2023 was not my best year, due to my ill health I was forced to miss many of the events I hold dearly to my heart, One such event is the Glasgow Film Festival. Though being in better health I am glad that I can now celebrate the GFF’s 20th birthday because this year looks like it is going to be epic.

As with any film festival worth their salt Glasgow can attract some of the most talented stars in the industry. such as George Mackay at the Scottish premiere of sci-fi romance The Beast, A film that I am very excited about.

“In the near future where emotions have become a threat, Gabrielle finally decides to purify her DNA in a machine that will plunge her into her past lives and rid her of all strong feelings. She then meets Louis and feels a powerful connection, as if she had always known him. The story unfolds over three distinct periods: 1910, 2014 and 2044.”

Star of Schitts Creek and the Syfy adaption of 12 Monkeys Canadas own Emily Hampshire at the World premiere of her new horror ‘Mo’m’. 

“Meredith, abandoned by her family after a horrific incident at home, is left alone to relive – and relive – the darkest moments of her past but a sinister entity, born from the tragedy, is determined to keep them apart.“

Character Actress Dale Dickey, best known for her work in Breaking Bad and My Name is Earl will be there with revenge thriller The G. Maxine Peake, of Black Mirror and Shameless fame will be in attendance with the UK premiere of a new dystopian Science Fiction Woken. And I know several of my readers will be hyped for this next announcement because Sara Cannining of the Vampire Diaraies will be attending the world premiere of The Burning Season 3.

Yet one name caught my eye, and I am sure that I was not the only one ecstatic to see this name – Aragorn himself, the star of A History of Violence, The Road & Captain Fantastic the one the only Three-time Best Actor nominee Oscar  Viggo Mortensen will be at this years Glasgow Film Festival. Not only will he be doing a special live In Conversation event and introducing the UK premiere of his new Western, The Dead Don’t Hurt, which he directs and stars in.

Of course, being a Scottish film festival The Glasgow Film Festival will have a tonne of local talent attending; Beats and Shetland star Lorn Macdonald at the World premiere of Glasgow-shot hallucinogenic comic thriller Tummy Monster, and Orkney-born lead of ITV’s recent Tom Jones adaptation Solly Mcleod, in town for the UK premiere of The Dead Don’t Hurt, who also has the UK premiere of nail-biting police siege Jericho Ridge (9 March) screening at GFF.

One that really stands out to me is comedian Janey Godley and the World premiere of the new documentary about her final tour following her terminal cancer diagnosis Janey, I have just come out of a years-long fight with cancer and many survivors can be filled with a sense of guilt and numbness, but something about this film just really hit home with me and I absolutely love the concept. To sum it up just watching the trailer had me both laughing and crying this looks like a truly powerful film.

Another film that I am very excited about is Baby Assassins 2. I reviewed the first one a few years back for the GFF and to see that it has a sequel really makes me happy. pretty girl Assassins, apparently I have a type.

And because it is not just the stars of the films that make a movie, its the army of people behind the cameras too, the GFF pays tribute to all that talent with British director Rose Glass at the Opening Gala UK premiere of her Sundance hit Love Lies Bleeding; BAFTA-winning British-Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi with the UK premiere of her new feature The Teacher, about a Palestinian school teacher struggling to reconcile his life-threatening commitment to political resistance with the chance of a new romantic relationship with a volunteer worker. And with Everything going on in the world right now I feel that this film is going to be an important watch for many of us.

German actor Aylin Tezel with the UK premiere of her Isle of Skye-shot directorial debut Falling Into Place. Festival favorite Ben Wheatley will also introduce a 15th-anniversary screening of his debut feature Down Terrace and Glasgow-born Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald will introduce both the Scottish premiere of his new fashion documentary High & Low: John Galliano (5 March) and the UK premiere of Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger, featuring his own grandfather Emeric Pressburger.

Though again one film here really stuck out to me, that of Murray Grigor. He will be bringing us the World premiere of the new restoration of his rarely-seen 1975 documentary of Billy Connolly’s tour of Ireland’s Big Banana Feet. And let’s face it the Glasgow Film Festival would be the perfect place for such an event.

And if you are looking more the Festival has loads of special events including Karaoke and screenings of classics like Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Glasgow Film Festival takes place at Glasgow Film Theatre and venues across the city from 28 February to 10 March, with a programme boasting 11 world and international premieres, 69 UK premieres, and 15 Scottish premieres, from 44 countries. Tickets are on sale now for all screenings, at GFT Box Office or online at glasgowfilm.org