Feb 25 2025 32 mins
Thanks so much if you joined us at Granite Noir in Aberdeen on Sunday, for a lovely live recording with actor Dawn Steele - that podcast is coming soon!
And don’t forget, if you’re in Glasgow, I’m joined by writer Michael Pedersen and musicians Siobhan Wilson and Raveloe for A Kick Up The Arts live from the Glad Cafe, that’s on Saturday afternoon, March 1st - and then, the mighty David Keenan will be in conversation about his new collection of music writing, Volcanic Tongue, at Edinburgh’s Portobello Bookshop on March 27th…
Right now though, in this episode, we’re celebrating the 21st Glasgow Film Festival - they grow up so fast - which runs from the 26th of February to the 9th of March…
It’s Scotland’s biggest celebration of local and international cinema, and this year it’ll showcase 92 world, UK and Scottish premieres from 39 countries…
It opens with the world premiere of Tornado, the latest epic from Fife’s John Maclean, who made huge waves with Slow West, following his time in pop voyagers the Aliens and the Beta Band. Tornado stars Tim Roth and Jack Lowden, and features gold heists, criminal gangs, and travelling puppet shows, played out in 1790s Britain…
The festival closes with another world premier with distinct Scottish roots, thanks to Martyn Robertson’s incredible Make It To Munich, which follows teenager Ethan Walker’s charity cycle from Scotland to Germany, just months after almost losing his life…
And in the countless screenings between those movies bookending the festival, there are worlds of possibility - from a free 'Coming of Age' strand with classics like Gregory’s Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Lady Bird and Boys in the Hood, to a retrospective of Swedish actor, director and pioneer Mai Zetterling, including her 80s borstal drama - Scrubbers - starring Kathy Burke and Pam St Clement…
There’ll be In Conversation events with icons Jessica Lange AND James McAvoy - and outwith the Glasgow Film Theatre, you can lose yourself in The Craft and Muriel’s Wedding at Cottiers; and Coyote Ugly at the Grand Ole Opry…
And - this coming Saturday evening, that’s March 1st - I’ll be chatting to directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard about their stunning new performance film, The Extraordinary Miss Flower, which digs deep on a hoard of lost letters, and the music of Emiliana Torrini, and stars Richard Ayoade, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Caroline Catz and Nick Cave - who Iain and Jane previously explored in their film about him, 20,000 Days On Earth…
When the programme was revealed last month, I caught up with programme co-ordinator Chris Kumar and Festival Director Allison Gardner - it’s her final fling in the role, after 30 years at GFT. I’d hosted the launch that morning, so was really excited to hear more from them about this year’s films - and we got a bit nostalgic too…