French director Mélisa Godet’s feature debut A Place For Her has won the audience award for first and second-time directors at the 2026 Glasgow Film Festival, which closed yesterday (March 8) in Scotland.
The film follows a doctor and her team striving to keep their women’s shelter open and to help women heal from abuse. It premiered at the Marrakesh International Film Festival last year.
The audience award is the only award given out across the programme.
Closing night
The festival closed with the UK premiere of James McAvoy’s California Schemin’, based on the real story of a Scottish rap duo who pretended to be established US rappers in order to secure a record deal. It had its world premiere in Toronto last year and will be released in the UK and Ireland via Studiocanal next month.
McAvoy and the film’s stars Samuel Bottomley, Séamus McLean Ross, Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell were all in attendance.
The closing night party was originally meant to be held at the Grand Central hotel, adjoining Glasgow’s Grand Central station, but was moved at the last minute after a fire broke out at a nearby shop yesterday afternoon (March 8).
The station is expected to be closed all day today (March 9), potentially disrupting travel for any festival goers based outside of Glasgow.
This year marked Paul Gallagher’s first edition as head of programme, taking over from Allison Gardner, who had co-directed and directed the festival since 2007.
“After a whirlwind 12 days of buzzing audiences, sold-out shows, inspiring guests and unforgettable big-screen experiences, I’m even more excited about the future of film here in Scotland and around the world,” Gallagher said in a statement. “We have witnessed cinema that connects, startles, provokes and enthrals. I can’t wait to do it all again in 12 months’ time.”
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