From Marilyn Monroe at 100, to James McAvoy’s directorial debut, this year’s festival has it all.
Glasgow Film Festival is almost here, running from 25 February to 8 March 2026. The festival runs yearly and has been a fixture in Glasgow since 2005, with the Glasgow Film Theatre on 12 Rose Street in Glasgow’s City Centre, and a handful of other venues hosting the most exciting time for any film fans living in or visiting Glasgow. Every day is packed with screenings of new and old films, with special events and the talent behind the films often in attendance. It can be quite an overwhelming experience so if you fancy checking out the festival, this guide should help you narrow down what films are worth your time.
The Festival is always bookended by an Opening and Closing Gala and this year the Opening film is Everybody to Kenmure Street (2026), a documentary film directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra which chronicles the events in 2021 where the UK Government attempted to deport two Glasgow residents which led to protests in the area. It’s great to see a film which is set in Glasgow as the opener, and it’s also the sort of film we need right now, as it shows how communities can come together to save their own. The Closing Gala is arguably the biggest film playing at the Festival, with James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’ (2025) making an appearance, although sadly this has also sold out. The film follows the true story of two Scottish friends who try to make it in the music industry by pretending to be American. If the trailer and subject matter are anything to go by, it looks to be a great time and it is great to see one of the city’s greatest actors bring their directorial debut to the festival and he will be in attendance, so it’s a great chance to see some acting royalty live in the flesh.
One thing that is always great about the festival is its strands wherein multiple films are grouped together in a theme. For anyone looking to spend less money, the festival puts on free screenings every year, with this year’s theme being truth to power, with ten films screening as part of this. Screenings in this strand include All The President’s Men (1976), Dr Strangelove (1964) and Erin Brockovich (2000). Although, all of these screenings are at half ten in the morning so you may need to get there early as there will definitely be a line down the street for these screenings. They’re also screening a series of Marilyn Monroe films to celebrate her 100th birthday, with films such as Some Like It Hot (1959), which would be my choice if you were to go see any of her films as it’s a comedy classic. Also showing is Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Prince and The Showgirl (1957), which is screening in 35mm print. Also, FrightFest is back this year, taking over the festival from the 5 to the 7 of March. FrightFest is a festival in its own right, focusing on fantasy and horror and its inclusion in the Glasgow Film Festival (essentially a festival within a festival) is a chance to see weird indie horrors you’ll likely never have heard of, and which might not get big releases, so you never know what you might find.
As mentioned earlier, the sheer amount of films screening might prove a lot to take in, so on top of films previously mentioned, here are some of my personal recommendations of films to see at the festival. The Birthday Party (2025) and Late Fame (2025) are two films to look out for as they star Willem Dafoe, arguably one of the greatest and most interesting actors living, and honestly anything he acts in is worth a watch, so both of those films are worth paying attention to. Then there is Rose of Nevada (2025), a British film starring Callum Turner and George MacKay. It follows a boat which reappears after decades missing on the Cornish coast and all may not be what it seems. It looks to also have a science fiction element and excitedly, the trailer gave very little away, which is rare these days. It is directed by Mark Jenkin, who is one of the most interesting British directors around, with most of his films being filmed with very small crews, shot on film and with sound being added onto the film after filming. It should be an interesting indie to experience on the big screen. My last recommendation is Erupcja (2025) which is co-written by and starring Charli XCX and after making the soundtrack for Wuthering Heights (2026) and starring in mockumentary The Moment (2026), it’s safe to say she’s making interesting choices in film, and it will be interesting to see what this film is like, considering she helped write it. It looks to be an indie drama following a woman dealing with her relationship when she is unable to fly home from a holiday, so if you’re a fan of Charli XCX, that is worth checking out.
So, there you have it. A very quick rundown of what to expect from the festival. It can be quite overwhelming, but each screening is always packed and lots of fun. It’s genuinely the best way to experience any film and there’s the joy of finding new films and perhaps seeing famous people in the street. As mentioned, there’s big opening and closing films, free screenings, plenty of interesting strands of films and a few films like Rose of Nevada (2025) which I predict should be a great watch. So, enjoy the festival, take it all in and most importantly, don’t forget your popcorn.
Image Credit: Glasgow Film Festival
