Glasgow Film Festival returns to Scotland’s biggest city between 2-13 March at Glasgow Film Theatre and Cineworld Renfrew Street, as well as partner cinemas across the UK and online. This year the festival will host 10 world premières, 4 European premieres and a whopping 64 UK premières. Diversity is at the heart of the 2022 event with 40% of all films directed by women.
With a focus on Scottish talent, African stories and of course FrightFest, as well as some of the best in new cinema from around the world, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few things to look out for:
The Worst Person in the World
turning thirty and her life is an existential mess. Several of her talents have gone to waste and her older boyfriend, Aksel – a successful graphic novelist – is pushing for them to settle down. One night, she gatecrashes a party and meets the young and charming Eivind. Before long, she has broken up with Aksel and thrown herself into yet another new relationship, hoping for a new perspective on her life. But she will come to realize that some life choices are already behind her.
Happening
Based on Annie Ernaux’s semi-autobiographical novel, Happening follows Annie, a bright young student who faces an unwanted pregnancy while abortion was still illegal in 1960s France.
Zalava
In 1978, the inhabitants of a small village in Iran called Zalava claim there is a demon among them. Massoud, a young gendarmerie sergeant, who investigates this claim encounters an exorcist attempting to rid the village of the demon. When he arrests the exorcist on charges of fraud, the villagers fear and anger escalates.
La Civil
Cielo’s teenage daughter, Laura, is kidnapped in Northern Mexico. Despite paying several ransoms, Laura is not returned. When the authorities offer no support in the search, Cielo takes matters into her own hands.
Hive
The men in the village condemn Fahrije’s efforts to empower herself and the women around her, starting a feud that threatens their newfound sovereignty—and the financial future of Fahrije’s family.
The Girl and The Spider
Lisa is moving out. Mara is left behind. As boxes are shifted and cupboards built, abysses begin to open up and an emotional roller coaster is set in motion. A tragicomic catastrophe film. A poetic ballad about change and transience.
Freaks Out
Matilde, Cencio, Fulvio and Mario form a family in the circus where they work as ‘freaks’ in 1943 Nazi-occupied Rome. Israel, the owner and putative father, disappears in an attempt to find an escape route overseas for them all.
A Banquet
Widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. In an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.
Murina
Tensions rise between restless teenager Julija and her oppressive father Ante when an old family friend arrives at their Croatian island home. As Ante attempts to broker a life-changing deal, their tranquil yet isolated existence leaves Julija wanting more from this influential visitor, who provides a taste of liberation over a weekend laid bare to desire and violence.
My Old School
The astonishing true story of Scotland’s most notorious imposter. It’s 1993 and 16-year-old Brandon is the new kid in school. Soon he’s top of the class, acting exams and even taking the lead in the school musical. He’s the model pupil, until he’s unmasked…
I Am Samuel
Kenyan couple Samuel and Alex remain committed to each other despite the danger and hardship facing them in Pete Murimi’s moving documentary portrait.
The Gravedigger’s Wife
Middle-aged Guled, a struggling gravedigger living in the slums of Djibouti city, is working hard to make ends meet. His beloved wife Nasra, who suffers from a chronic kidney disease, desperately needs a transplant. Otherwise she will die. An appropriate donor is found, but it’s not the end of the struggle – in order to buy the kidney, Guled should be able to collect in only two weeks as much money as a gravedigger normally earns in a year.
To view the full programme and find out more visit the Glasgow Film Festival website.
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