Five Minutes with... Allison Gardner of the Glasgow Film Festival

Allison Gardner and Allan Hunter. Image: Eoin Carey

The Glasgow Film Festival is always one of the most hotly-anticipated events of the year in Scotland, and in 2020, on its 15th birthday, it’s as exciting as ever. With a programmed packed full of exciting, inspiring films across a variety of genres, as well as a roster of industry events, it’s a must-do for any movie buffs.

We sat down with the incoming CEO of Glasgow Film Festival, Allison Gardner, to find out all about the 2020 Glasgow Film Festival, what are the must-sees, and how the Festival began 15 years ago…

How did you get involved in the Glasgow Film Festival?

I started working at the GFT in 1993 as a duty manager, and have progressed from there – I am now incoming CEO, due to take up the post in April this year. We started Glasgow Film Festival in 2005, and I have been co-director alongside Allan Hunter since the very first festival. We wanted to create a film festival that was for audiences, and that’s still our focus today.

What are your personal highlights of this year’s Festival – what are the must-sees?

There are so many it’s hard to narrow it down! We’ve got two great world premieres from debut female directors in our opening week: Body of Water from director Lucy Brydon which is a sensitive exploration of the impact of an eating disorder staring Sian Brook; and Eliza Schroeder’s Love Sarah, a warm-hearted drama set in a Notting Hill bakery that serves up tastes of home to its multicultural clientele.

In week two, I’m looking forward to Norwegian film Disco. It follows champion disco dancer Mirjam, who turns to a strict, conservative Christian church after a fall on stage disrupts her winning streak. On our closing day, 8 March, which falls on International Women’s day this year, I’m delighted that we’re only screening films made by woman filmmakers, or telling women’s stories front and centre, so I suggest taking a chance on any of the films we have that day. 

How does your job unfold day-to-day?

Every day is different, especially during the festival. I’ll be introducing films, entertaining guests, hosting q&as and also talking to the audiences. It’s busy, and there’s lots of running around but I love it. I’m also dealing with any little thing that pops up – no matter how well planned we are there are always changes to be made – and working with the whole festival team to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

What’s your favourite thing about working in Scottish film?

There is a huge appetite for film in Scotland, and getting to bring top quality films from great filmmakers to our audiences is my favourite thing about working in this industry. I get to follow the careers of incredible filmmakers, and champion their work to Scottish audiences. French director Alice Winocour wrote and directed this year’s Opening Gala film, Proxima, and also wrote Mustang which won our Audience Award in 2016, so getting to continue our relationship with her work is fantastic.

Working with local Scottish filmmakers and following their careers is also a great part of the job. We always represent local filmmakers in the festival programme. This year, we’ve got a stellar line up including Michael Caton-Jones’ much anticipated Our Ladies, which is the big screen adaptation of Alan Warner’s novel The Sopranos. The cast is made up of up and coming young actresses, most coming from Scotland, so I’m looking forward to following their careers over the next few years.

If you had to choose, what would be your favourite film outright?

Aliens!

How would you spend your perfect Sunday in Glasgow?

It would have to be at the GFT, followed by a lovely dinner at Red Onion.  

To find out more about the Glasgow Film Festival, visit the website.