Glasgow Film Festival to feature 92 premieres from 39 countries in its 21st edition

The Glasgow Film Festival (GFF25), Scotland’s largest film festival, will showcase an extensive selection of cinematic works from 26^th February to 9^th March 2025. This 21^st edition of the festival will feature 92 premieres from 39 countries, including 12 World and European premieres, and 67 UK premieres. The event will take place at the Glasgow Film Theatre and other venues across the city.

GFF25 will commence with the World premiere of Tornado, a survival thriller directed by Scottish filmmaker John Maclean, starring Tim Roth and Jack Lowden. The festival will conclude with Make It to Munich, a documentary by Martyn Robertson, which chronicles the journey of Scottish teenager Ethan Walker, who cycled from Glasgow to Munich after surviving a severe accident.

This year’s festival is particularly notable as it marks the final edition under the leadership of CEO and Film Festival Director Allison Gardner, who has been with Glasgow Film for over three decades. Gardner expressed her excitement about the programme, stating, “I cannot begin to say how excited I am by the brilliant programme we have curated, the breadth of films on offer genuinely has something for everyone.”

The festival will also host a series of special events, including an “In Conversation” session with Glasgow-born Hollywood actor James McAvoy, who will discuss his career. Another highlight includes the UK premiere of the play adaptation Long Day’s Journey Into Night, featuring Jessica Lange and Ed Harris, with Lange also participating in an “In Conversation” event about her distinguished career.

Support for the festival comes from various sources, including Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, both of which provide National Lottery funding. Additional support is provided by Glasgow Life and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland. The festival also benefits from the Glasgow 850 Festival Fund, which supports community outreach activities.

Isabel Davis, Executive Director at Screen Scotland, highlighted the festival’s role in the local industry, saying, “This year’s GFF programme is a very clear demonstration of the festival’s importance to the local industry, connecting our films and talent to the rest of the world and introducing world-class cinema to audiences in Glasgow, across Scotland and the rest of the UK.”

The festival’s extensive programme also includes a range of UK and Scottish premieres, such as The Return, featuring Ralph Fiennes and Juliet Binoche, and The Surfer, a thriller starring Nicolas Cage. Documentaries and international films will also have significant representation, with titles like Peaches Goes Bananas and Desire: The Carl Craig Story among the UK premieres.

Tickets for the opening and closing galas will go on sale on 22^nd January, with general ticket sales starting on 27^th January. For more information on the festival and ticket purchases, visit the Glasgow Film Festival’s official website.

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Glasgow Film Festival will take place from 26^th February to 9^th March 2025. For more information, visit their website here.

Watch the trailer for Glasgow Film Festival here: