Glasgow Film Festival: 5 Films On Our Radar
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38 minutes ago
Scotland's largest film festival is back
The 22nd edition of Scotland’s largest film festival is almost here, running from 25 February to 8 March 2026. More than 120 films will be screened across Glasgow Film Festival’s 10 days, including 16 world, European and international premieres, 68 UK premieres and 18 Scottish premieres, all representing 44 countries.
Here are just five we’ll be hearing a lot more about as film festival season continues.
Glasgow Film Festival 2026: 5Â Movies For Your Radar
California Schemin’
Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves by discussing the Closing Gala, but it’s always worth looking here first for the headline news. This year the slot goes to Glasgow local James McAvoy whose directorial debut California Schemin’ will have its UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival. Also filmed locally, the picture retells the true story of Dundee rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd who pretended to be an American rap duo to secure a record deal. Stars Samuel Bottomley, SĂ©amus McLean Ross and Lucy Halliday will join McAvoy on the red carpet before heading inside to watch the film. Speaking to C&TH last year, McLean Ross described the plot as ‘an unbelievable story that not many people know about’, adding: ‘Meeting James McAvoy was a blessing enough, never mind working with him.’
Release Date:Â 10 April 2026
Everybody To Kenmure Street
On the flipside, there’s the Opening Gala on 25 February – the second high-profile slot at Glasgow Film Festival. This year it goes to Chilean-Belgian film director Felipe Bustos Sierra, who is actually based in the city. Already bagging Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at the start of 2026, Everybody to Kenmure Street tells the story of an intense but ultimately joyous standoff with the police and Home Office when Glasgow’s locals and activists rush to surround an immigration van detaining two residents in the nation’s most diverse community. Executive produced by Emma Thompson, this along with California Schemin’ marks the very first time the GFF has opened and closed with UK premieres of films shot in Glasgow in its 22-year history.
Release Date:Â 13 March 2026
Rebuilding
After his turn in Gothic Americana Wake Up Dead Man (2025), Josh O’Connor heads further south to star as Coloradan cowboy Dusty in this neo-Western directed by Max Walker-Silverman. It’s got resilience, community and climate at its beating heart, as Dusty finds himself in an emergency caravan camp alongside fellow homeless locals after wildfires snatch away his ranch. There, while dreaming about reclaiming what he has lost, Dusty rebuilds his relationship with his nine-year-old daughter Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre). Having had its world premiere at Sundance way back in January 2025, Meghann Fahy also stars as Dusty’s ex-wife Ruby.
Release Date:Â 17 April 2026
Atropia
Another film that premiered way back at Sundance 2025 (and there bagged the Grand Jury Prize), Hailey Gates’ feature film debut will resurface at Glasgow Film Festival, starring Callum Turner, Alia Shawkat and Channing Tatum, and executive produced by Luca Guadagnino. An absurdist satire, Shawkat stars as Fayruz, an aspiring actress working for a military role-playing facility that prepares soldiers for war in Iraq. But when her path crosses with a war veteran (Turner) who takes on the role of an insurgent in the simulation, their budding romance threatens to derail both of their careers.
Release Date:Â TBC
Midwinter Break
Oscar nominees Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds lift the characters off the page of local writer Bernard MacLaverty’s novel of the same name in this film adaptation, directed by theatre director Polly Findlay in her feature film debut. Shot partly on location in Scotland, partly in Amsterdam, Midwinter Break watches retirees Stella and Gerry take a city break to Amsterdam at a crunch point in their relationship, reflecting on their past, present problems, and possible future together.
Release Date:Â 20 March 2026
Find out more about Glasgow Film Festival at glasgowfilm.org
