Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) has announced the first major events and screenings for its 20th anniversary edition, running at Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) and venues across the city from 28 February to 10 March 2024.
The programme celebrates the 20th edition of Glasgow Film Festival, 50 years of the festival’s home Glasgow Film Theatre and 85 years since the Cinema was first built.
‘Our Story So Far’ is a selection of free screenings, showing iconic films marking milestones in Glasgow Film’s history, including Mr Smith Goes To Washington, Young Frankenstein and Brick.
First pop-up special events announced across the city will celebrate a bumper year of anniversaries with titles from 1939 and 1974. Country Focus: Czech, please! turns the lens on contemporary and classic Czech cinema, including features from the esteemed Věra Chytilová, debut director Jarmila Štuková and an Academy Award title contender from Tomáš Mašín
Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) has announced the first major events and screenings for its 20th anniversary edition, running at Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) and venues across the city from 28 February to 10 March 2024.
GFF’s legendary special events return with two films celebrating two landmark years in Glasgow Film’s history. In 1939 the Cosmo cinema, now the GFT, opened and to mark 85 years of one of the city’s cultural gems, movie fans can click their ruby red slippers together three times to be transported to a magical screening of Victor Fleming’s 1939 technicolour masterpiece The Wizard of Oz. GFF will also host a grotesquely glamorous tribute screening to schlock auteur John Waters magnum opus Female Trouble which celebrates its 50th anniversary along with Glasgow Film Theatre which was first established in 1974.
GFF’s free morning retrospective returns for 2024 with Our Story So Far, a journey through time with 10 classic titles from each anniversary in Glasgow Film’s history. These widely popular morning screenings are free to attend and give audiences access to view undisputed classics on the big screen again. 1939 was not only an iconic year for Glasgow Film but for cinema; retrospectives scheduled to screen from this year are Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Only Angels Have Wings and Wuthering Heights. The festival offers a rare opportunity to see a back catalogue from 1974 including The Godfather Part II, Young Frankenstein and Foxy Brown. To celebrate the inaugural edition of the festival in 2005, the festival will screen Brick, Walk the Line, and Wolf Creek.
Each year the festival shines a light on global cinema, exploring contemporary and re-discovered film and this year the festival’s Country of Focus is Czechia (also known as Czech Republic). Czech, please! includes titles such as Daisies, a radical feminist film from Věra Chytilová once banned for its stance on communism and patriarchy. Is There Any Place For Me, Please? a debut feature documentary and UK premiere from Jarmila Štuková showcases an intimate portrayal of one woman navigating life after an acid attack. Other premieres include dystopian sci-fi Restore Point and chilling crime thriller Mr. and Mrs. Stodola. Timely period drama We Have Never Been Modern will inspect gender politics, martial constraints and self-identity. Brothers, Czechia’s official submission to the 2024 Academy Awards for the Best International Film, examines liberation and resilience in a story focused on an anti-Communist resistance group.
GFF is one of the leading film festivals in the UK and is run by Glasgow Film, a charity which also runs Glasgow Film Theatre. Glasgow Film Festival is made possible by support from Screen Scotland, the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding and Glasgow Life.
Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of GFF since 2007, will programme GFF24 alongside a group of exciting emerging voices in the Scottish film festival scene including Christopher Kumar, Tomiwa Folorunso, Natasha Thembiso Ruwona, Heather Bradshaw and Rosie Beattie.
Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of GFF, said: ‘I am overjoyed to select titles for the 20th edition of the festival alongside a group of programmers with such vibrant and innovative ideas. Each programmer has been able to make their unique stamp on the upcoming festival through our popular Special Events, famous Retrospectives and rich Czech titles.’
Tickets for the special events go on sale on Wednesday 13 December at 1pm.
Glasgow Film Festival is also proud to announce MUBI as the official sponsor for the 2024 Audience Award, the only award handed out at the festival, given to an outstanding feature film by a first or second time director. The award is chosen by the most important people – GFF audiences.
The shortlist for the GFF24 Audience Award will be announced with the full programme on Wednesday 24 January with tickets going on sale on Monday 29 January.
Glasgow Film Festival fans can purchase T-shirts, tote bags and mugs this festive season.
Special GFF 20th edition merchandise will go on sale next week.
Background
The programmers behind these special titles are:
Allison Gardner
Allison is the CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of Glasgow Film Festival, a role she has held proudly for the past 17 years. As Allison guides the festival into a new phase, she plans to handpick films in the thriving film industry that will continue to charm audiences throughout the UK. Through programming hidden gems from emerging filmmakers to screening contemporary and classic titles from highly accomplished directors and producers, there is sure to be a title for all to enjoy film.
Christopher Kumar
Chris is a mixed race, Glasgow based, Programme Coordinator. Initially getting his start via the Independent Cinema Office FEDS scheme in 2018, he has since worked as Programme Coordinator for Glasgow Film Festival for the past five editions. Chris has a passion for Glasgow Film Festival and strives to help the festival grow and build on its reputation of giving a platform to filmmakers from across the world, from various backgrounds. While he is an avid film lover of all types, he has a soft spot for genre cinema and all things Keanu Reeves.
