01 Apr 2025
Glasgow’s original independent cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT), has announced a packed screening schedule for April, including special programmes for Record Store Day and Easter weekend.
The cinema, which celebrates its 51st birthday this May, has also revealed some of the films screening to mark that occasion, which will include a selection of beloved classics and a tribute to master director David Lynch.
Seasons and Festivals
GFT will celebrate the Easter long weekend with a free family screening of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial and a Wicked sing-along event on Saturday 19 April; a screening of spiritual classic Babette’s Feast on Easter Sunday; and a 75th Anniversary screening of the rabbit-themed Harvey on Monday 21 April.
For Record Store Day on Saturday 12 April, film fans can enjoy three music-themed modern classics: a 30th anniversary screening of Empire Records on 35mm; a 25th anniversary screening of Almost Famous on 4K; and a free family screening of School of Rock.
Following the huge success of its 50th Anniversary programme in May 2024, GFT has decided to make the cinema’s birthday an annual event. This year’s programme, which will be announced in full on Wednesday 9 April, will include a special screening of the iconic musical Singin’ in the Rain in 4K; the new 70mm restoration of North by Northwest; a Late Night screening of the Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski; and four of David Lynch’s greatest films – Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet and The Elephant Man, all in 4K, and The Straight Story on 35mm.
Q&As
GFT will welcome several special guests for Q&A screenings in April, including Sebastian director Mikko Mäkelä and star Ruaridh Mollica; Four Mothers star James McArdle; and Tummy Monster director Ciaran Lyons. Director Stanley Schtinter will participate in a Q&A following a one-off screening of his film Schneewittchen (Snow White) on Saturday 26 April, which exists on a single 35mm print and will only ever screen in cinemas.
The cinema will also host a preview screening of The Return, the hotly anticipated take on tale of mythical Greek hero Odysseus, starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. The screening on Wednesday 9 April will be followed by a discussion, broadcast live from the British Museum, with Oscar-nominee Ralph Fiennes, British Museum's Keeper of Greece and Rome, Tom Harrison, and Curator: Reception of the Ancient Mediterranean, Vicky Donnellan.
Special screenings
Cult documentary Kim’s Video, about the legendary New York video store, will play at GFT for a one-off special screening on Thursday 10 April in partnership with Cinetopia. Film fans can bring their VHS tapes and DVDs to the screening to swap with one another in a lucky dip.
For World Earth Day on Tuesday 22 April, GFT will present a special screening of Escape from Extinction: Rewilding, the new documentary on wildlife conservation, narrated by Academy Award winner Meryl Streep.
Music fans can catch three unmissable documentaries: Neil Young: Coastal, directed by acclaimed filmmaker and Young’s wife, Daryl Hannah; Kevin Macdonald’s One to One: John & Yoko; and Björk: Cornucopia, recorded live in Lisbon, which celebrates the artist’s groundbreaking tour that mesmerised audiences worldwide for five years.
New Releases and Re-releases
New releases arriving at GFT in April include the brilliant documentary Blue Road: The Edna O’ Brien Story; Steve Coogan in The Penguin Lessons; Toby Jones in Mr Burton; Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios’ intense kitchen drama La Cocina; and French Oscar-winner Michel Hazanavicius’ dark Holocaust animation The Most Precious of Cargoes.
Other must-see new releases and re-releases playing at GFT in April include Restless, Last Swim, Holy Cow, Freaky Tales, Julie Keeps Quiet, His Girl Friday and An Unfinished Film.
Film fans will also have a second chance to see four Oscar-winning films on the big screen, with the return of Flow, The Brutalist, Anora and No Other Land.
Accessible Screenings
In addition to an extensive programme of captioned and audio described screenings, GFT has announced the April editions of its long-running accessible film events.
Access Film Club, delivered in partnership with the National Autistic Society Scotland, includes a film screening and post-film chat in a friendly and welcoming environment. To celebrate Access Film Club’s 10th Anniversary in April, GFT will present a relaxed screening of Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox and the BAFTA award-winning short film Harmonic Spectrum, with tickets available for just £6.90. GFT will also mark Autism Awareness Month in April with a relaxed screening of experimental feature The Stimming Pool, followed by a Q&A with the film’s co-director Sam Chown Ahern. Tickets for The Stimming Pool are available for £6.90.
Visible Cinema, GFT’s monthly Deaf-friendly film event, will present a special screening of the Irish comedy/drama Four Mothers, which won the BFI London Film Festival Audience Award. The screening will have descriptive subtitles, and the introduction and discussion will have Live Captioning and BSL interpretation. Tickets are available for £6.90.
Movie Memories, GFT’s dementia-friendly film event, will screen the new 4K restoration of Howard Hawks’ screwball comedy His Girl Friday. Designed to enable people living with dementia to socialise in a safe and welcoming environment, tickets for Movie Memories cost £3 and include free refreshments and live music.
Tickets for GFT’s April programme are on sale now from glasgowfilm.org and the GFT Box Office.
GFT is operated by Glasgow Film, an educational charity which also runs the award-winning Glasgow Film Festival and Glasgow Youth Film Festival, and is the lead organisation for Film Hub Scotland. GFT is the city’s original independent arthouse cinema and the home of film in Glasgow. Glasgow Film is funded by Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland and Glasgow City Council.
