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The Glasgow Film Festival is an annual film festival based in Glasgow, Scotland. The festival began in 2005. By 2015, the festival had seen audience figures top 40,000 for two consecutive years. It is now considered one of the top film festivals in the UK.
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Most recent | 2024 |
| Directors | Allison Gardner (since 2007), Allan Hunter (stepped down 2023) |
| Festival date | 28 February 2024 − 10 March 2024 |
| Website | glasgowfilm |
The Glasgow Film Festival was launched in 2005 and initially based in the Glasgow Film Theatre. The event focused on non-mainstream cinema and treated the audience as the main guests, quickly earning a title of one of the friendliest film festivals in the world. From less than 5,000 in 2005, attendance grew up to 40,000 in 2013.[1] By 2015, the festival had already been considered one of the top three film festivals in the UK.[2] As the festival grew and developed, it expanded to other venues; in 2017, special screenings were hosted by an indoor real snow ski slope.[3]
The festival's main and only prize is the Audience Award,[4] sponsored by MUBI. Another section is FrightFest, a selection of horror films programmed by the London-based horror film festival.[5][1] The programme also includes the free morning retrospective screenings.[6][7]
The festival has its industry section that provides networking opportunities and hosts various master-classes and events.[5] For example, in 2024, it offered live animation project pitching session with a £5,000 funding prize.[6]
Since 2006, the festival has been directed by Allison Gardner.[7] In 2023, her long-time co-director Allan Hunter stepped down, succeeded by Chris Kumar.[6]
2008
In 2008, the festival took place between 14–24 February. The programme included exclusive premieres as well as a Bette Davis retrospective.[8]
2009
The 2009 event featured an Audrey Hepburn retrospective and a birthday tribute to Errol Flynn.
2010
In 2010, the festival took place between 18–28 February. From over 800 submissions received by the organisers, 120 features were selected for the festival programme. The opening gala featured Jean-Pierre Jeunet's latest film, Micmacs with the director there to present the film. Other guests included Peter Mullan, James Earl Jones and the cast of Scottish classic, Gregory's Girl. Oscar nominated Crazy Heart was also shown, prior to the general release date. Also included a Cary Grant retrospective, as well as strands focusing on Japanese Cinema, Fashion and Music and film.[9]
In 2010, a Margaret Tait award for experimental and innovative filmmaking was launched, coming with a £10,000 commission for the winner's next project.[9]
2011
The 7th edition ran from 16 to 26 February 2012. It featured The Gene Kelly: Strictly Song and Dance retrospective, marking the centenary of his birth.[10] More than 250 films were shown, including You Instead and The Eagle premieres.[11]
2012
The 8th edition took place from 16 to 26 February, featuring 7 world and 21 UK premieres.[12] The closing gala featured Le Havre, This Must Be the Place, The Kid with a Bike, etc. The FrightFest highlights included The Raid and The Day.[13]
2013
The 2013 edition ran from 14-24 February,[14] featuring 368 film screenings and 57 UK film premieres.[15]
2014
With the festival lasting 11 days from February 18 to March 1, GFF 10th edition admission figures topped 40,000.[16] The programme featured 60 UK premieres and seven world premieres.[17] The festival's pop-up events were hosted at various locations throughout the city, including the Briggait and the Tall Ship.[18] The 10th edition was so successful that the managers decided to add one more day for the next year.[19]
2015
The 11th Glasgow Film Festival ran from 18 February to 1 March.[20] 2015's festival featured 174 events, including 11 world premieres, 33 UK premieres and 65 Scottish premieres. The festival introduced its first award — The Audience Award, won by Tom Browne's Radiator.[2] The attendance reached 35,000.[21]
2016
In 2016, the festival took place 17-28 February.[22] The edition featured 174 feature films, including 60 UK premieres. Admissions reached 42,000. The Audience Award was won by Deniz Gamze Ergüven's Mustang.[23]
2017
The 13th edition took place from 15 to 26 February.[24] In 2017, the festival attained over 40,000 admissions for the fourth consecutive year. Featuring 180 films from 38 countries with more than 65 UK premieres, programme highlights included Elle, I Am Not Your Negro, Free Fire and a screening of John Carpenter's The Thing on an indoor ski slope.[25][26] Empire Magazine presented a special screening of The Lost Boys as a secret location.[27] The Audience Award was won by Alankrita Shrivastava's Lipstick Under My Burkha.[28]
2018
The 14th edition took place from 21 February to 4 March, 2018, with more than 300 premieres, screenings and events planned.[29] However, the 2018 edition of the festival was nearly ruined by the British Isles cold wave. For several days, only the locals could attend the events.[1]
2020
The 16th edition took place from 26 February to 8 March, 2020.[30] The programme includes nine world premieres and 102 UK premieres.[31][32] Film-opening Proxima by Alice Winocour.[30]
2023
The 2023 edition was held from March 1 to 12. The 19th edition of the festival screened 123 features, including six world premieres, 16 European and international premieres and 70 UK premieres. The festival opened with Adura Onashile’s Glasgow-shot feature debut Girl, and closed with Nida Manzoor’s Polite Society.[33]
2024
The 20th anniversary edition was held from 28 February to 10 March, 2024. This year's feature submissions exceeded 400.[6] The line-up featured 11 world and international premieres, including İlker Çatak’s The Teachers’ Lounge, Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border, Giacomo Abbruzzese’s Disco Boy, and the opening film was Rose Glass's Love Lies Bleeding.[5]
In 2015, GFF introduced its only award, the Audience Award. Films eligible for the award are usually from first or second time directors and can be either fiction or documentary. The award is voted for by attendees with the winner announced at the closing gala of the festival.
| Year | Film | Filmmaker | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Radiator | Tom Browne | [2] |
| 2016 | Mustang | Deniz Gamze Ergüven | [23] |
| 2017 | Lipstick Under My Burkha | Alankrita Shrivastava | [28] |
| 2018 | Custody (Jusqu'à la garde) | Xavier Legrand | [34] |
| 2019 | Harry Birrell: Films of Love and War | Matt Pinder | [35] |
| 2020 | Arracht | Tomás Ó Súilleabháin | [36] |
| 2021 | Sweetheart | Marley Morrison | [37] |
| 2022 | The Hermit of Treig | Lizzie MacKenzie | [38] |
| 2023 | Riceboy Sleeps | Anthony Shim | [39] |
| 2024 | The Home Game | Smári Gunnarsson and Logi Sigursveinsson | [40] |
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