Wednesday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Golden Hare Books presents An Evening with Allan Massie. An eminent Scottish author and journalist, Allan has written over thirty books; his latest, Klaus, is the story of Thomas Mann’s son, a bold political activist who strove beyond his father’s shadow to become an important author. Klaus was an exile forced abroad whilst the Nazis defiled his homeland, a homosexual in a time of bigotry and intolerance, a heroin addict slithering between recovery and relapse – but above all he was a writer. Klaus explores one writer’s struggle for identity and recognition in a time of historic and personal crisis. 6.30-9pm,  Golden Hare Books, 68 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge. Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite.

KinoKlub presents The Hourglass Sanatorium: a screening of Wojciech’s Has’s bizarre and extraordinary film. The story follows Joseph, who visits his dying father in a dreamlike sanatorium and becomes lost in a series of his own memories and fantasies. The Hourglass Sanatorium is a loose adaptation of a novel by the Jewish Polish painter and writer Bruno Schulz. KinoKlub is Edinburgh’s world surrealist cinema collective, formed by Morvern Cunningham and Malgorzata Bugaj, committed to showcasing some of the best in surreal and experimental film from all eras and across the globe on a regular basis. 5.30-7.30pm, McDonald Road Library, 2-4 McDonald Road. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite. Part of From Poland With Love: Scottish-Polish Cultural Week.

Stories and Songs of Sir Walter Scott: Borders storyteller Mary Kenny introduces the songs and stories of Scott in the anniversary year of his first novel, Waverley. A session for adults. 2-3pm, Museum of Edinburgh, Canongate. Free: part of Once Upon A Place: Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2014.

Leith School of Art Open Days: come and find out more about the range of courses on offer at the School, from part-time day and evening classes to weekend workshops, the full-time one year Foundation and Graduate Studies courses and the six-week Summer School. 10am-3pm, Leith School of Art, 25 North Junction Street (St James Campus on Leith Links also open). All welcome, no need to book but if you are bringing a group please let the School know your planned time of arrival. If you would like a portfolio review, please call the school in advance.

Level Up: Reading XP. Read, gain XP, level up! Get the gamer experience – great books, games and excellent activities. For ages 10-14. 4-5pm today and every Wednesday, Ratho Library, School Wynd.

Morningside Justice and Peace Group: Jim Moffat, Secretary of Edinburgh South Amnesty International Group, discusses Amnesty International – an Ongoing Movement. 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. All welcome; for more information contact b.darcy20@gmail.com. A contribution of £1 is requested at each meeting to cover costs.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents J David Simons’ The Land Agent: in 1920s Palestine Polish-Jewish immigrant Lev Sela is working as a land agent for one of the richest men in the world when he stumbles upon a strategic area of land that does not exist on any map. The resultant struggle for ownership involves the Jews, Arabs, Zionists, British, an ambitious Russian engineer and the local Bedouin, and draws Lev into a relationship with beautiful pioneer Celia Kahn. J David Simons is Scotland’s pre-eminent Jewish novelist. 6.30-7.45pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets can be obtained from Blackwell’s front desk or by calling 0131 622 8218.

Newington Library Knitting Group: 6.45-7.45pm tonight and every Wednesday, Newington Library, 17-21 Fountainhall Road.

Play Poland Film Festival: Short Waves. Play Poland is the largest mobile film festival in the UK, aiming at presenting and promoting Polish contemporary cinema. Tonight’s short films are Franek, Moko, Arena, Edward, Shame, Survey About Women, and The See. For ages 15+. 6.30-8.30pm, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 and are bookable via the Summerhall website.

Edinburgh Napier University UK and EU Postgraduate Webchat: if you are from the EU or UK and have any questions about studying at Napier (whether about the courses on offer, the University, or the city itself) at postgraduate level, this is an opportunity to chat to staff and other potential students online. Register here if you would like to participate. If you are based outside the EU, see the Napier website for details of visits by university staff to various countries. For more information contact Ruth Swann at studentrecruitment@napier.ac.uk or for EU enquiries, Anna Frankowska at studyabroad@napier.ac.uk.

Edinburgh Napier University UK Undergraduate Webchat: if you are from the UK and have any questions about studying at Napier (whether about the courses on offer, the UCAS procedure, or the city itself) at undergraduate level, this is an opportunity to chat to staff and other potential students online. Register here if you would like to participate. For more information contact studentrecruitment@napier.ac.uk.

Africa in Motion: Short Film Night. A hand-picked selection of African short films, each one from a different country; a night of relaxed banter in the cosy atmosphere of Woodland Creatures. Tonight’s films are L’autre Femme (Senegal), Thongo (S Africa), Picture Perfect Heist (S Africa) and Beleh (Cameroon). 7pm, Woodland Creatures, 260 Leith Walk. Free entry. See The Edinburgh Reporter’s article about the Africa in Motion Festival here.