Glasgow Film Festival

When you think of film festivals in Scotland, the Glasgow Film Festival, an annual celebration of independent cinema and Scottish filmmaking held in February. Also known as GFF, it’s not just another screening series—it’s a hub for emerging directors, local talent, and audiences who want something different from the mainstream. Unlike big international festivals, GFF keeps it real: you’ll find first-time filmmakers, gritty Scottish dramas, and documentaries about places you’ve walked through but never really seen.

It’s tied closely to other Scottish film events, local gatherings that spotlight regional stories, from the Highlands to Fife’s fishing villages. Think of it as a chain: GFF kicks off the year, then smaller events in Edinburgh, Dundee, and even Anstruther pick up the thread. You’ll see films shot in the same places you read about here—like the quiet streets of Crail or the misty trails near Aviemore. The festival doesn’t just show movies; it connects them to the land and people behind them.

And it’s not just about watching. You’ll meet directors who grew up in Glasgow tenements, talk to cinematographers who shot scenes on Tiree’s beaches, or hear from producers who funded their first film with a crowdfunding campaign and a van full of gear. There’s a strong link between this festival and indie films Scotland, the raw, low-budget, high-heart stories that rarely make it to multiplexes but stay with you long after the credits roll. These are the films that capture what it’s really like to live here—the rain, the humor, the stubborn pride.

What you’ll find below are posts that connect to GFF’s spirit: stories about Scottish storytelling, hidden cinema spots, and how local culture shapes what gets shown on screen. Whether it’s a documentary on rewilding in the Borders or a guide to Edinburgh’s rainy-day museums, these pieces all share one thing—they’re made by people who know Scotland isn’t just a backdrop. It’s the reason the story matters.