James McAvoy, Peter Mullan and Charli XCX lead Glasgow Film Festival 2026 line-up
GFF is speaking truth to power in 2026, with a line-up that celebrates inclusion and community, alongside a wealth of high-profile premieres
The programme for this year’s Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) has been revealed, and includes films starring Charli XCX, George Mackay, Peter Mullan and Angelina Jolie, as well as screenings from the grassroots and a handful of classics from yesteryear.
Taking place from Wednesday 25 February–Sunday 8 March, GFF will open with Felipe Bustos Sierra’s documentary Everybody To Kenmure Street, which covers an inspiring act of civil resistance when members of the public crowded immigration authorities to prevent the forcible removal of their immigrant neighbours.
Closing the festival is James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’, the mad-but-true story of Silibil N’ Brains, a Scottish rap duo who duped the world into thinking they were Americans. This will be the first time that the festival has opened and closed with UK premieres of films shot in Glasgow.
%20Conic%20(3).jpg)
Beyond Everybody To Kenmure Street, themes of state control and civil disobedience are prominent in many of this year's entries, particularly in the ‘Truth To Power’ retrospective strand. Inspired by the passing of Robert Redford in 2025, the strand includes political hand grenades like All The President’s Men, The Battle Of Algiers, Dr Strangelove, Good Night And Good Luck, and the David and Goliath story Erin Brockovich.
Finding a similar vein is Molly Vs The Machines, one of many Scottish premieres (more on those later). It follows a heartbroken father who takes on powerful corporations to uncover the truth behind his daughter’s death. Paul Gallagher, who’s celebrating his inaugural year as GFF’s head of programming , described Molly Vs THE MACHINES as a ‘discussion starter’.
Amongst the 68 UK premieres at the festival, big hitters include Couture, Alice Winocour’s drama about the world of Parisian high fashion, featuring a now-rare lead performance from Angelina Jolie; Erupcja, Peter Ohs’ relationship movie starring Charli XCX, who also acted as co-screenwriter and co-producer; No Ordinary Heist, a crime thriller with Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke; and Agnieszka Holland’s Franz, a playful biopic about the life and career of Franz Kafka.
Gallagher has described this year’s programme as a testament to ‘the range of what the Scottish film industry has to offer’. Scottish selections include Psalms For The People, a documentary on the vital tradition of Gaelic Psalm Singing; Welcome To G-Town, a micro-budget sci-fi comedy set in Glasgow; The Fall Of Sir Douglas Weatherford, featuring a welcome return from Peter Mullan in a lead role; and Midwinter Break, about a Glasgow couple (Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville) attempting to repair their crumbling marriage.
Also included are films that have enjoyed great success across the international circuit, including Jim Jarmusch’s Venice Golden Lion winner Father Mother Sister Brother; the Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough-starring The Good Boy; and the latest from Mark Jenkins (Bait, Enys Men), who returns with Rose Of Nevada, a time travelling mystery about a mysterious ship that reappears after vanishing 30 years prior.
A few final highlights include a 25th anniversary screening of Moulin Rouge, with extravagant dress highly encouraged; a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie, best enjoyed with prom attire; the return of Frightfest, a best-in-class selection of horror films; five classics starring Marilyn Monroe to celebrate her centenary year; Lizzie Borden’s groundbreaking Born In Flames alongside a discussion with Dr Hannah Granberry; and a focus on Swedish cinema, which includes a suite of satire, sci-fi and horror.
Gallagher said of GFF: ‘It is an absolute honour and privilege to unveil my first Glasgow Film Festival programme for this 22nd edition of the festival. Across these 126 features are stories of vastly differing characters, settings and ideas, but one thing connects them: they are all the result of a personal vision, uniquely brought to the screen.
‘I’m particularly pleased at the depth and variety of films in this programme that were made here in Scotland or by Scottish talent; it speaks so highly of the great filmmakers we have, and the increasing opportunities they are taking and creating for themselves. I can’t wait to showcase theirs and so many other brilliant filmmakers’ work to the greatest cinema audience in the world!’
Glasgow Film Festival, various venues, Glasgow, Wednesday 25 February–Sunday 8 March; main picture: Vertigo Releasing.