Latest news with #GlasgowFilmTheatre
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish firm to bring From Ground Zero film to UK cinemas
The anthology documentary, From Ground Zero, showcases' dozens of emerging Palestinian artists as they share messages of heartbreak and defiance which will be available in cinemas across the UK from September 12. The Glasgow-based distributor Cosmic Cat will release the film which has been described as an extraordinary time capsule of a visceral response to an ongoing catastrophe as the artist's call to bear witness the crimes being committed in Palestine. Produced by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi and executive producer, and two-time Oscar winner, Michael Moore, each film featured on From Ground Zero rages in length from, three to six minutes, and presents a different perspective of the lived reality in Gaza. READ MORE: John Swinney and Donald Trump talk whisky tariffs in Aberdeenshire The collective of filmmakers aims to give the audience an on-the-ground, intimate perspective of a territory now so often viewed through war and casualty footage and will be able to be viewed across the UK, including at the Glasgow Film Theatre. Using a mix of genres including documentary, docu-fiction, stop-motion animation, and experimental cinema, From Ground Zero has been critically acclaimed for its ability to capture the experiences of Palestinian life, including the immense challenges and tragedies of navigating the warzone each day. Shot in between, and sometimes during, bombing raids across nine months from 2023-2024 From Ground Zero features short films like Damo Nidal's Everything Is Fine which follows the daily life of a comedian before he performs his stand-up set in a bombed venue. (Image: From Ground Zero) Other shorts like, Neda'a Abu Hassnah's Out of Frame sees artist Ranin Al Zeriei surveying the remainder of her destroyed studio, while Reema Mahmoud's documentary, Selfies, sits with a young woman while she applies her make-up to hide the physical signs of trauma. Meanwhile, shorts like Khamis Masharawi's Soft Skin which captures young children using stop-motion animation to relay the nightmare experience of their parents writing their family names on their limbs in case a bomb hits, aims to showcase the horrors Palestinians have faced during Israel's brutal bombardment on Gaza. Those behind From Ground Zero claim that the screenings aim to serve as a reminder that despite previous efforts to silence them, as the film was stricken from the 2024 Cannes lineup on political grounds after initially being accepted, Palestinian people's voices are louder than ever through art and film. You can click here to find out more information about screenings and tickets.
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Film appoints chief executive and head of programme
This September, Seonaid Daly will be taking the role of chief executive, and Paul Gallagher will serve as the head of programme at Glasgow Film. The pair will succeed Allison Gardner, who will be retiring in October after more than 30 years with the organisation. Glasgow Film is an educational charity that manages Glasgow Film Theatre, the city's first independent arthouse cinema. The charity also runs the Glasgow Film Festival and the Glasgow Youth Film Festival, and serves as the lead organisation for Film Hub Scotland. Yahya Barry, chair of the board of trustees at Glasgow Film, said: 'Our people are Glasgow Film's greatest asset – and in Seonaid and Paul, we have two truly exceptional leaders stepping into key roles at a pivotal time." Seonaid has been the executive director of Glasgow Film for more than five years. Her career has also included roles as head of partnerships at The Prince's Trust (now The King's Trust) and Director of the Scottish Contemporary Art Network. Seonaid Daly will take up the post of Chief Executive this September (Image: Supplied) Seonaid said: "I'm proud to take on the role of CEO at Glasgow Film, a place that has shaped both my career and my love of cinema. "It's a huge privilege to be responsible for such an important institution, and I'm very excited to play a key role in ensuring its future. 'I'm inspired by my brilliant colleagues, our dedicated partners, the filmmakers we work with, and our loyal audiences, who remind us daily why our cinema means so much to them." Paul, who has been a part of Glasgow Film's management team for more than a decade, will assume the role of head of programme. He has been instrumental in the year-round programming at Glasgow Film Theatre since 2018. Paul will step into the new role of Head of Programme at Glasgow Film this September (Image: Supplied) Paul said: "I am thrilled to take on the responsibility and privilege of the new head of programme role at Glasgow Film. "Over the past six years, I have loved leading on the year-round programme at GFT: working with such a wide range of partners and receptive audiences has been an education in expanding my horizons and understanding the vital role that independent cinema can play in the lives of so many different people." Allison Gardner, the outgoing chief executive of Glasgow Film and director of Glasgow Film Festival, expressed her confidence in the new appointments. She said: "I am delighted that Seonaid will be taking up the position of chief executive at Glasgow Film as I know she is passionate about our organisation and upholding our values. "I know she will do an excellent job, working alongside our brilliant staff to continue to make Glasgow Film a vibrant and important cultural venue for film and talent. 'Paul is an excellent appointment to make sure GFT and GFF continue to provide great cinema that is accessible to all. "His programming work at GFT has been exceptional and, alongside the teams, has made our cinema the best in the world. "I retire knowing that our organisation is in good hands and will be celebrating Glasgow Film's future successes from afar.'
