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Article published 28/03/2025

Glasgow Film Festival celebrates its 21st edition with over 33,000 attendances and a stellar lineup of Hollywood stars.

Toni Collette, Jessica Lange, Ed Harris, James McAvoy, and Tim Roth lit up the city alongside a programme of free films and events for the community. In addition, the attendance from press and industry was up 15% with almost 750 delegates visiting Glasgow Film Festival.

The 12-day programme featured 114 feature films from 39 countries at the Glasgow Film Theatre and nine other venues across the city.

For the first time in its history, the festival opened and closed with Scottish world premieres - John Maclean’s Tornado and Make it to Munich from Martyn Robertson.

The programme continued to spotlight Scottish talent with Glasgow-shot, Amazon studios drama Fear, being given a big-screen premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival.

Edinburgh director Laura Carreira's debut feature On Falling screening at 10 partnering cinemas across the UK:

  • Barbican London
  • BFI Southbank London
  • Cameo Edinburgh
  • Chapter Cardiff
  • DCA Dundee
  • MacRobert Art Centre Stirling
  • Queens Film Theatre Belfast
  • Showroom Sheffield
  • Tyneside Newcastle
  • Watershed Bristol

Still from TornadoStill from Tornado. Credit: Glasgow Film Festival

The celebration of Scottish film on screen extended beyond the film programme into the Glasgow Film Festival industry programme that returned for its 10th edition this year.

The Glasgow Film Festival continues to be the major meeting point for the Scottish filmmaking sector, welcoming almost 750 delegates to the festival.

The event, at brand new venue The Social Hub Glasgow, hosted the four-day conference that offered panels, one-to-one meetings and networking opportunities for delegates at all stages of their screen careers.

Within 10 years the festival’s industry programme has grown from a two-day local networking event in 2016 to a four-day national event today, attracting delegates from around the UK and beyond.

Industry Focus 2025 supported 39 filmmaking talents with one of the three festival year-round talent development initiatives, culminating in over 200 hours of support to help filmmakers develop their creative and business skills. 

The festival’s free programme of events, this year, included its daily free morning retrospective screenings, which welcomed hundreds of movie-goers each day to enjoy classics like Gregory’s Girl, Lady Bird and Boyz n the Hood on the big screen.

The Glasgow Film Festival also worked with communities around the city to co-create a Community Takeover Day at Garnethill Multicultural Centre, which featured a free screening of Ukrainian sci-fi drama U Are The Universe, plus food and activities for all ages.

This event was made possible with the help of the Glasgow 850 Festival Fund, as was the Festival’s Young Ambassador programme. This Glasgow Film Festival initiative for 18-25 year olds is all about making them learn more about the festival and stage through their own pop-up cinema event.

Bringing cinematic gems and the talent behind them to Glasgow is what the festival does best, as was the case with the sell-out showing of the classic Australian film Muriel’s Wedding, where Toni Collette surprised the audience to join a Glasgow Film Festival / ABBA lip sync.

The festival also marked its final year under Glasgow Film Festival director Allison Gardner, who retires from Glasgow Film in Octobe r.

Read the full press release on glasgowfilmfest.org

Screen Scotland is proud to be the major backer of the Glasgow Film Festival, which has outdone itself once again with a powerful programme of films and events.

Emblematic of the power of cinema to inspire and assemble people, the programme and guest speakers have drawn a fantastic response from the public.

Meanwhile, the industry programme has taken another leap forward, convening local and international industry like never before, sparking industry conversations and myriad new connections across the week.

Isabel Davis, Executive Director of Screen Scotland

A huge congratulations to Festival Director Allison Gardner and her team for delivering such a superb anniversary festival.

Allison’s vision, leadership, and passion have shaped Glasgow Film Festival into the internationally renowned event it is today.

As she marks her final year at the helm, we extend our deepest thanks for her outstanding contribution over many years—her impact on Glasgow’s cultural landscape has been extraordinary.

Bailie Annete Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life

The 21st edition of the Glasgow Film Festival has been another outstanding celebration of cinema, creativity, and storytelling.

It has showcased an incredible array of films, welcomed industry talent from around the world, and engaged audiences with a truly diverse and inspiring programme.

Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland

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