Filmmakers are invited to submit features for consideration by the programmers of Glasgow Film Festival (GFF), which will return for its 17th edition next year. Submissions open today for GFF which will run from 24 February to 7 March 2021, and – for the first time – will be a mix of cinema and streaming.
Glasgow is one of the friendliest film festivals on the planet with a wide-ranging programme that celebrates every corner of world cinema and provides a fantastic showcase for the best of Scottish film, from its base at Glasgow Film Theatre and at selected venues across the city.
In 2020, GFF welcomed a wonderful array of guests from Alice Winocour to Simon Pegg, Alankrita Shirvastava to George Mackay, Coky Giedroyc to Michael Caton-Jones.
The festival has a long tradition of championing new talent and ensuring that the very best films from the annual submissions are given a platform in the public programme. As well as being presented to an audience of discerning and enthusiastic film-lovers, screening at GFF can also be a launch-pad to further exposure and distribution.
2020 submissions that screened at GFF include Allan Deberton’s poignant debut feature Pacarrete, Rob Christopher’s documentary Roy’s World: Barry Gifford’s Chicago and Josh David Jordan’s This World Won’t Break. Submissions to previous GFF’s also include:
- Nae Paseran, which had its world premiere as the Closing Gala of GFF 2018. It went on to win the BAFTA (Scotland) award for Best Picture, has been screened around the world and won many awards.
- Arracht. After winning GFF’s Audience Award 2020, it was subsequently nominated for 11 awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, by the Irish Film and Television Academy.
- Eternal Beauty, subsequently acquired for UK distribution by Bulldog for release on 18 September.
- A Faithful Man, acquired by Cinefile for UK distribution.
- Master Cheng, subsequently acquired for UK distribution by Parkland.
- Perfect 10, subsequently acquired for UK distribution by 606 DISTRiBUTION for release on 7 August.
- CoinCoin and the Extrahumans, subsequently acquired for UK distribution by New Wave and released on 24 July 2020.
Allan Hunter, Glasgow Film festival Co-Director said: “There are no absolute certainties at present but we can promise that there will be a 2021 Glasgow Film Festival. We are currently planning for the best possible festival experience and preparing for all contingencies.
“Glasgow’s reputation rests firmly on the warmth of its welcome, the quality of its curated programming and a much-admired programme of industry events acutely tailored to meet the needs of filmmakers far and wide.
“It is a fantastic place to launch your film. We are thrilled to be opening the submissions for the 2021 festival and can’t wait to discover the gems that are heading our way.”
For full details on how to submit a film to Glasgow Film Festival 2021 please visit: https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival/about-the-festival/submissions
The final deadline for submissions is Friday 23 October 2020.
Submissions deadlines
Friday 21 August Early bird deadline
Friday 11 September Regular deadline
Friday 2 October Late deadline
Friday 23 October Extended deadline