Curzon’s interim executive chairman Philip Knatchbull will deliver the keynote speech in Glasgow Film Festival’s (GFF) 2026 industry programme, which runs from March 2-6.
Knatchbull will be joined by Kristian Brodie, head of development at Curzon, to reflect on the evolution of the UK distributor-exhibitor Curzon and what lies ahead for the wider film industry.
A ‘made in Glasgow’ focus will see a full day of panels and events featuring Glasgow-based executives, including Chris Ferriter, the CEO of Halon, on why Glasgow was the right choice for the animation studio’s first base outside of Los Angeles; animation veteran Andrew Pearce on new Glasgow-based production company Zaratan; Jen Davies and Graham Fulton of distribution company Conic; and GFF closing night film California Schemin’ production company Blazing Griffin.
GFF Industry Focus will launch Scotland’s new Black Filmmakers Community Network (BFCN), which has been three years in the making, created by Glasgow-based filmmaker and curator Balenji Mwiche, Edinburgh activist and author Briana Pegado and Glasgow-based critic, programmer and curator Liz Chege.
Also taking place is a ‘meet the agents’ session with UK talent agent Aileen McEwan, who reps talent including Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mark Bonnar, and a ‘meet the sales agents’ session with Yana Georgieva, head of Sales at the UK’s Bankside Films and Valentina Bronzini, festivals executive at Germany’s The Match Factory.
Jonathan Gorner, investment and development executive at Media Finance Capital, Joe Simpson from Ashland Hill Media Finance and Phil McKenzie, co-founder and chief operating officer of Goldfinch Entertainment, will participate in a talk about independent film financing
Additionally, Zak Brilliant, head of sales and distribution at MetFilm Studio, Tom Abell, owner and founder of Peccadillo Pictures and Rachele Parietti, events cinema and distribution manager at Vue Lumière, will discuss how films find their audiences.
In conversation events include director Julia Jackman and Glasgow-based composer and cellist Oliver Coates talking about their collaboration on 100 Nights Of Hero, including a performance by Coats.
The industry programme has added an extra day and now runs for five days.
“The 2026 Glasgow Film Festival Industry programme is our biggest to date, underscoring a growing international profile with delegations from France and Austria in attendance, alongside high-profile executives from across the screen industries,” said Samantha Bennett, GFF industry manager.
“Industry Focus is a key destination for discovering original IP, from books available for adaptation, to bold, original comedies from exciting UK talent, firmly establishing the conference as a must-attend event for the screen sector.”
GFF takes place from February 25-March 8.
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