Take One Action! film festival returns in September with a programme of films tackling issues from workers rights, to social inequality and the rising cost of higher education.

The festival features two UK premieres and 12 Scottish premieres, including opening film The Price We Pay. This acclaimed new documentary by Harold Crooks exposes the reality of big business tax avoidance as multinational companies continue to deprive governments of trillions of dollars in tax revenues by stashing profits in offshore havens.

The programme includes documentary Food Chains, narrated by Forest Whitaker and produced by Eva Longoria, which exposes the exploitation of US farm workers. Life is Sacred tells the story of how unorthodox presidential candidate Antanas Mockus and his young activist supporters attempted to reverse the vicious cycle of violence in Colombia and Tigers is inspired by the sales representative in Pakistan who took on Nestlé and their role in the country's infant mortality.

Fascinating human stories include Casablanca Calling, which explores a Moroccan movement to counter radical Islam by training women to be Muslim leaders, and Landfill Harmonic, the story a youth music group from the slums of Paraguay called the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, who play classical instruments made from recycled garage found in the huge landfill site beside their homes.

The festival wants the audience to engage with the issues as much as possible and each screening is accompanied by discussions with the filmmakers, writers, politicians and campaigners. Guests include Bahraini human rights activist Maryam Al-Khawaja, investigative journalist Joanna Blythman and Radical Independence campaigner Cat Boyd. ‘We want people to feel empowered to help make the world a fairer, more sustainable place by taking practical action alongside others in Scotland,’ says festival director Simon Bateson.

Films are screened in Glasgow at the CCA, GFT and Glasgow University, and in Edinburgh at Filmhouse, the Pleasance, Out of the Blue and Royal Botanic Gardens. Audiences at the Botanics can attend two bike powered screenings, which will be most apt for the showing of documentary Bikes vs Cars on International No Car Day. Just don’t drive the car to the venue.

Take One Action Film Festival, Wed 16--Tue 22 Sep.