Collection of Surrealist Eastern European Animation

Samizdat and Manipulate Festival (Puppet Animation Scotland) present a unique collection of Eastern European surrealist animation from 1965 to 2022, showcasing an eclectic mix of animation styles, techniques, and themes — the weird, the eerie, the bizarre, and the unbelievable. From a city run by beans to an office building filled with anti-capitalist mice, these films represent not just the technical finesse and playfulness of animation, but also the intricate ways in which it captures the political and social anxieties of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For the first time, audiences in Glasgow will have the chance to see rarely exhibited films that have defined animation from the middle of the twentieth century to the present day. Presented with an introduction by a film scholar and specialist in Eastern European animation, Professor Sanja Bahun.

Samizdat is supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

Accessibility

English subtitles, SDH captions

Financial support to attend the festival is available to eligible applicants via Samizdat's Access Fund.

Content notes: depictions of mild violence (not photorealistic), blood, death, state oppression, sex, disease, nudity.

Access notes: flickering and colourful images, flashing lights, visual storytelling with music throughout, subtitles for speech, some loud sounds.