Tomiwa Folorunso (she/her)
Tomiwa is a writer, editor and creative producer based between Edinburgh and Belgium. Recent work in the industry has involved Editorial Coordination at International Film Festival Rotterdam, Project Management at Edinburgh International Film Festival and Executive production of short film maud. Programming strands of the festival since 2020, Tomiwa hopes to explore love at the upcoming festival; love amongst friends and within communities, romantic and familial love, self-love, love as an act of resistance and a site for joy. This concept is set to tie in with her interest in social politics, and Diasporas, both contemporary and historical while delving into BIPOC communities’ collective experience of cinema.
Natasha Thembiso Ruwona (she/her)
Natasha is a Scottish-Zimbabwean writer, artist and researcher based between London and Scotland. As a curator-programmer-producer she has worked with the likes of BUZZCUT Festival, Fringe of Colour Films, and Rhubaba Gallery & Studios to support artist and film projects. Natasha was previously part of the Disability Arts Online Diverse Critics course and was selected as a finalist for the Michael O’Pray Moving Image Prize for writing. Using spatial practice and Afrofuturism as guides, her work contemplates place, time and memory as they relate to environmental relationships. Her programme for GFF traces the histories of film from a Global South perspective across geographies, through both traditional and experimental documentary forms.
Heather Bradshaw (she/her)
Heather is a Glasgow based Programme Assistant returning for a second year at Glasgow Film Festival. Alongside GFF, Heather is a Guest Programmer for Glasgow Short Film Festival. Last year saw Heather create two special GSFF programmes on animation and mental health while also curating multiple special music events for GFF. Earlier in her career, Heather could be found across many festival teams including Edinburgh International Film Festival, Manchester Animation Festival, Indie Cork and Copenhagen Short Film Festival. Heather’s interest lie in genre cinema, animation and folk horror and is sure to bring passion, enthusiasm and a sense of humour to GFF24. Expect many fun-filled Film Introductions from Heather at screenings across the festival.
Rosie Beattie (she/her)
Rosie is an emerging film programmer and writer based in Glasgow who has recently joined Film Hub Scotland as a New Producer for GFF24 and will be producing events in the upcoming programme. Having studied MSc Film Curation at the University of Glasgow, Rosie has gone on to programme film events and seasons for Summerhall, Edinburgh, including the Film Hub Scotland supported season ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ which focused on queer youth and love. Key interests for Rosie are in Hollywood history, queer, and feminist film.
About Glasgow Film Festival
Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) is firmly established as a key event in the UK's cultural calendar. Launched in 2005, GFF has grown greatly in significance and is now a key launching pad for films and one of the top film festivals in the UK. GFF continues to grow and develop its international reputation. Held annually, it presents a unique programme of feature film premieres, special events, live and interactive experiences, and an Industry Focus programme for filmmakers at every stage of their career.
GFF was named the Big Screen Event of the Year at Screen International’s Big Screen Awards in November 2022 for achieving a record high of 73% audience capacity at its first in-person edition post-Covid.
Previous GFF guests include Richard Gere, Alan Rickman, John C. Reilly, Saoirse Ronan, George MacKay, Richard Dreyfuss, Karen Gillan, Jessie Buckley, Sir Michael Palin, Josh O'Connor, Ben Wheatley, Armando Iannucci, Jack O’Connell, Dexter Fletcher, Peter Mullan, George Sluizier, Peter Capaldi, Ty West, Richard Ayoade, David Dastmalchian, Eli Roth and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. www.glasgowfilm.org/festiva
About MUBI
MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI creates, curates, acquires and champions visionary films, bringing them to audiences all over the world.
MUBI is a place to discover ambitious films by visionary filmmakers. From iconic directors to emerging auteurs. All carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators. With MUBI GO, members in select countries can get a free ticket every week to see the best new films in cinemas. And Notebook explores all sides of cinema culture — both in print and online.
MUBI is the biggest community of film lovers, anywhere. Available across 190 countries, with more than 15 million members around the world. MUBI acquired renowned sales agent and production company The Match Factory and Match Factory Productions in January 2022.
About Glasgow Film Festival's Funders
Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund
The BFI Audience Projects Fund will invest £15m of National Lottery funding over three years to support ambitious, audience-facing activity of national scale that celebrates and showcases independent UK and international film and XR work. It will support projects that seek to expand access and encourage greater enjoyment of cinema by connecting audiences that are representative of the UK population with great films - in venues, at events and online.
About the BFI
The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK's lead organisation for film and the moving image.
Our mission is:
- To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
- To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world's largest film and television archive
- To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals - delivered online and in venue
- To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
- To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK's screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Tim Richards.
Glasgow Life
Glasgow Life is a charity working for the benefit of the people of Glasgow. We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and we find innovative ways to make this happen across the city’s diverse communities.
Our programmes, experiences and events range from grassroots community activities to large-scale cultural, artistic and sporting events which present Glasgow on an international stage. Our work is designed to promote inclusion, happiness and health, as well as support the city’s visitor economy, in order to enhance Glasgow’s mental, physical and economic wellbeing.
For more information, visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk