Yixiang Shirley Lin and Keswick Alhambra Cinema’s co-owner Dr Carol Rennie. We are the first women-organised Chinese film festival in the UK focussed on cross-cultural communication and the representation of women. For further information on MINT CFF’s previous editions, please visit our archives.

Aya films is a UK distribution and media education company founded in 2011, which champions stories and projects that allow audiences to reimagine through cinema. 

https://www.ayafilms.org/

Partners & Sponsors

The project is in partnership with Aya films.

The project is supported by Film Hub Scotland with National Lottery funding on behalf of the BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks

Thanks for the special event support from Confucius Institute for Scotland.

Thanks to our WeChat/press partners