Glasgow Film Festival 2023 Preview

Dir. Mark Cousins, Mia Hansen-Løve, Raine Allen Miller, Jean-Luc Godard

Preview by Ben Thomas

The 2023 Glasgow Film Festival starts this week, taking place between 1st-12th March, and is certain to be a highlight of the festival calendar. The festival has so many avenues for film lovers to explore, with several UK, Scottish and World premieres, as well as dedicated retrospective and events programmes.

At a glance, there are tremendous entries for the Audience Award: a competition of handpicked films from first or second-time directors who the festival organisers believe are some of the most exciting filmmakers around. There are entries from countries such as Canada, Ireland, Spain and Germany, with Lakelands, Lullaby, I Like Movies and Riceboy Sleeps sure to capture audiences attentions and imaginations. Other screenings include Scottish premieres of Mark Cousin’s new documentary My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock, Mia Hansen-Løve’s One Fine Morning and Raine Allen Miller’s Rye Lane.

As always, there is an exceptional retrospective programme, with films revolving around several key themes including: women in the driving seat and the career of Gloria Grahame. The former theme, which includes films such as Pierrot Le Fou, It Happened One Night, Bonnie and Clyde, and Thelma & Louise, is sure to provide new perspectives on road movies and screen journeys. Seeing Pierrot Le Fou on the big screen, showing on the morning of Saturday 4th March, will be a particular treat, and timely after the death of Jean-Luc Godard last year. The celebration of Gloria Grahame will include classics such as The Bad and the Beautiful and In A Lonely Place and The Big Heat and is a perfect compliment to the newer releases.

There are a number of exciting special events taking place. In particular, a screening of Jonathan Glazer’s treasure Under the Skin accompanied by a Live Orchestra. With Under the Skin already voted as one of the best films of the 21st Century, the live orchestra will add even more depth to an already startling film. There are plenty of other interviews, special guests and red carpet moments to devour.

Kelly Macdonald, Emily Watson, James Cosmo and Alistair McGowan are among those in attendance at the festival. Whether an aspiring filmmaker, a film writer or a film factoid, you will have your fill over the next two weeks.