Glasgow Film Festival Overview

One of the GFF banners around the city, Source: Sam Lindsay

Glasgow Film Festival has once again proved itself to be a smashing success since its introduction 18 years ago. Beginning in 2005 the film festival has garnered crowds of over 40,000 people across two consecutive years. This fact has also seen Glasgow Film Festival be considered one of the top three film festivals in the UK.

The event saw a total of six world premieres, 70 UK premieres, and 16 European and international premieres. Kicking off the event was a film called Girl, which was shot and set in Glasgow. Written and directed by Adura Onashile the Glasgow-based flick focuses on a mother's relationship with her daughter. The film has already received positive reviews from those lucky enough to have had the chance to see it.

Inside the GFT for one of the screenings, Source: Sam Lindsay

Making a grand return to the Glasgow Film Festival is the screening of a mystery film. The screening for the festival’s mystery film was sold out on the 7th and premiered a thoughtful tale about the economic decline, rampant drug trafficking, and gang activity surrounding Native Americans’ lives, in War Pony.

War Pony directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell follows two Lakota boys' growth into manhood. Taking place on the Pine Ridge Reservation we navigate through the troubled lives of a young boy named Matho (played by LaDainian Crazy Thunder) who can hardly wait to grow up. And Bill (played by Jojo Bapteise Whiting) is thrust into adulthood and the struggles that go along with it.

The Glasgow Film Festival is set to close the events with the UK premiere of a film written and directed by Nida Manzoor. Polite Society is an action comedy with a heavy focus on martial arts. The film promises to end the festival’s events with an explosive finale of laughs and excitement.

The Glasgow Film Festival 2023 was held from March 1st until the 12th. Screenings were held in the Glasgow Film Theatre located at 12 Rose Street, Glasgow.