The Glasgow Film Festival has announced its 2026 lineup, and it’s shaping up to be a cinematic extravaganza. Despite the financial challenges facing the cultural sector, the festival’s programme head, Paul Gallagher, has assured that the long-running event is “here to stay”.
The festival will feature 68 UK premieres among a total of 126 films, with a diverse range of offerings, from Angelina Jolie’s Couture to Josh O’Connor’s drama Rebuilding. One of the highly anticipated highlights is Jude Law’s portrayal of Russian President Vladimir Putin in The Wizard of the Kremlin.
Moviegoers can also look forward to special event screenings, including Moulin Rouge at the Glasgow University Union’s dining hall and the 1970s horror classic Carrie at the Pyramid community centre in Anderston.
The festival will open with the documentary Welcome to Kenmure Street, which explores attempts to stop the deportation of two men in Glasgow, while James McAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, will close the event.
Gallagher, who is in his first year as programme head, has expressed optimism about the festival’s future, stating that they have “good, solid funding sources”. However, he acknowledges the need for audience support, urging Glaswegians to attend the festival at whatever level they can.
The festival’s lineup reflects a strong Scottish presence, with films like Peter Mullan’s dark comedy The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford and the Glasgow-set science fiction tale Welcome to G-Town. Gallagher emphasizes the festival’s role in representing stories generated in Glasgow and showcasing the city’s vibrant filmmaking scene.
In addition to the feature films, the festival will also offer free screenings of classic movies, including All The President’s Men and Erin Brockovich, with a theme of “truth to power”.
As the Glasgow Film Festival prepares to captivate audiences from 25 February to 8 March, the city’s cinephiles can look forward to an unforgettable celebration of the art of storytelling on the silver screen.
