The 21st Glasgow Film Festival will close on Sunday 9 March with the Gala World premiere of award-winning Scottish documentary-maker Martyn Robertson’s Make It To Munich.
Shot in the run-up to Euro 2024, Make It To Munich follows Ethan Walker, a promising teenage footballer from Aberdeenshire who, just months into a football scholarship at a USA University, suffers life-threatening injuries (including multiple fractures, two brain haemorrhages and the complete dislocation of his right knee) in a road traffic accident. Aided in his recovery by pioneering Glasgow surgeon (and former Rangers footballer who trained alongside Graeme Souness and Ally McCoist) Professor Gordon Mackay, Ethan decides to cycle from Hampden to Munich for Scotland’s opening match against Germany in Euro 2024 – just nine months after his accident. Entrusted by the Scotland National team to carry the match pennant on his back for the whole journey and deliver it in time for kick off, Ethan is accompanied in this epic quest by Gordon, Tartan Army foot-soldier Stephen Collie and director Robertson himself.
Make It To Munich is described as “an uplifting story of human willpower, scientific ingenuity and the questionable wisdom of making a film with one hand while the other one grasps the handlebars for a 1200 kilometres cycle.”
Another world prem is Hill, by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Alex Holmes (Maiden, The Rig, about the relationship between F1 world champions (and father and son) Graham and Damon Hill. “One Name. Two World Champions. In 1996, Damon Hill claimed the Formula 1 World Championship. In doing so he cemented his place in motorsport history, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Graham Hill,” the synopsis reads. “Hill is a unique family story set against the backdrop of the fastest sport in the world. How Damon Hill defied the odds and overcame tragedy to step out of his father’s shadow and become a racing legend in his own right.” Hill is produced by Simon Lazenby & Victoria Barrell of Sylver Entertainment (McEnroe, Schmeichel) and Cora Palfrey & Luc Roeg of Independent Entertainment (Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now, My Policeman).
UK Premieres
Stories of real-life musical icons will also get their UK premieres at GFF25, with Peaches Goes Bananas, an intimate insight into the world of queer feminist icon Peaches shot over 17 years and ranging from her immersive high energy stage extravaganzas to her cherished quiet life, and Desire: The Carl Craig Story, which delves into Black American music history through the story of the Detroit techno legend. Another documentary highlight is UK premiere Homegrown by Michael Premo, an engrossing dive into the lives of three Donald Trump-supporting patriots in the run-up to the 2020 election and its aftermath, which led to the attack on the Capitol.
A Scottish doc premiere is The Extraordinary Miss Flower – the new performance film from Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (the team behind 20,000 Days on Earth) – which brings to life the remarkable true story of the extraordinary Geraldine Flower and the discovery of a suitcase of love-lorn letters sent to her in the 1960s and 1970s, that inspired acclaimed Icelandic singer/songwriter Emilíana Torrini to return to the studio.
GFF25 Audience Award
Glasgow Film Festival’s longest-standing award returns this year and will be given to an exceptional first- or second-time director. As always, the award is chosen by the most important people: the GFF audience. The GFF25 Audience Award is Sponsored by MUBI, the global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. In the frame for the award is Elizabeth Lo’s Mistress Dispeller, a fascinating documentary fresh from its success at Venice Film Festival and TIFF that sees undercover ‘mistress dispellers’ – a growing Chinese service – hired by cheated-on spouses to break-up marital affairs and get relationships back on track.
FrightFest
Documentaries creep their way into Glasgow’s FrightFest line-up with Rupert Russell’s The Last Sacrifice, having its UK Premiere. The unsettling true-crime interrogation reveals the terrifying real-life 1945 killing that inspired the classic shocker, The Wicker Man. Documentary enthusiasts can also relish in Michael Flesher’s Hearts of Darkness: The Making of The Final Friday, a probing documentary wherein Adam Marcus (Secret Santa) shows us a never-seen-before look at the controversial ninth episode in the iconic series exploring pressures and studio scrutiny. Other highlights include Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Pedro Kos’ feature debut In Our Blood, a twisted tale that masterfully blends psychological mystery with chilling horror
Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of GFF, comments of GFF25: “I cannot begin to say how excited I am by the brilliant programme we have curated, the breadth of films on offer genuinely has something for everyone. Everyone across Glasgow Film works very hard to make the magic happen and I cannot thank all my colleagues enough for their hard work, enthusiasm and sheer brilliance in making this not only a great festival to attend, but a friendly and supportive environment to work in. I shall be sad that this is my last festival as I’ve had so many magical moments over the years, but I know the great work we have done will ensure that audiences, filmmakers and industry colleagues will continue to support what I consider to be the best film festival in the world.”
Isabel Davis, Executive Director at Screen Scotland adds: “This year’s GFF programme is a very clear demonstration of the festival’s importance to the local industry, connecting our films and talent to the rest of the world and introducing world-class cinema to audiences in Glasgow, across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Once again Scottish talent is strongly showcased throughout the programme…This year marks the end of the tenure of powerhouse Glasgow Film leader Allison Gardner, after over three decades. Congratulations to Allison and her team on this fantastic edition and on her tremendous legacy that will be felt for decades to come at GFT.”
Ben Luxford, Director of UK Audiences at the BFI, adds: “We are proud to support the Glasgow Film Festival this year, and hope BFI National Lottery can help them realise their aim of reaching and engaging new audiences. A fantastic offer to audiences in Glasgow and across Scotland, and it is wonderful to see elements of their programme reaching other parts of the UK. 2025 also marks Allison’s final year at the helm, who has done an incredible job of growing this Festival and she leaves it in brilliant shape to take forward.”
Across all genres, GFF25 will bring 12 World and European premieres, 67 UK premieres and 12 Scottish premieres from 39 countries to the big screen at Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) and venues across Glasgow and beyond.
