The 20th edition of the Glasgow Film Festival is set to commence with the U.K. premiere of “Love Lies Bleeding,” a queer romantic noir directed by Rose Glass and featuring Kristen Stewart in a leading role. The film, which gained critical acclaim at Sundance, will open the festival with its intriguing narrative, following the story of reclusive gym manager Lou (Stewart) and her passionate connection with Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder en route to Vegas in pursuit of her dreams. The love between them sets off a chain of violent events, entangling them in the complexities of Lou’s criminal family.
Dubbed as “Scotland’s largest film festival,” the Glasgow Film Festival is scheduled to take place from Feb. 28 to March 10 at the Glasgow Film Theater, which marks its 50th anniversary this year. The festival will extend across various venues in the city.
Among the anticipated premieres, “Tummy Monster,” a hallucinogenic dark drama directed by Glasgow’s own Ciaran Lyons, starring rising Scottish star Lorn Macdonald, promises to be a captivating addition. Additionally, the festival lineup includes the big screen adaptation of the blackly comic novel “Bucky F*cking Dent,” a project written, directed, and starring David Duchovny. A new restoration of “Billy Connolly: Big Banana Feet,” a rarely seen documentary shot during the comedian’s 1975 tour of Ireland, is also on the agenda.
U.K. premieres will feature Ewan and Clara McGregor’s road trip in “Bleeding Love,” Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of a Liberian refugee befriending Alia Shawkat’s American tour guide in “Drift,” and Viggo Mortensen directing and starring in the Western epic “The Dead Don’t Hurt.”
The festival will showcase a diverse selection of films, including Kevin Macdonald’s documentary “High and Low: John Galliano,” “The Beast” starring Lea Seydoux and George MacKay, Luna Carmoon’s debut “Hoard,” and the U.K. premiere of Alice Rohrwacher’s period romance “La Chimera,” featuring Josh O’Connor. Moreover, “Love Lies Bleeding” will not only enchant Glasgow audiences but will simultaneously screen at nine partner cinemas across the U.K., adding to the film’s broader reach.
