It may not be Cannes, but the New Lanark World Heritage Site is about to become a prime attraction for cinephiles with a brand-new cinema and an upcoming film festival. The venue also features an exhibition space which will be used to expand on the history of the films being screened. 

Housed within the historic Robert Owen School for Children, New Lanark Film Theatre’s inaugural screening will be the bro-tastic blockbuster Top Gun on Saturday 15 February, billed as a special post-Valentine’s date night. 

The New Lanark Film Festival will then kick off on Monday 24 March with an exclusive screening of legendary Scottish filmmaker Bill Douglas’ 8mm short films, which were shot between 1966 and 1969 (long before his highly influential childhood trilogy was conceptualised). Douglas’ work will also close the festival on Friday 28 March with his final film Comrades, a historical drama telling the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and their fight for workers’ rights – a cause supported by Robert Owen, whose vision helped shape New Lanark. 

Tuesday 25 March will continue the celluloid celebration with the Community Film Festival, featuring a competition screening of early works. Many of these films are debuting on the big screen, with the evening culminating in an Audience Prize. Submissions are still open for this part of the festival.

Honouring International Women’s Month, Charlotte Wells’ critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Aftersun (main picture) will be shown on Wednesday 26 March, followed on Thursday 27 March by Michael Hoffman's Scottish classic Restless Natives, an adventure featuring Ned Beatty and crammed with Bill Forsyth-ish quirk. 

Harvey John Perrie, marketing & events officer at New Lanark, said, ‘The New Lanark Film Theatre has so much potential and is an exciting new asset to our World Heritage Site. New Lanark is a place full of stories from its long history – and now we have a new way to tell stories through the medium of cinema. 

‘The Film Festival is something we envision bringing the whole community together, whether you're a filmmaker, a film lover, or someone wanting to try out something new – our unique location means that there is something for everyone. We have been overwhelmed by the submissions and interest we have had for our first Film Festival, and we are very excited to share our packed programme soon.’ 

New Lanark Film Festival, New Lanark Film Theatre, Monday 24 – Friday 28 March.