By Saffron McKee

Glasgow Film Festival 2024 (GFF) is happening from the 28th of February- 10th of March. Glasgow Film Festival’s retrospective this year is called Our Story So Far. This is fitting because this year marks 20 years of the festival. GFF Director Allison Gardner and some of the programming team gave me an insight into the 20th anniversary edition of the festival.

There are lots of exciting events happening around Glasgow year round. But this event draws in so many people from all over the world who come to celebrate their love of film at Glasgow Film Theatre. There is a lot of buzz around GFF every single year. It brings such a positive impact on the local economy by attracting visitors, boosting our tourism, and contributing to the hospitality sector of course. It also enhances Glasgow’s cultural scene which is always such a vibrant atmosphere to be around.

Last time, I went to the festival it was during COVID and all the actors and press had masks on and had to socially distance from each other. It was rough especially when you were interviewing someone and you could barely hear them through their mask. The screening rooms felt very packed and you had to eat your popcorn whilst your mask stayed on your face. There were actors who were wearing face shields or gloves the entire time, you could smell the sweat beads, and the press had to shout their questions 5 metres away from the interviewee. However, everyone did clap after each film which made it feel like a community and it pleased the filmmakers. This year I am excited to watch the films that are from different areas of the world.

Isabel Davis the executive director of Screen Scotland says, ” Much like the city itself, people make GFF. The title’s already announced showcase Glasgow’s reputation for films that have heart and represent the best of local and international cinema.”

GFF Director Allison Gardner who has been working at Glasgow Film Theatre since 1993 says how this year is a big year for Glasgow film, ” It is the 85th anniversary of the building opening in 1939, the second purpose built Art house outside of London. 1974 is the year that Glasgow Film Theatre was constituted. So that’s 50 years for us and it is the 20th edition of Glasgow Film Festival. These are all big celebrations and show the longevity of what we do here at Glasgow Film Theatre. They’ve been some fantastic highs and some terrible lows but in between we’ve been supported by a loyal, faithful, brilliant cinephile audience who love the events we do.”

There are some great classic Scottish films coming back on the big screen at this year’s GFF. Shallow Grave for example is 30 years old and Ratcatcher is a new 4K restoration which is 25 years old. Billy Connolly: Big Banana Feet has also been restored by the British Film Institute from very rare material. There are also many international films having their UK premiere’s here in Glasgow.

Allison Gardner says, ” We have love lies bleeding straight from the world premiere at Sundance. It stars Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian. It is directed by the wonderful Rose Glass who did Saint Maud. It is an explosive thriller and a mixture of love and violence. It really is an absolutely brilliant film and we are delighted to be opening Glasgow Film Festival 24′ with this brilliant film from a female director.”

GFF always provides brilliant workshops and panels with local talent. They always highlight the astounding work done by creatives here in Scotland. Last year local filmmaker Adura Onashile’s film Girl was the opening night film. This year the festival will have a mentoring programme for local talents. Isabel Davis says, “Two lucky filmmakers will have the chance to be mentored by Scotland’s very one Charlotte Wells and Ben Sharrock.”

There is no doubt that this event brings people in Glasgow together. It is a fun event with tickets available for films both on their website and also in the theatre. Annette Christie Chair of Glasgow Life says, “Over the past two decades, the Glasgow Film Festival has grown significantly in both scale and reputation while still managing to remain true to its original ethos. This carefully and cleverly curated Film Festival 24 programme really does offer something for everyone who loves film. The 2024 festival also features some exciting events.”

Some of the dazzling films you can add to your calendar at this year’s festival include, Viggo Mortensen’s fantastic western, which he directed and tells a really compelling story called, The dead don’t hurt. Green border a timely film about refugees being put back and forward from Poland to Belarus which premiered at Venice Film Festival. Another film that has been announced is Ewan McGregor and his daughter Clara McGregor’s new film Bleeding love which is about a father and his estranged daughter which is sure to break your heart.

Glasgow Film Festival will be posting more updates soon on their Instagram page and on Glasgow Film Theatre’s website.