The National
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
New documentary on Gaza protests to have Scottish premiere
The Encampments, directed by Kei Pritsker and Michael T Workman and starring Maya Abdallah, Jamal Joseph, Mahmoud Khalil, Grant Miner, Sueda Polat, follows the Gaza solidarity protests which took place at universities across the world in 2024. The film will have premiere in Scotland at the Cameo cinema in Edinburgh as well as the Glasgow Film Theatre on June 6. READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn brings in bill for public inquiry into UK complicity in Gaza genocide The film's description reads: "The Encampments is a brave and powerful new documentary following the Palestine solidarity protests that erupted across university campuses in 2024. "With gripping footage of the protesters' struggle, the film shows the peaceful nature of the movement and the momentous challenges it faces. Featuring detained activist Mahmoud Khalil, alongside professors, whistleblowers and organisers, the film captures the deeper stakes of a historic moment that continues to reverberate across the globe. "Timely, urgent and filled with a clear-eyed fury, The Encampments is a rallying cry for those who refuse to be silenced and a message of hope for the people of Palestine." Activist Khalil, a student at Columbia University in New York city, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in March this year over his role in the pro-Palestine protests and occupations on his university's campus. READ MORE: Foreign Office met with pro-Israel lobbyist to discuss arms sales Encampments also took place at universities across Scotland, including in Edinburgh, where students – co-ordinated by the Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society (EUJPS) – set up tents in the university's Old College courtyard. The Edinburgh screening will be followed by a Q&A discussion panel, featuring Suha, a member of EUJPS, alongside Sarah McCaffer, co-convenor of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The Encampments will screen at Cameo in Edinburgh on Friday, June 6 at 6pm. Click here to get tickets. The Glasgow Film Theatre will also screen the film on Friday at 4pm and 8.45pm. Click here to buy tickets.
The National
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
IDF bars media from West Bank tour organised by Oscar winners
The directors of the film, which focuses on settler attacks on Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied territory, said they had invited the journalists on the tour on Monday to interview residents about increasing settler violence in the area. In video posted on X by the film's co-director Yuval Abraham, an Israeli soldier tells a group of international journalists there is "no passage" in the area because of a military order. Basel Adra, a Palestinian co-director of the film who lives in the area, said the military then blocked the journalists from entering two Palestinian villages they had hoped to visit. READ MORE: Glasgow Film Theatre decides to not endorse Israel boycott movement "They don't want journalists to visit the villages to meet the residents," said Adra, who had invited the journalists to his home. "It's clear they don't want the world to see what is happening here." Some of the surrounding area, including a collection of small Bedouin villages known as Masafer Yatta, was declared by the military to be a live-fire training zone in the 1980s. About 1000 Palestinians have remained there despite being ordered out, and journalists, human rights activists and diplomats have visited the villages in the past. Palestinian residents in the area have reported increasing settler violence since October 7 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel and sparked the war in the Gaza Strip. (Image: Channel 4/ Dogwoof) Israeli soldiers regularly move in to demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive orchards - and Palestinians fear outright expulsion could come at any time. Adra said the journalists were eventually able to enter one of the villages in Masafer Yatta, but were barred from entering Tuwani, the village where he lives, and Khallet A-Daba, where he had hoped to take them. He said settlers arrived in Khallet A-Daba on Monday and took over some of the caves where villagers now live, destroying residents' belongings. The military demolished much of the village last month. No Other Land, which won the Oscar this year for best documentary, chronicles the struggle by residents to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages. The joint Palestinian-Israeli production was directed by Adra, Hamdan Ballal, another Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta, and Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. The film has won a string of international awards. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution. Israel has built more than 100 settlements, home to over 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The three million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centres.
The National
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
'Immersive' Irvine Welsh documentary to premiere at Edinburgh festival
Reality is Not Enough, directed by Paul Sng, has been revealed as the closing film at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). The biographical film follows Welsh on a hallucinogenic trip, with the observational footage interwoven with archival film clips and readings of his popular novels by celebrities Liam Neeson, Stephen Graham, Maxine Peake, Ruth Negga and Nick Cave. Paul Ridd, CEO and festival director of EIFF, said: 'We were so impressed by this brilliantly immersive and fascinating documentary about iconic Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. READ MORE: Glasgow Film Theatre board members resign after Israeli boycott decision 'Director Paul Sng's refreshingly unusual and highly cinematic approach perfectly fits his subject, a man who has spent an entire career refusing to be pinned down, always surprising us with works of profound impact, rawness and grace. 'We could not think of a better way to round off our festival than with this terrific film.' Director Paul Sng added: 'I'm completely delighted that Reality is Not Enough has been chosen to close this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. 'When I read Trainspotting as a teenager in London back in the nineties, I had no idea I would one day live in the city where the book is set, let alone make a film with its author, Irvine Welsh. READ MORE: Comedian faces private prosecution over social media posts 'Having our world premiere in our home city is a huge honour and we're looking forward immensely to sharing the film with the EIFF audience.' Reality is Not Enough was co-financed and produced by Edinburgh-based production company LS Films, with the support of Screen Scotland. The 78th edition of EIFF will take place in Edinburgh from August 14–20, 2025, and the full festival programme is set to be launched on July 2. Reality is Not Enough will be released in the UK later this year.
