Marilyn Monroe centenary and 'glitzy' Moulin Rouge event as Glasgow Film Festival unveils full line-up

Unveiling the full programme today, the festival will also include the UK premiere of Angelina Jolie's high-fashion title Couture and Rebuilding starring The Crown actor Josh O’Connor.

The festival will also hold “events” around anniversary screenings of horror film Carrie, which was made 50 years ago, and a “glitzy” evening celebrating Moulin Rouge, which was released 25 years ago.

Programme director Paul Gallagher would not give details of any celebrity guests at the festival - but refused to rule out the possibility of Moulin Rouge star Ewan McGregor emulating Toni Colette’s surprise appearance at last year’s screening of Muriel’s Wedding. Colette, who was filming in London, turned up unexpectedly to surprise fans, in lieu of a planned video message.

“Who can say?” he said, when asked if McGregor was likely to appear. Details of the festival’s red carpet guests are set to be revealed in the coming weeks.

James McAvoy's directorial debut California Schemin' had already been announced as the closing film, as had documentary Everybody To Kenmure Street as the opening screening.

Tickets for three simultaneous screenings of both films sold out within minutes of being released on Monday.

The 22nd edition of Scotland’s largest film festival will showcase 126 films from 44 countries, with 16 world, European, and international premieres, 68 UK premieres and 18 Scottish premieres taking place between 25 February and 8 March.

The celebration of Ms Monroe - Marilyn Monroe 100 - will see screening a selection of her films, with tickets priced at only £7. These will include The Asphalt Jungle, her first movie to garner widespread attention; iconic crime comedy Some Like It Hot; the hit musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; psychological thriller Don’t Bother to Knock; and British romantic comedy The Prince and the Showgirl, screening on 35mm.

Mr Gallagher said: “It is an absolute honour and privilege to unveil my first Glasgow Film Festival programme for this 22nd edition of the festival. Across these 126 features are stories of vastly differing characters, settings and ideas, but one thing connects them: they are all the result of a personal vision, uniquely brought to the screen.”

He added: “The centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth is just a great opportunity to relish an absolute icon of the screen. She is one of the most recognisable film icons there is, but also, the films are brilliant.”

Plans for the Moulin Rouge screening will encourage people to dress up in “glitzy” and “glamorous” style.

Mr Gallagher said he wanted to widen the scope of the film festival to include a geographically wider area of Glasgow, as well as a range of films that reflect the local population.

As well as Glasgow Film Theatre, the festival will this year be using the Odeon Luxe at Pacific Quay following the closure of Cineworld, which was previously the second base of the festival.

“I want to put on films that people are excited to see,” he said.

A film about an Edinburgh tour guide who descends into madness when a big-budget fantasy TV show takes over his small town and a documentary about Scotland’s cultural heritage of Gaelic psalm singing are among the 13 Scottish highlights of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival.

Edinburgh filmmaker Sean Dunn’s anticipated black comedy debut, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford, is shot on location in Edinburgh and Balerno and features Gayle Rankin and Peter Mullan.

Also featuring is Jack Archer’s documentary Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of the People). Meanwhile, Welcome to G-Town is the debut feature from identical twin brothers Ben McQuaid and Nathan McQuaid, which follows shape-shifting aliens that have landed in Glasgow.

Marc Silver’s documentary, Molly vs THE MACHINES, will also have its world premiere at the festival, with nationwide screenings from Campbeltown to London, also happening concurrently. The story of a heartbroken father’s quest to uncover the truth behind his daughter’s death and his fightback against how the most powerful corporations of the modern age operate, the film is distributed by Scottish production company Cosmic Cat and received significant funding from Screen Scotland.

FrightFest, GFF’s resident horror festival, will also open with the world premiere of Vasily Chuprina’s action thriller Jailbroken, a claustrophobic pressure-cooker set entirely within a single prison cell. Co-produced by Scottish production company Up Helly Aa, the film features a Scottish cast led by Bryan Larkin, David Hayman, Shauna MacDonald and Armin Karima.

Mr Gallagher said: “I’m particularly pleased at the depth and variety of films in this programme that were made here in Scotland or by Scottish talent; it speaks so highly of the great filmmakers we have, and the increasing opportunities they are taking and creating for themselves.”

“I can’t wait to showcase theirs and so many other brilliant filmmakers’ work to the greatest cinema audience in the world.”

Meanwhile, the country focus this year will be on Sweden, where five films will have their UK premieres.

Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland, said: “The Scottish films reflect a year of fearless, ingenious and entertaining work, from first-time filmmakers to those making a second, third or fourth film here in Scotland. These films sit alongside world-class cinema in a programme that remains as welcoming and audience-focused as ever.

“Screen Scotland is GFF’s major funding partner because the festival champions strong, locally originated work alongside its international programme, and is becoming a significant date in the industry calendar. All of which contributes to our creative and economic growth.”

Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow Film Festival is a much-loved part of our city’s cultural life, bringing people together through a shared love of film. From the powerful opening film, Everybody to Kenmure Street, this 12-day programme delivers first-class cinema throughout.

Tickets for the full programme go on sale to GFT CineCard / CineCard+ holders at 10am on Friday and on general public sale at 10am on Monday.