Glasgow Youth Film Festival celebrates success

First independent run for festival is a hit.

by Jennie Kermode

The Youth team presents Labyrinth
The Youth team presents Labyrinth Photo: Max Crawford

The organisers of this year's Glasgow Youth Film Festival are celebrating today after the weekend event, the first ever to be run independently, proved a success. With sell-out performances of several films including closing gala choice Labyrinth, and with filmmaking workshops packed with enthusiastic learners, in generated a lot of excitement among young people in the city, many of whom said they hope to attend again next year.

The festival opened with a screening of The Signal which was generally well received despite a few people saying they didn't understand it. To add to their confusion, there were random zombies seated in the audience, as several people had arrived already prepared for a later screening of Shaun Of The Dead. The dressing up theme continued with a cosplay parade, with many attendees making a great deal of effort, and for the closing events the whole Barras Art & Design Centre was dressed up, turning into a jungle replete with trees, vines, snakes, giraffes and an elephant. It was a smaller animal that caused the most sensation, however, as a cockroach went on the rampage through the Youth team's dressing room, creating a panic. Fortunately, the team recovered in time to introduce the films.

With a large and very well received Vegan buffet on offer to celebrate the Green Glasgow theme, and with a performance by the Sensational David Bowie Tribute Band, the festival made many new friends by the time it came to a close. With interest in the creative side of film particularly high, it bodes well for the future of the Scottish industry.

Share this with others on...
News

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

The hidden river Helen MacDonald and Philippa Lowthorpe on adapting H Is For Hawk

This wild channel David Shadrack Smith and Jake Fogelnest on the content creation revolution and Public Access

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Golden Eddies Nominations for editing brilliance announced

OFCS Awards One Battle After Another triumphs; Sinners dominates