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| Author | Zoe Aresti |
One of the best film festivals in the UK has launched its 2018 programme, cementing its reputation as a joy for film lovers.
The Glasgow Film Festival has reached its 14th edition and the exciting films on offer confirm its status as one of the most rich and varied film festivals around. In a terrific coup, Wes Anderson’s eagerly awaited stop-motion animation, Isle Of Dogs receives its UK premiere as the opening night film, less than a week after the film receives its world premiere as the opening film of the Berlin Film Festival. It’s also over five weeks ahead of its UK release on 30 March.
Other high profile events include Glasgow-born Lynne Ramsey in attendance with her latest film You Were Never Really Here, a brutal revenge drama starring Joaquin Phoenix, who received the Best Actor award for his performance at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Another Scot who is attending is Karen Gillan, whose directorial debut, The Party’s Just Beginning, receives its world premiere. Imogen Poots attends with family drama Mobile Homes, and Bill Pullman attends in support of the UK premiere of The Ballad Of Lefty Brown. Pullman also discusses his big screen career, including starring roles in films as diverse as Independence Day and David Lynch’s Lost Highway.
Aside from the high profile guests, there are excellent films liberally spread throughout the programme. One of the hits from last year’s Cannes, 120 BPM (Beats Per Minute) gets another UK festival play ahead of its April release, while Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s chilling Ghost Stories, previously a big success on stage, will play as part of the Frightfest strand. Andrew Haigh’s follow-up to 45 Years, Lean On Pete, starring Charlie Plummer, Steve Buscemi and Chloe Sevigny features, and anyone who likes to be an early adopter can see future UK stars before they breakout, such as Jessie Buckley in tense drama, Beast.
There’s also a host of special events, including one of the greatest action films of all-time getting a unique presentation with the top floors of the Former College of Building and Printing turned into Nakatomi Plaza. Continuing the 80s theme, classic Melanie Griffith comedy, Working Girl, gets a screening and party and there’ll even be a hair stylist on hand to give your hair that extra 80s bounce. Just one of the many touches that make the festival such a treat.
After 330 separate events and screenings across 12 jam-packed days, including 13 World and European premieres, 77 UK premieres and 52 Scottish premieres, the festival will draw to a close on 4 March with the world premiere of Scottish documentary Nae Pasaran, telling the true story of the group of Scots who defied a dictatorship.
It will bring to an end a thrilling, surprising celebration of film and cinema and tickets are on sale now. Don’t get to 4 March kicking yourself at missing it.