LOVE IS IN THE AIR AS GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES BIGGEST-EVER PROGRAMME

Love is in the air as Glasgow Film Festival announces biggest-ever programme.

Film lovers, rejoice! Glasgow Film Festival today announced its most ambitious programme yet: bookended by two very different romantic comedies, kicking off on Valentine’s Day and ending on the night of the 85th Academy Awards.

Supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Creative Scotland and EventScotland, with 368 screenings, panel discussions, live performances and special events, this is the most extensive Glasgow Film Festival programme to date. It truly is a festival for the whole city, too, spreading out further than ever before into twenty six venues – everywhere from the stately surroundings of Glasgow Cathedral to a secret location somewhere in the depths of the Subway system. There are a record number of UK premieres amongst this year’s films, and GFF’s unique programme of special events celebrating the joy of cinema gets even more innovative in 2013, with contributions from comedians, musicians, comic book legends, fashion designers and even Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond. It’s a programme that wears its love of film – and of the cinema-going experience in all its forms – very prominently on its sleeve.

Opening Gala: Populaire   **UK PREMIERE**

On Valentine’s Day, movie lovers will walk down the red carpet for the UK premiere of sparkling French romantic comedy Populaire, starring Déborah François, Roman Duris and The Artist’s Běrénice Bejo. With the retro appeal of Mad Men and the glossy allure of a Doris Day/Rock Hudson tussle, this gorgeous, candy-coated romance between the fastest typist in the world and her handsome, commitment-phobic boss will melt hearts (and inspire wardrobes).

Thursday 14 February (19.30 & 20.15)

Closing Gala: Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing  **UK PREMIERE**

What do you do when you’ve just made the most successful superhero blockbuster ever? In the case of Avengers Assemble writer/director Joss Whedon, you invite a group of actor friends to your home for a fortnight and shoot an inspired, inventive version of Shakespeare’s classic battle of the sexes. Stuffed with familiar faces from Whedon’s cult oeuvre (look out for actors from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse and Firefly giving their best hey nonny noes), this Much Ado About Nothing is a warm, witty and accessible take on one of the original rom coms.

Sunday 24 February (20.15)

We are delighted to announce that the Sponsors of our Opening and Closing Galas, Link-Tel Communications have received a New Arts Sponsorship grant supported by the Scottish Government in conjunction with Arts & Business Scotland, as first time Sponsors of the arts.

Allan Hunter, Co-Director of Glasgow Film Festival, said: ‘Glasgow Film Festival has grown into a massive celebration of every aspect of the moving image. We all spend part of our lives watching films, playing games or catching up with television but there is still nothing to match sharing the experience with fellow enthusiasts, meeting the filmmakers and finding fresh inspiration. We are extremely proud of an ambitious 2013 programme that promises unforgettable moments in venues all across the city.’

SPECIAL EVENTS

Catwalk shows. Live video gaming. DJ sets. GFF’s events programme has always made the festival particularly unique, and this year we celebrate cinema with almost fifty different events from panel discussions to comedy, some embracing the cinematic in television and computer games, some tracing the relationships between film and fashion or music. Highlights include:

Entre chien et loup, a series of new commissioned works by some of Scotland’s best artist filmmakers, curated by Henry Coombes and premiering at a fabulous grand ball.

The first ever film screening in Glasgow Cathedral will be the 1928 silent classic The Passion of Joan of Arc, with a brand new live score for organ and soprano.

Legendary Scottish actor James Cosmo in conversation about his life and career

A secret film screening in a hidden location in the depths of Glasgow Subway.

Comedian Simon Munnery’s new show, Fylm-Makker.

A panel of actors from HBO’s award winning television epic Game of Thrones introduce an episode screening and launch Season Three.

The Calamity Jane Barn Dance, at Glasgow’s legendary country and western club, Grand Ole Opry

Scary watery movies Jaws and Dead Calm screened – comfortingly enough – on board The Tall Ship.

Comic book legends John Wagner (creator of Judge Dredd), our Kapow!@GFF curator Mark Millar (Kick-Ass), and Steve Niles (creator of 30 Days of Night) discuss their work.

Hop on board our samba bus and be whisked off to a proper Brazilian Carnival.

Live music performances from Jane Birkin, Auricle Ensemble and Lau.

Celebrate fifty years of Doctor Who with members of the cast and series writer Tom McRae.

DCI Caroline Goode, who led the investigation into the death of young British-Kurdish woman Banaz Mahmod, joins us for a discussion on honour killings.

Fashion label Obscure Couture launch their next season collection with an outrageous live catwalk/film extravagana.

