A Star-Studded Affair: James McAvoy and Jessica Lange to Grace the Glasgow Film Festival!

X-Men actor James McAvoy and dual Oscar recipient Jessica Lange will be among the figures featured at this year’s Glasgow Film Festival.

McAvoy is set to participate in a live discussion event, reminiscing about his performances in films such as His Dark Materials and The Last King of Scotland.

The festival, taking place from 26 February to 9 March, will conclude with the gala global premiere of Make it to Munich.

It chronicles the remarkable journey of Scottish footballer Ethan Walker, who cycled from Hampden to Munich following life-threatening injuries sustained in a car crash.

Now entering its 21st year, the festival will showcase 13 world, 67 UK, and 12 Scottish premieres from 39 different nations.

The festival will begin with the world premiere of director John Maclean’s survival thriller, Tornado, which was filmed in Scotland and features Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, Kōki, and Takehiro Hira.

Additionally, the festival will showcase the Scottish premiere of folk horror Harvest, recorded on location in Argyll, as a part of the FrightFest section.

Various venues throughout the city will host special event screenings, including Coyote Ugly at the Grand Ole Opry and Muriel’s Wedding and The Craft at Cottiers in the west end.

A themed series of complimentary screenings will also be conducted at the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) every morning.

The two-time Oscar recipient Lange will take part in an In Conversation event to explore her career, which has also led her to receive three Emmys, five Golden Globes, and a Tony award.

The festival will conclude on 9 March with the gala world premiere of award-winning Scottish documentary filmmaker Martyn Robertson’s Make it to Munich.

Filmed in the lead-up to Euro 2024, it follows Aberdeenshire footballer Ethan Walker, who, shortly after beginning a football scholarship in the United States, was gravely injured after being struck by a vehicle in New York.

He experienced bleeding in thebrain and several fractured bones prior to making a “miracle” recovery thanks to Glasgow surgeon Prof Gordon Mackay.

The movie narrates Ethan’s journey to bike from Hampden to Munich for Scotland’s first match against Germany – nine months subsequent to his accident.

GFF 2025 will additionally present a unique world premiere screening of the initial episode of the thriller Fear, filmed in the city’s west end.

It is set to be released later this year, featuring Martin Compston, Solly Macleod, and James Cosmo.

Revealing the festival lineup, organizers noted that audiences can also anticipate the UK premiere of The Return, a reimagining of Homer’s Odyssey, starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliet Binoche.

GFF is managed by Glasgow Film, a charity that also operates the GFT.

The festival receives backing from Screen Scotland and the BFI audience projects fund, both providing National Lottery support, as well as Glasgow Life and EventScotland.

Glasgow Film CEO and festival director Allison Gardner, overseeing her final festival, expressed that the event would offer “something for everybody”.

“I will feel sorrow that this is my final festival as I’ve experienced so many enchanting moments throughout the years, but I am confident that the significant work we have accomplished will guarantee that audiences, filmmakers, and industry peers will continue to support what I believe to be the premier film festival worldwide.”