l Glasgow Film Festival has announced early details of its programme, which runs from February 14-24.

A retrospective of films starring Hollywood tough guy James Cagney will feature such gangster classics as The Public Enemy and White Heat, while a focus on New Brazilian Cinema will showcase work from the country that's soon to be in the World Cup and Olympic spotlight. Burnistoun star and compulsive gamer Robert Florence will also curate a strand that examines the ever-increasing cinematic sweep of modern-day computer games. Tickets go on sale in January.

www.glasgowfilm.org/festival

l The Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture has announced the launch of its residencies programme. Now in its third year, the programme invites artists to apply to the RSA for a funded residency position at one of 28 partner arts venues across Scotland. Over the two years, the project has distributed more than £100,000 to artists and venues, providing 35 artist residencies and collaborating with 31 venues from Selkirk to Shetland. Information on how to apply is available on the academy website.

www.royalscottishacademy.org

l North Carolinan singer-songwriter Tift Merritt brings her band to Scotland for the first time in almost a decade when she plays the Pleasance Theatre on Monday. A popular visitor to these parts as a solo artist and described by the New Yorker as "the bearer of a proud tradition of country soul that reaches back to Dusty Springfield and Bobbie Gentry", Merritt slots in her Edinburgh show before appearing on next week's Later Live and Later With Jools Holland programmes.

www.tiftmerritt.com