Detroit techno icon Jeff Mills headlines our day-long Sonic Cineplex, where DJs and musicians create new soundtracks to old film footage.

First Minister Alex Salmond reveals his nerdy side, introducing his favourite geek cinema classic.

Computer game experts compare highly anticipated game Aliens: Colonial Marines to the original 70mm Aliens, both on the big screen.

Dress up like your favourite cult character and walk the red carpet at our Cosplay Gala.

SELECTED UK PREMIERES

This year, fifty-seven of our films are UK premieres,  including:

·         Stoker, starring Mia Wasikowska and Nicole Kidman.

·         The Place Beyond the Pines, which reunites Ryan Gosling with Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance.

·         Neil Jordan’s dark vampire thriller Byzantium, with Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton,

·         Arbitrage, with a bravura performance by Richard Gere.

·         The Look of Love, Michael Winterbottom’s stylish look at the life of Paul Raymond (played by Steve Coogan).

·         Mama, starring Jessica Chastain.

·         The Paperboy, with a Golden Globe-nominated performance by Nicole Kidman alongside Matthew McConaughey.

·         James McAvoy, Peter Mullan and Mark Strong team up for the sleek, powerful thriller Welcome to the Punch.

Glasgow Film Festival is also delighted to host the first public UK screening of the eagerly-anticipated Cloud Atlas, which was partially shot in Glasgow.

SELECTED WORLD PREMIERES

·         Kevin Cameron’s Alasdair Gray: A Life in Progress, a film as entertaining and multi-faceted as the man himself, featuring Liz Lochhead and the late Edwin Morgan.

·         A Tale of Two Syrias: award-winning documentary filmmaker Yasmin Fedda’s unique, personal take on recent events in Syria.

·         Created especially for GFF with CCA and Stills Gallery, feature film Staande! Debout! is based on true events, examining the aftermath of a strike on a workforce.

·         Outwork, by the internationally-renowned artist filmmaker Stephen Sutcliffe, is the third annual Margaret Tait Award project.

·         The Devil’s Plantation, based on May Miles Thomas’ BAFTA-winning website, is an innovative look at Glasgow’s secret geometery, narrated by Kate Dickie and Gary Lewis.

·         We Are Northern Lights, a film created from submissions across Scotland.

NEW FOR 2013

Three new programming strands for this year’s Festival were announced in November 2012.

·         Buena Onda: New Brazilian Cinema: As Brazil begins to take its place on the world stage, both as an emerging superpower and as the next host nation of the Olympics, we examine some of the great new work coming out of the country. It’s also a great excuse to throw a traditional Brazilian Carnival party, with a samba bus to take you to a secret location, and a special screening of 1970s classic Black Orpheus.

·         James Cagney: Top of the World, Ma! Our retrospective this year takes a long, loving look at the career of the Oscar-winning Hollywood tough guy, from the young street rat–turned gangster of Angels With Dirty Faces, to the menacing obsessive lover of Love Me or Leave Me.

·         Game Cats Go Miaow!: Robert Florence, star of the BBC comedy series Burnistoun, curates a look at the cross-over between cinema and video gaming. A panel of gaming experts review the hotly-anticipated Aliens: Colonial Marines on the big screen, followed by a comparison screening of Aliens itself. A whole host of comedians pack themselves in for Rab’s Video Game Empty, a quiz show with a difference, and we take a searing look at epic game Dark Souls and the whole of the dark fantasy genre.

Our brand new Festival Club takes over CCA’s Terrace Bar every day and night for the duration of the Festival. Rub shoulders with filmmakers and visiting guests, ask the GFF team for advice planning your schedule, take part in a daily programme of debates and discussions and then dance the night away with a great selection of DJs and live acts. Festival Club listings will be online at www.glasgowfilm.org/festivalclub and posted daily in the GFT foyer.

FESTIVALS WITHIN THE FESTIVAL

Glasgow Short Film Festival: 7–10 February

Scotland’s leading short film festival returns with a packed programme of screenings, workshops and parties. This year sixty films compete for the Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film and the Scottish Short Film Award. The 2013 programme pays tribute to the behemoth of underground cinema George Kuchar, forecasts tomorrow’s US indie darlings with a showcase of filmmaking from Columbia University graduates, celebrates the groundbreaking work of Caroline Sascha Cogez and assembles heavyweight panels to ask ‘why can’t women make feature films?’ across a series of discussions during the weekend. www.glasgowfilm.org/gsff

