Scottish stars James McAvoy and Jack Lowden to appear at Glasgow Film Festival

GLASGOW Film Festival (GFF) has officially launched its programme for this year’s much-anticipated festival.

GFF – the largest film festival in Scotland – kicks off next month at Glasgow Film Theatre between February 26 and March 9.

The packed programme features around 120 films, including 13 world premieres, 67 UK premieres and 12 Scottish premieres from 39 different countries.

The star-studded line-up features Scottish actors James McAvoy, Jack Lowden, Tilda Swinton and Martin Compston, as well as other famous faces including Ralph Fiennes, Tim Roth and Jessica Lange.

The festival’s opening and closing films are both world premieres and are both made by Scottish directors.

Tornado, GFF’s opening film, is directed by John Maclean and is a survival thriller starring Jack Lowden, Tim Roth, Takehiro Hira and Koki, shot on location in Scotland.

Tornado, starring Jack Lowden (Image: Courtesy of Glasgow Film Festival) Martyn Robertson’s Make It To Munich will close the festival on March 9. The Scottish documentary filmmaker followed teenager Ethan Walker as he defied life-threatening injuries to cycle from Glasgow’s Hampden Park to Munich Football Arena for Scotland’s opening match against Germany in the Euros.

Make It To Munich (Image: Courtesy of Glasgow Film Festival) There will also be a world premiere screening of the first episode of the new Amazon Studios produced thriller Fear – shot in Glasgow’s West End and starring Martin Compston, Solly Macleod and James Cosmo – ahead of its UK release later this year.

Meanwhile, James McAvoy will appear at a live In Conversation event looking back at his career after making the switch to directing with his debut California Schemin’, a film which centres around rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd who are fed up with London record producers not taking Scottish rap seriously.

The festival will also see the Scottish premiere of The End, a post-apocalyptic musical satire featuring Tilda Swinton and George Mackay.

Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and director of GFF, is stepping down after more than 30 years with Glasgow Film – becoming chief executive in 2020.

Speaking to The National, she encouraged people to come along to the festival, especially if they had never visited before.

Reflecting on the programme, she said: “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.

Allison Gardner (Image: Eoin Carey) “It’s a great film festival, you’ll see brilliant films, you’ll meet great people, you’ll hear from some terrific guests, your money is being put to good use, and you’re supporting the arts.

“It’s important for me that we create hope, fun and connection – I genuinely believe that watching films makes you a better person.”

Commenting on this year’s programme, Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland, said: “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.”

She added that “Scottish talent is strongly showcased throughout the programme”.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland, said: “Supported through our International Events Programme, the Glasgow Film Festival is part of an exciting portfolio of events strengthening Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage for events.

“Through their commitment to screening Scottish based films, they also help showcase to audiences, both visiting and local, what is available beyond the screen to go and explore.”