The Glasgow Film Festival is set to return with a strong line-up, proving that this long-running event is here to stay despite financial pressures on the cultural sector. Festival programming head Paul Gallagher reassured audiences that the event is on stable footing, even though the Glasgow Film Theatre, the festival’s main cinema, has faced financial challenges in recent years.
This year’s festival, running from 25 February to 8 March, will showcase 126 films, including 68 UK premieres. Highlights include Couture starring Angelina Jolie, the Josh O’Connor drama Rebuilding, and Jude Law portraying Vladimir Putin in The Wizard of the Kremlin. A Marilyn Monroe retrospective will also feature classics like Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Special screenings of iconic films such as Moulin Rouge and the 1970s horror classic Carrie will take place in unique venues, including Glasgow University Union’s dining hall and the Pyramid community centre in Anderston.
Gallagher, taking over from long-serving head Alison Gardner, emphasized that strong relationships with funders have helped the festival stay secure. He said ticket sales remain crucial for growth, encouraging people to support the event in any way they can.
The festival will also use the Odeon at Glasgow Quay, replacing the now-closed Cineworld on Renfrew Street. Gallagher noted this change allows the festival to reach audiences beyond the city centre. “We want people across Glasgow to know it’s their festival, happening in places they can access easily,” he said.
The festival highlights Scottish storytelling as well, with films like Peter Mullan’s dark comedy The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford and the Glasgow-set sci-fi Welcome to G-Town. Gallagher explained, “These are stories from Glasgow, reflecting local events and talent, showing the city’s important role in film.”