Glasgow Youth Film Festival: 3–13 February

The only film event in the UK curated entirely by 15—18-year-olds presents international film premieres, workshops and events for child, teenage and young adult audiences.  Highlights include premieres of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph and Michel Gondry’s hilarious comedy The We and the I, plus anime previews and a cosplay parade! GYFF will also be turning the banks of the Clyde into a pop-up cinema and dance space, screening recent dance classic Girl Walk // All Day, and the cast and crew of Channel 4’s Fresh Meat stop by for a masterclass. GYFF also offers a range of practical workshops to aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers. www.glasgowfilm.org/gyff

Glasgow Music and Film Festival (dates as Glasgow Film Festival; Jane Birkin on 29 January)

Curated by the GFF team and long term partners-in-crime The Arches, this year’s GMFF embraces local artists and global greats alike, with live performances from Jane Birkin, techno legend Jeff Mills, gold star folkers Lau, Alasdair Roberts, and Auricle Ensemble. Witness some intriguing new live soundtracks created to old classics – in particular Irene Buckley’s spine-tingling new score for The Passion of Joan of Arc, for soprano, electronics and organ, in the very atmospheric setting of Glasgow Cathedral. Accompanied by a jam-packed programme of excellent rockumentaries and biopics.

Film4 FrightFest: 22—23 February

Our special horror Fest-within-a-Festival may now be in its eighth year at GFF, but there’s still no let up to that heady mix of mirth, menace, monsters and mayhem that characterises the Film4 FrightFest Glasgow experience

COMMENT

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: ‘We’re delighted to be continuing our support for Glasgow Film Festival, highly regarded as one of the premier film events in the UK today and a real stand-out in the city’s cultural calendar. The Festival not only celebrates one of the city’s most vital creative industries, providing a significant boost to the local economy, it also plays an integral role in successfully positioning Glasgow on the global film festival stage; reinforcing both our cutting-edge style credentials and our reputation for successfully hosting major events.’

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: ‘Glasgow Film Festival continues to grow year on year and it is hugely exciting to see it sporting its biggest ever programme for 2013. Scotland is the perfect stage for events and in GFF we have a festival that engages, excites and challenges its audience, which is testament to the hard work and talent of the team.’

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland, said: ‘Glasgow Film Festival is now one of the top three film festivals in the UK and is a fantastic celebration of cinema. The rising profile of the Festival and its consistent high quality is drawing growing numbers of film lovers and filmmakers to Glasgow from across Scotland, the UK and internationally. It is an inspiring event which Creative Scotland is very happy to once again be supporting.’

For further information, please contact Caragh Cook at ORGANIC

Caragh.cook@organic-marketing.co.uk / 0203 372 0986

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

For further information, high res images or to arrange interviews, please contact Kirstin Innes, Festival Press Coordinator, on festivalpress@glasgowfilm.org or 0141 332 6535 (ext. 245).

The ninth annual Glasgow Film Festival runs from 14–24 February 2013. The full programme will be launched on Wednesday 16 January, with tickets on sale from Thursday 17 January. Standard tickets are priced at £8.50 (£6.50); special events may have different prices. Standard GSFF tickets are £5; FrightFest passes are £66 for the whole weekend. Guests attending Glasgow Film Festival and talent available for interview will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets available from the GFT Box Office: www.glasgowfilm.org/festival or 0141 332 6535

PRESS ACCREDITATION

The deadline for press accreditation is 9am, Monday 28 January. Accreditation forms are available to download from www.glasgowfilm.org/festival/press

FEATURE IDEAS

·         The most geek-friendly film festival ever? In addition to Kapow!@GFF, our much-loved strand of cult films and events programmed by comic book legend and Twentieth Century Fox creative consultant Mark Millar, we’re upping the geek-quotient eleven-fold this year, as Game Cats Go Miaow! explores the dark realms of video gaming, the cast of HBO’s Game of Thrones stop by for a chat, and we celebrate fifty years of Doctor Who. And don’t forget Geek Overlord Joss Whedon’s latest film as our Closing Gala! Both Millar and Game Cats programmer Robert Florence are available for interview.

·         Women and Film Glasgow Short Film Festival is focusing specifically on the place of women in cinema this year, with a series of panel discussions looking at gender inequality in the movie business. Panellists include critic Hannah McGill, filmmaker Morag McKinnon, screenwriter Andrea Gibb and author Denise Mina.

·         Where next for cinema? This year’s GFF reflects the increasing cinematic scope of video games and television series like Game of Thrones, while also offering the sort of good old-fashioned pleasure you can only really get at the movies.

