This year marks Allison Gardner's last year at the helm of the Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) after more than 30 years involved with the festival and Glasgow Film.
Supported through our EventScotland International Programme, the 21st edition of the Glasgow Film Festival opened today (26 February) with the world premiere of Scottish director John MacLean's survival thriller Tornado, kicking off 12 packed days of cinema including 91 World, UK and Scottish premieres. The festival will close on 9 March with the World premiere of Scottish documentary filmmaker Martyn Robertson's Make it to Munich.
A well-known cultural leader, Allison first joined Glasgow Film Theatre in 1993 as a Duty Manager, and in the three decades since, has progressed through the organisation in several roles including Glasgow Film Theatre's Head of Cinemas, then onto Programme Director of Glasgow Film Theatre and Glasgow Film Festival before becoming CEO in 2020. She will retire in October from her dual role as Chief Executive of Glasgow Film and Director of Glasgow Film Festival.
As this year's festival kicks off, we caught up with Allison to find out more about her career, how the festival has evolved and some of her most memorable moments.