Scotland’s biggest film festival, The Glasgow Film Festival reaches it’s 21st Birthday in 2025. And with an incredible line up, it’s time to celebrate!
By Tracy Mukherjee
Twenty one years of the Glasgow Film Festival (GFF). It’s hard to remember a time before this celebration of film in our city. Year upon year the festival has grown, to now be the largest film festival in Scotland. And at the helm since 2020 has been CEO of Glasgow Film and GFF/Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) Director, Allison Gardiner. But this will be her last festival as she has decided to retire, having been with the organisation for 30 years.
But with a fantastic team behind the GFF going forward, the festival is in safe hands. At the forefront is festival programme co-ordinator Chris Kumar who has an astonishing line up in store for movie goers. So what’s on the Bill this year?
Popcorn at the ready
With 120 film on offer over the nine days, audience members won’t be short on choice. The Opening Gala sees the world premier of Tornado starring Jack Lowden and Tim Roth. This heart racing action thriller was shot entirely in Scotland by Scottish film director John MacLean. And it’s one of many premieres being held at the GFF.
World premiere of Amazon Studios thriller Fear, will also be shown. This new series was shot in our own West End and stars Scottish favourite Martin Compston. UK premiere of The Return sees the incredible Ralph Fiennes partner the equally fabulous Juliette Binoche in a reimagined tale of Homer’s Odyssey.
The Main Feature
With a formula that works, the festivals many staples return. 2025 Country Focus is ‘From the Heart of Europe: Austria on Screen’, highlighting the diversity of cinema from the country. GFF25 Audience Award returns giving first and second time directors the much needed exposure they deserve. There are ten dynamic films short-listed, but who will win?
The free Retrospective, in which audiences can attend screenings of classics every morning, is also returning. The theme this year is ‘Our Time is Now: Coming of Age in the Movies’. Director Allison Gardner was not happy that her choice Ferris Bueller’s Day Off did not make the cut, but The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Gregory’s Girl and Ladybird, did.
The In Conversation events this year see Hollywood royalty attend. Scottish actor and director James McAvoy will give the audience insight into his career and future plans. The historical drama The Last King of Scotland, in which he co-stars with Forest Whitaker, will be showing at the festival. And the legend that is Jessica Lange will also be discussing her sixty years in cinema. Her latest film Long Days Journey Into Night sees her co-star again with Ed Harris in Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer prize winning play. The film will have it’s UK premiere at GFF.
Curtain Coming Down
With a wealth of eclectic film at the festival, it’s difficult to choose which ones to see. Possibly the Argentinian Oscar submission Kill the Jockey or the poignant Hill, a documentary in which F1 star Damon Hill recounts his relationship with his father, racing legend Graham Hill.
But a stand out must certainly be the Closing Gala, which sees the world premier of Martyn Robertson’s Make it to Munich. This is a beautiful documentary film which tells the story of the remarkable young athlete Ethan Walker. Ethan was on a soccer scholarship in the US when he was hit by a car on his way home. The injuries he sustained were extensive and life threatening.
This is the incredible story of a young man who’s spirit to never give up shows just what motivation can do. Just months after his life altering accident, can Ethan Walker cycle from Hampden Park to Munich Football Arena, and see Scotland’s opening game in the Euros 2024? A captivating, uplifting film.
And an appropriately emotional film for Allison Gardner’s swan song. Allison says on leaving ‘It’s hard to leave. But it’s the right thing to do. This isn’t one person’s effort.’
So, movie lovers, get ready for an exceptional celebration of film – at the friendliest film festival in the world.
The Glasgow Film Festival
26th Feb – 9th March 2025
GFT and selected pop-up venues
Don’t miss out on tickets! visit –
glasgowfilm.org
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