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Glasgow Film Festival 2025 wraps up

GFF25 marked the final festival under director Allison Gardner

The 21st edition of Glasgow Film Festival finished in style on Thursday 9 March with the sold-out World premiere of Scottish documentary Make it to Munich. The winner of the 2025 Audience Award was announced and a heartfelt farewell went out to Glasgow Film Festival director Allison Gardner, who has been at the helm at Glasgow Film for over 30 years.

The emotional final film, Scottish documentary ‘Make it to Munich’, was shown at the Closing Gala. The film follows Scots teenage footballer Ethan Walker’s remarkable cycle from Hampden to Munich not long after he was involved in  a near-fatal car crash

Glasgow Film Festival’s prestigious Audience Award went to Irish director Brian Durnin’s ambitious debut Spilt Milk, set in 1980s Dublin

Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) is one of the leading film festivals in the UK and is run by Glasgow Film, a charity which also runs Glasgow Film Theatre. GFF l is made possible by support from Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund (both awarding National Lottery funding) also Glasgow Life and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland. GFF would like to extend thanks to the Glasgow 850 Festival Fund that helped make community outreach activity impactful by engaging children, young people and the wider community with the festival.

Ethan Walker and Gordon Mackay credit photo Eoin Carey

The stars of Make it to Munich – Aberdeenshire teenager Ethan Walker and pioneering Scottish surgeon Professor Gordon Mackay – cycled on to the festival red carpet where they were joined by director Martyn Robertson. The subject of the documentary is Ethan, a promising teenage footballer from Aberdeenshire who, just months into a football scholarship at a USA University, suffers life-threatening injuries in a road traffic accident. As a result of the accident he suffered: multiple fractures, two brain haemorrhages and the complete dislocation of his right knee. His recovery was aided by pioneering Glasgow surgeon Professor Gordon Mackay, a former Rangers footballer, who trained alongside Graeme Souness and Ally McCoist).

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 Mackay, Tartan Army foot-soldier Stephen Collie and Martyn Robertson, the film’s Director.

Following its world premiere at GFF25, Make it to Munich will be released in cinemas from 16 May by distributor Cosmic Cat.

Special Visitors to GFF25

Jessica Lange photo credit Eoin Carey

Household names, who visited the city for Glasgow Film Festival 2025, included: Hollywood legends Jessica Lange and Ed Harris at the UK premiere of Long Day’s Journey Into Night; Pulp Fiction star Tim Roth; Japanese musician and actor Koki and Shogun star Takehiro Hira at the World premiere of Scottish survival thriller Tornado; Toni Collette – a surprise special guest for a 30th anniversary showing of her breakthrough film Muriel’s Wedding; Formula One World Champion Damon Hill at the World premiere of sporting documentary Hill and Glasgow favourite Martin Compston at the World premiere of Glasgow-shot domestic thriller Fear.

GFF25: Muriel’s Wedding30th anniversary screening of Muriel’s Wedding with a special introduction by star of the film Toni Collette.Photo by Ingrid Mur

At the Closing Gala the winner of the festival’s prestigious Audience Award, sponsored by MUBI, was announced as Spilt Milk. The film is set in 1980s Dublin, where 11-year-old Bobby (Cillian Sullivan) dreams of being a detective, just like his TV idol, Kojak. Offering to hunt down lost items on his housing estate with the help of his pal Nell (Naoise Kelly), the pair begin their biggest case after Bobby’s brother Oisin (Lewis Brophy) goes missing. Their hunt takes them into the dangerous underbelly of the housing estate where they live, as the harsh realities of addiction are presented through a child’s eyes. Brian Durnin’s ambitious and well-crafted drama anchors its stronger, adult themes in the sweet central performances of newcomers Sullivan and Kelly. The runner-up was German comedy Two to One, starring double-Oscar nominee Sandra Huller.

Spilt Milk director Brian Durnin said:

Brian Durnin, Cillian Sullivan, Naoise Kelly. Credit Eoin Carey

“We’re deeply honoured to accept this wonderful award and to know that our film connected with the audiences at Glasgow Film Festival. The city and festival will forever hold a place in our hearts.”

The film’s Glasgow-based producer James Heath and fellow producer Laura McNicholas added:

“We’re delighted to receive the Audience Award sponsored by MUBI from the Glasgow Film Festival and want to thank their incredible audiences – seeing their enthusiasm for Spilt Milk is really special.”

The GFF Audience Award was established in 2015 and is the only prize decided by GFF audiences. Sponsored by MUBI, it gives audiences the chance to vote for their favourite film from a shortlisted group of feature film titles by first or second-time directors.

Cinema City Honorary Award

James McAvoy

Homegrown Hollywood star James McAvoy visited Glasgow Film Festival last weekend to receive the other award handed out at the festival, the Cinema City Honorary Award. Launched in 2024, the award recognises filmmakers who have made an outstanding contribution to cinema. In the 1930s, Glasgow was home to more cinemas per person than anywhere else in the UK and became affectionately known as the Cinema City. The city’s passion for film has burned brightly ever since, with Glasgow Film Theatre at its heart.

The inaugural Cinema City Honorary Award was given to Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen at GFF 2024.

Farewell to Allison Gardner

Edith Bowman, James McAvoy and Allison Gardner credit photo Eoin Carey

GFF25 also said farewell to departing Glasgow Film CEO and Festival Director Allison Gardner. Allison has been part of GFF since its first edition in 2005 and took over as co-director alongside Allan Hunter in 2007. Together they steered the festival from small beginnings to becoming the second-largest film festival in the UK and a major public and industry event. Allison became  sole director of GFF after Allan stepped down following GFF23.

Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of GFF, said:

“Being part of Glasgow Film Festival has been the most fun, rewarding and brilliant time over the last 21 years. From co-directing alongside the wonderful Allan Hunter to going solo the last couple of years I have had the most fabulous support and friendship from the exceptional teams in our organisation. I have met some wonderful filmmakers and guests over the years and witnessed audiences fall in love with films that have changed their lives for the better. I will miss the rush of excitement when an audience takes a film to their hearts and no other festival in the world has better audiences, however it is time to hand the baton over. I’m immensely proud that the film festival lives by the ethos of GFT and that we uphold ‘Cinema For All’.”

Glasgow Film Festival will return for its 22nd edition in 2026 with dates to be announced soon.

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