The 2026 Glasgow Film festival is packed with 126 movies from around the world, with multiple films making their debuts on the World, International, UK and Scottish levels.
Taking place between the 25th of February and 8th of March, the festival’s 22nd edition will see 13 Scottish films meet the big screen, showcasing some of the most anticipated home-grown talent you shouldn’t miss:
Everybody to Kenmure Street
The opening night of any film festival will always look to blow audiences away, and this documentary is not set to disappoint.
‘Everybody to Kenmure Street’ takes its name from a call to action that spread across social media in early 2021 during the Kenmure Street protest, which has since become famous as one of the most successful and spontaneous acts of civil resistance in recent Scottish or British political history.
Directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra of Nae Pasaran fame, the film made its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it picked up the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Civil Resistance.
Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of the People)
Directed by Jack Archer, Sailm nan Daoine will delve into some of Scotland’s rich Gaelic culture by exploring the world of traditional Gaelic psalm singing. The Documentary follows Rob MacNeacail across parts of Scotland and Ireland, as he delivers a beautiful cultural showcase to communities across the two nations.
Welcome to G-Town
A fun and intriguing twist on alien sci-fi, this film directed by the twin brothers Ben and Nathan MacQuade explores the unique Glaswegian sense of humour through a shape-shifting alien landing right here in Glasgow.
Molly vs THE MACHINES
A heartbreaking tale of how the online world can impact young people: Molly vs THE MACHINES, directed by Marc Silver, sees a father consumed by grief as he tries to discover the truth behind his daughter’s death, and take the fight to some of the most powerful companies in the world.
Jailbroken
Screening at the GFF’s sister festival FrightFest, this heart-racing action thriller from Vasily Chuprina pushes the boundaries of how films are made, as the story unfolds from the inside of a single prison cell.
The Fall of Douglas Weatherford
Shot in Edinburgh by local filmmaker Sean Dunn, this black comedy follows a local history tour guide’s gradual decent into madness, as his hometown is taken over by the production of a high-budget fantasy tv series.
Without Permission
Not quite a documentary, not quite fiction, Without Permission borrows from both genres as it follows the story of an exiled filmmaker’s journey back to Iran to shoot a film. Hassan Nazer, the British-Iranian filmmaker based in Aberdeen, takes audiences on a journey to explore love, freedom and identity in this Scottish-Iranian drama hybrid.
Midwinter Break
Touching and thoughtful, this story follows a retired Glaswegian couple on holiday in Amsterdam as they ponder their lives both past and future. Polly Findlay’s adaptation of Bernard MacLaverty’s novel of the same name is an inspiring and emotional trip through one couple’s life and memories.
My Father’s Island
Vladimir de Fontenay takes audiences across open water in this autobiographically-inspired story by David Vann. Delving into the relationship between an estranged father and son, this film explores what happens when summer turns to winter, and a budding attempt to repair a relationship becomes a story of survival.
Super Nature
A collaborative project that looks to challenge what typical nature documentaries can look like, teams across 25 countries captured various animals and environments on old school Super 8 cameras, offering a unique and discernible visual style. Ed Sayer’s debut nature documentary collaborated with filmmakers in Oban, Lewis and Edinburgh who all captured footage from the Isle of Lewis for this adventure into the lives and landscapes of creatures around the world.
Orwell: 2+2=5
A deep-dive into the world and ideas of ‘1984’ written by George Orwell during his time on the Isle of Jura, as well as his autobiography, this ambitious documentary from Raoul Peck explores the ideas of ‘Big Brother’, ‘Newspeak’ and ‘Doublethink,’ alongside archive footage of Orwell’s own life from the Spanish Civil War to India, and asks how we can apply these lessons to today’s world.
The Son and the Sea
Stroma Cairns’ beautifully put together portrayal of young masculinity and change follows two regular party-going friends from London travel to Aberdeenshire, escaping the chaos of their city life. When they make a chance encounter with a deaf man on a similar journey, their friendship offers a chance for growth and reflection. Mostly shot on the Aberdeenshire coast and the village of Pennan
California Schemin‘
This long-awaited title marks James McAvoy’s directorial debut, as it hits the Glasgow screens at the Glasgow Film Festival’s closing night on March 8th.
This film is based on the frankly unbelievable journey the journey of two young men from the Dundee rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, as they pretend to be an established pair Californian MCs. In their attempt overcome discrimination, they look to con the music industry into success and fame, but how will their friendship stand against the pressures of new-found celebrity.
From major directorial debuts and stunning scenery to downright inspiring, no matter what you’re looking to grab tickets for at the Glasgow Film Festival, this year’s showcase of Scottish films has something for everybody.
