The UK premiere of Felipe Bustos Sierra’s documentary Everybody To Kenmure Street will open the Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) on February 26, with James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’ closing the festival on March 8.
Everybody To Kenmure Street unfurls in May 2021, when a UK Home Office dawn raid in the Glasgow district of Pollokshields, one of Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhoods, prompted local residents to rush to the streets to stop the deportation of their neighbours. As word spread in the early morning of what was Eid celebrations for many locals, a handful of protestors swelled to hundreds of people, leading to an eight-hour standoff.
The film is making its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month. It is produced by Ciara Barry of Glasgow-based production company barry crerar, in association with Bustos Sierra through Debasers Films.
Screen Scotland backed the film, which has Emma Thompson as an executive producer. It will be released by Conic in UK-Ireland cinemas from March 13.
Chilean-Belgian filmmaker Bustos Sierra previously played at GFF in 2018, with documentary Nae Pasaran world premiering as the closing night gala.
California Schemin’ debuted at Toronto 2025 before going on to screen at festivals including Zurich and Tallinn Black Nights. The film is based on a true story of an aspiring Scottish rap duo, who devise an audacious scheme to achieve their dream of a record deal by posing as Californian hip hop artists. It is produced by Danny Page through Glasgow-based Blazing Griffin and Michael Mendelsohn of Patriot Pictures, alongside Paul Aniello of Tartan Bridge and Simon Kay, with Screen Scotland backing. Studiocanal will release in UK-Ireland cinemas from April 10.
McAvoy received GFF’s honorary award at the 2025 event.
The full programme will be announced on January 21.
No comments yet