‘There is no prejudice or pretentiousness about what we do’: Co-director Allan Hunter on the appeal of the Glasgow Film Festival

EVERY February thousands of movie lovers flock to the Glasgow Film Festival. With this year’s programme (February 15-26) launching on Wednesday, co-director Allan Hunter chatted to Murray Scougall about the event, which now ranks among the top three UK film festivals.

When did the festival begin?

The first Glasgow Film Festival was held in 2005 and achieved admissions of 6000. By 2016, admissions were up to more than 42,000.

Was establishing it seen as a risk due to Edinburgh’s film festival?

I’m not sure we ever gave Edinburgh a thought. Scotland is big enough to embrace a range of fantastic film events. Glasgow is a city with a great passion for cinema, has bred world-class film directors from Bill Forsyth to Lynne Ramsay and is home to so many production companies and filmmakers. It deserved a great festival that recognised all that history, talent and love for film.

Did the speed of the festival’s growth surprise you?

Yes! There is no prejudice or pretentiousness about what we do. You always felt a sense of how much people liked the festival and the friendly atmosphere, but the way word of mouth spread and people started booking time off work to attend has been amazing.

How did you become involved?

I’m a film critic and film lover. I’ve always written about films and programmed festivals. In the festival’s early days I kept suggesting things they could do and show which I can only assume was incredibly annoying! I was asked to come on board as co-director.

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What does your job involve?

A bit of everything. Choosing the films and shaping the programme mostly. I write copy for the programme and host some onstage interviews.

How many films do you watch to choose the programme?

In the last year I have seen between 400 and 450 films but some of those are just for pleasure. There is a team working towards the final programme, sifting for gems among the submissions and films seen at festivals like Cannes, Locarno or Toronto.

The festival’s favourite guests?

We had a piper to greet James Earl Jones and he couldn’t get over the fuss we made for his visit. “Is all of this for me?” he kept asking. The late Alan Rickman was such a completely charming man with a genuine interest in the festival and the people he met here. He was incredibly undemanding and gracious. We all fell under his spell and were immensely saddened by his death.

Personal highlights?

The audience response to some of our guests, from the electricity in the cinema when Richard Gere joined us last year to the waves of affection for French director Bertrand Tavernier, who is a huge fan of Glasgow. One of our favourite opening nights was the European premiere of In The Loop with director Armando Iannucci and Peter Capaldi.

The most memorable special events?

Last year we had a screening of the Nicolas Cage thriller Con Air in which audiences were handcuffed, dressed in orange jumpsuits and taken by bus to a secret location, which turned out to be a disused airfield. People loved it. We also staged a screening of the silent classic The Passion Of Joan Of Arc in Glasgow Cathedral with a live musical score and beautiful soprano singing. This year we have a very special screening of The Lost Boys in a secret location.

What can we expect this year?

The closing gala is the world premiere of Mad To Be Normal, with David Tennant in attendance. There are free daily morning screenings of film noir classics featuring Humphrey Bogart and Marilyn Monroe, dozens of UK premieres and the annual visit from Fright Fest for horror fans. Every festival claims they have something for everyone but I think Glasgow genuinely does.

Visit glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival for more information.

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