·         Film lovers Opening on Valentine’s Day, this year GFF has romance right at its heart. We’re happy to recommend romantic films for lovers to tie in with any Valentine’s Day features. We’ve also got a fair few options for those not interested in any of that romantic mush…

·         Young programming team Our Youth Film Festival is the only one of its kind in the UK: programmed entirely by 15–18 year olds, who are also involved in every stage of the production and publicity. They’re a fantastically bright, focused and articulate team with a lot to say on the future of cinema; in fact, they probably are the future of cinema! They’re available for interviews and radio/TV appearances.

·         Get to know Glasgow We’ve utilised a record twenty-six venues across the city this year, from local landmarks Glasgow Cathedral and The Tall Ship, to upcoming venues such as The Glad Café and The Old Hairdressers, and we’re even going underground with a screening in a hidden space in the Glasgow Subway. As the programme has also grown organically out of the city itself – for example, strands like GMFF, Fashion in Film and Crossing the Line reflecting Glasgow’s strong live music, fashion and visual art scenes – GFF is the perfect way to get to know the city better.

STRANDS IN THE 2013 PROGRAMME

Best of British Savour a selection of finest British fare from an industry that continues to make small miracles on modest budgets. 

Buena Onda: New Brazilian Cinema The best new films from the emerging superpower.

Crossing the Line A celebration of Glasgow’s thriving visual arts scene, showcasing experimental and artist films from Glasgow and internationally.

Eurovisions Films from across Europe, from first-time directors to master auteurs.

Fashion in Film Our 2013 collection is filled with fabulous fashion films and live fashion events showcasing the very best in home grown talent.

FrightFest Two days of gut-wrenching horror programming by the Film4 FrightFest team.

Gala Premieres and first glimpses of the best films released throughout 2013.

Game Cats Go Miaow! Robert Florence of BBC comedy show Burnistoun heads up our brand new strand sniffing out the similarities between gaming and cinema.

Glasgow Short Film Festival: 7–10 February 2013 Scotland’s leading short film showcase returns for four days of screenings, events and parties, with focuses this year on women and filmmaking and the Colombia Film School of New York.

Glasgow Youth Film Festival: 3–13 February 2013 Curated and programmed entirely by 15—18 year olds, showcasing the best contemporary international cinema for and by young people alongside workshops, masterclasses, competitions and special events. 

Great Scots A celebration of native talent and local heroes with screenings of the best new productions from Scottish filmmakers and Scottish production companies.

 It’s a Wonderful World The best of new international cinema.

James Cagney: Top of the World, Ma! A retrospective of the Oscar-winning Hollywood tough guy.

Kapow!@GFF Curated by comic book legend and 20th Century Fox creative consultant Mark Millar, this ever-popular strand focuses on superhero flicks and comic crossovers.

Glasgow Music and Film Festival Showcasing an inspired and inspirational programme of live music events that celebrate the special relationship between film and music.

Out of the Past Classic movies in peak condition, back on the big screen where they come alive all over again.

Special Events From catwalk shows to live comedy, we find different ways and unusual venues to celebrate cinema.

Stranger than Fiction An exceptional and challenging selection of new documentary filmmaking.

The State of Independents Intensely personal visions, incredibly compelling stories and quirky, funny, cutting-edge, state-of-the-art joy from hot new American indie talent.

GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS MAJOR PARTNERS.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) is the official destination marketing organisation (DMO) for the city of Glasgow. As custodian of the Glasgow: Scotland with style brand, GCMB works with partners, stakeholders and businesses to position and promote Glasgow across national and international markets as one of Europe’s most vibrant, dynamic and diverse cities in which to live, work, study, invest and visit. For more information, visit: www.seeglasgow.com.

EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. EventScotland is part of VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. www.EventScotland.org.

Creative Scotland is the national development agency for the arts, screen and creative industries.  Our vision is that Scotland will be recognised as one of the world’s most creative nations – one that attracts, develops and retains talent, where the arts and the creative industries are supported and celebrated and their economic contribution fully captured; a nation where the arts and creativity play a central part in the lives, education and well-being of our population. www.creativescotland.com

We’d also like to thank the following, without whom none of this would be possible: Digital Cinema Media, The Scottish Government, Muvizu.com, The Robertson Trust, The Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Merchant’s House of Glasgow, Boteco do Brasil, Mother India, Link-Tel Communications, Grand Central Hotel, Arts & Business Scotland, Mr & Mrs William Donald’s Trust per Mactaggart & Co Solicitors, Largs, Cineworld Cinemas, CCA, The Arches, Glasgow Airport Flight Path Fund, Cameron Presentations, SPT, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Institute Italiona Di Cultura, Conulado General De Espana, Goethe Institut, The Brazilian Government, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, Alliance Française, Europa Cinemas, Film4 FrightFest, LUX, The University of Edinburgh