GLASGOW Film Festival 2021 kicks off its special online edition tonight. The annual celebration of cinema – which is usually based at Glasgow Film Theatre – will invite audiences from across the UK to enjoy over 60 world, European and UK film premieres via its digital Glasgow Film At Home hub.
The festival opens up with a world premier from Scots author Irvine Welsh called Creation Stories. It charts the rise of a young Alan McGee, who went on to change the face of British culture as he launched the careers of bands such as Oasis and Primal Scream. Afterwards there will be a Q&A with director Nick Moran and actor Ewen Bremner.
The Mauritanian is also getting its UK premier at the festival, which is based on the true-life story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi as he recounts his 14 years in Guantanamo Bay being held without charge. There will also be a Q&A, this time with actors Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster and director Kevin MacDonald.
Later on in the festival comes a debut from Greek director Christos Nikou called Apples. It focuses on a man who is the latest victim of a mysterious pandemic that causes sudden amnesia. When nobody looks for him he is put in a recovery programme to reinvent himself.
From Denmark is a gritty film all about family ties called Wildland. When Ida’s mother dies in a car crash, she moves in with her aunt and her family. Everything seems well, before Ida soon realises the family are mixed up in criminal affairs and she quickly gets dragged down with them. This is another UK premier with a Q&A with director Jeanette Nordahl afterwards.
The only animation on the list this year is My Favourite War from Ilze Burkovska Jacobsen, who grew up in Latvia during the Soviet rule. The film combines mixed media to provide a snapshot into the kind of life Jacobsen experienced.
The festival runs until March 7. Tickets are available at glasgowfilm.org
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here