Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2012 opens today.

Barnaby Southcombe and Jack Bond among guests.

by Jennie Kermode

I, Anna director Barnaby Southcombe and celebrated arthouse maverick Jack Bond will be among the guests at the sixth annual Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, which opens today. With screenings in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, the festival sets out to showcase great films that can change attitudes about mental health issues, and it's theme this year is 'walk in my shoes'.

The festival will provide an early opportunity for Scots to see I, Anna, starring Gabriel Byrne and Charlotte Rampling, which will also be shown at the upcoming London Film Festival. Other highlights include outré science fiction film Anti-Clock and Hugh Hudson's remarkable, very personal documentary Rupture: Living With My Broken Brain, a portrait of his former Bond girl wife Maryam D'Abo. There will be another chance to see homegrown favourite The Angels' Share and an opportunity to preview the Northern Lights Film Project's unique documentary work, featuring material contributed by both amateur and professional filmmakers from all across Scotland. There are also short films and a chance to meet some of the creative talent involved.

The festival runs from 8 to 24 October. It is supported by the Mental Health Foundation.

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

Is This Thing On? Nouvelle Vague Primate Rabbit Trap
News

Home truths Marijana Janković on Balkan representation, and the immigrant question of belonging

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

It Was Just An Accident screenwriter arrested in Iran Jafar Panahi speaks out

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Critics' Circle Awards One Battle After Another wins fight

Oscars Sinners dominates the nominations