No Mean Film City

Glasgow Film Festival returns to delight increasingly large and appreciative audiences

- Paul F Cockburn

WELL, like many a teenager we’ve grown through the years, and learned from our mistakes,” says Allan Hunter, co-director of the annual Glasgow Film Festival, which this month returns to the city for the 14th time.

Much has changed since 2005 – not least, how Glasgow and the rest of the world now view the annual event.

“You’re aware of people looking forward to programme announcements and what’s going to be the opening film – all that sort of stuff. So there’s a pressure, but it’s a nice pressure; there are expectations out there.”

Glasgow is just one of hundreds of film festivals taking place around the world, but Allan – who has co-directed the festival with the Glasgow Film Theatre’s Allison Gardner since 2007 – believes it has a special reputation.