Glasgow Film Festival 'here to stay' as 2026 line-up revealed

The programme head of the Glasgow Film Festival has said the long-running festival is "here to stay", despite financial pressure on the cultural sector.

Paul Gallagher said the event was on a secure footing, even though the main cinema used at the festival - the Glasgow Film Theatre - has warned of financial difficulties in recent years.

His words came as the festival unveiled this year's line-up, which will feature 68 UK premieres among a total of 126 films between 25 February and 8 March.

Major films will include Couture starring Angelina Jolie, Josh O'Connor drama Rebuilding and Jude Law portraying Vladimir Putin in The Wizard of the Kremlin, as well as a season of Marilyn Monroe films.

Special event screenings of Moulin Rouge and 1970s horror classic Carrie are also planned, held in the unusual locations of Glasgow University Union's dining hall and the Pyramid community centre in Anderston respectively.

The festival previously announced that documentary Welcome to Kenmure Street - about attempts to stop the deportation of two men in Glasgow - would open the festival, with James McAvoy's directorial debut California Schemin' to close it.

Organisers said announcements about special guests appearing on the red carpet - or appearing in conversation events like Lord of the Rings actor Viggo Mortensen did last year - would follow later.

Gallagher, programming the festival for the first year after long-standing previous head Alison Gardner retired last year, said the festival was in a secure place.

In 2024 Gardner said utility bills for the GFT cinema had increased by around 200% in the past decade, while audience numbers were still declining.

But Gallagher said he was optimistic regarding the future of the festival.

He told BBC Scotland News: "We have good, solid funding sources, although to expand and grow we obviously need people buying tickets.

"It's really important that people support us at whatever level they can, but GFF is here to stay - there is no danger of losing us.

"That only happens because the team continues to have good relationships with funders and let us focus on delivering the festival on the ground, and giving Glasgow a great festival experience."

The event previously used the now closed Cineworld on Renfrew Street. It will be replaced as a location by the Odeon at Glasgow Quay.

Gallagher said the enforced change let the festival reach out beyond the city centre.

He added: "The cinema landscape in Glasgow has been quite changeable in recent years, so we are working with that.

"I'm keen, though, for people in Glasgow to know it's for them and that all parts of the city know it's happening in places where they can get to."

Among other big films slated to be shown include relationship drama Erupcja, led by pop star Charli XCX and two films starring Willem Defoe - Late Fame and the Birthday Party. Defoe previously visited the GFT as a punter while in the city.

Scottish premieres include Jim Jarmusch's Venice Golden Lion-winning Father Mother Sister Brother, starring Adam Driver and Cate Blanchett and dark thriller The Good Boy starring Andrea Riseborough and Adolescence star Stephen Graham.

A retrospective to mark the 100th anniversary of cultural icon Monroe's birth will feature the likes of Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

However Gallagher believes a Scottish core runs through the event, from Peter Mullan starring in dark comedy The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford to Welcome to G-Town - described as as a Glasgow set science fiction tale on a tiny budget.

He said: "These are stories generated here in Glasgow, whether the real event on Kenmure Street or the real event that happened in Dundee that's behind California Schemin' and has then been developed by a Glasgow production company.

"It's not just focusing on films for Glasgow, but actually representing film coming from Glasgow as well. That's a hugely important role to play for the festival."

He added that the event lets "cinema be put in its proper place" as the main thing happening in the city.

There will also be free screenings of older films each morning, this year centred around a theme of "truth to power" and including the likes of All The President's Men and Erin Brockovich.

Last year's festival was highlighted by Muriel's Wedding actress Toni Collete making a surprise appearance at Cottiers Theatre following a screening of the film.

Tickets go on sale on Friday.