Writing Sample 2

Glasgow’s First Hybrid Film Festival: Sneak Peek (written for

the Strathclyde Telegraph)
The renowned Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) has been announced for 2022, taking place from
2 to 13 March. The public celebration of cinema will see a welcome return to in-person
viewings, with screenings being delivered at the home venues of the Glasgow Film Theatre
and Cineworld.
For the first time, these will premiere alongside GFF’s exclusive Glasgow Film at Home
platform, following on from the success of last year’s online approach, which offered
uniquely curated screenings nationwide to those unable to attend in person. Partnering with
local cinemas across the UK, the festival is hoping to bring the wonders of cinema to a larger
audience than ever before.
Their 2022 retrospective Winds of Change: Cinema in ’62 offers free screenings of both
widely praised pictures and cult classics, all of which were released in 1962.
“It is a year bursting with great films and landmark performances. It is also a year of
transition in global politics and in a cinema industry beginning to take a bolder approach to
social issues, taboos and screen violence.”  says GFF co-director Allan Hunter.
The films on offer not only reflect the social turbulence of the time, but also the on-screen
innovation that would be felt for years to come. Among them are timeless classics such
as Dr. No, the first outing for cultural phenomenon James Bond, and David Lean’s
momentous war drama Lawrence of Arabia, praised for influencing a generation of
historical storytelling.
Lesser-known pictures also highlight individual struggles in a world not too dissimilar from
our own. The Miracle Worker is a touching bio-pic about Anne Sullivan, the mentor to
famous blind activist Helen Keller. Agnès Varda’s existential think-piece Cleo from 5 to
7 delves into themes of paranoia and illness, feeling strikingly relevant in today’s post-Covid
society.
GFF has curated a list of the finest features of the time, with the full list of retrospective
screenings available on their website. Tickets are available on the day from the Glasgow Film
Festival Box Office.
For those wanting career opportunities in film, GFF offers its Industry Focus programme,
bringing together a variety of guest speakers and topical panels. Events are suitable for
those at all stages of their film career, ranging from newly graduated students to seasoned
professionals. It offers an exciting opportunity to uncover the world of contemporary
cinema, offering a glimpse into the world beyond the screen. Previous events have
included exclusive guests such as Alan Rickman and David Tennant.
Networking is highly encouraged, with a diverse range of ways to help with professional
development helping those with a love of film start a fruitful career. The event will be held
at the Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel, welcoming all guests from 6 March. The event is expected to
sell out, with early bird passes available from 15 December.
The entire schedule for the Glasgow Film Festival, including events, guest speakers and film
screenings will be unveiled in January, says co-director Allison Gardner. She also teased that
there will be some “incredible premieres” later this year, and that a return to cinemas will
help to enforce the Glasgow Film charity to pull off an incredible event.
“GFF has always been the film festival for audiences”, she comments. “We can’t wait to be
able to enjoy the GFF experience together in person this year”.
Further information and Early Bird passes can be found online
at: https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival.