Glasgow Film Festival To Screen Dozens Of Premieres As 180 Movies Showcased

18 January 2017, 19:03

Audiences can choose from more than 300 events and screenings at this year's Glasgow Film Festival, including some ''absolutely brilliant experiences'', organisers have said.

The festival programme features 310 events and screenings, and will showcase more than 180 films from 38 countries.

David Tennant and Star Wars actor Michael Smiley are among the stars set to attend the 13th annual festival, which runs from February 15-26.

It will feature nine world and international premieres, three European premieres, 65 UK premieres and 67 Scottish premieres.

The festival will open with a screening of Handsome Devil, starring Sherlock actor Andrew Scott, while Tennant will close the event with the world premiere of his latest movie Mad To Be Normal, about a pioneering Scottish psychiatrist.

Also starring Michael Gambon, Elisabeth Moss and Gabriel Byrne, the movie depicts the life of RD Laing, who was seen as a radical when he set up a medication-free community for psychiatric patients in London in the 1960s.

Tennant will attend the closing gala at the Glasgow Film Theatre on February 26 with director Robert Mullan and other cast members.

On February 22, the festival will stage the world premiere of Benny, the story of Benny Lynch - widely considered the greatest boxer Scotland has ever produced.

Terrence Malick's ''visually astonishing'' Voyage Of Time: Life's Journey, narrated by Cate Blanchett, is among the films receiving their UK premieres at the festival.

The festival will also cater for music fans, with the sold-out screening of Lost In France at Sauchiehall Street's O2 ABC featuring a live performance from Scottish stars including Alex Kapranos and Stuart Braithwaite.

Festival co-director Allan Hunter said: ''I am thrilled that the 2017 festival is bringing so many UK premieres to Glasgow audiences.''

As well as enjoying screenings at the GFT, the CCA, Cineworld and the Grosvenor, audiences can also savour films in more unusual locations at pop-up cinemas everywhere from the slope at the Snow Factor to the Barras Art and Design centre.

Allison Gardner, festival co-director, said: ''There are some absolutely brilliant experiences this year and I can't wait to feel the blood chill and the audience shiver as we head to Snow Factor for The Thing or revel in Cajun culture when The Big Easy screens at the Barras Art and Design.''

Tickets go on sale to Glasgow Film Festival members at noon on Thursday and then go on general sale at 10am on Monday.