Partick Film Festival brings big screen stories home to Partick

Partick has a strong film and television heritage, and one local producer is making sure the neighbourhood gets to celebrate it. The Partick Film Festival, founded by film and TV producer Joseph McLean, brings screenings, events and workshops to the West End community, with many events free to attend.

The 2026 festival ran from Monday 19 to Sunday 25 January, and its headline event was a special 30th anniversary screening of Rob Roy, followed by a question and answer session with its director, Michael Caton-Jones.

Broxburn-born Caton-Jones has had a remarkable career. His films include the Scots epic Rob Roy, wartime adventure Memphis Belle, comedy Doc Hollywood and This Boy's Life, which helped launch the career of Leonardo DiCaprio. He also made the British drama Scandal and The Jackal. He said he was delighted to appear at the festival, knowing how passionate Joseph is about his hometown and his profession.

Joseph grew up in Partick and remembers weekly visits to Partick Library, the Kelvin Hall and the Grosvenor Cinema, including the Saturday morning kids' club with all the other weans from Partick. Bringing the festival to the area, he says, is special. His aim is to bring the film industry to Partick with a mix of events, community screenings and workshops.

The festival is run as a non-profit, with an ethos of keeping events free so that everyone has the chance to take part. That is made possible thanks to support from the GRID Civic Grant Fund, the Partick and Thornwood Ideas Fund and the festival's sponsors.

Joseph described it as an honour to welcome a Hollywood legend like Michael Caton-Jones, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business and had great stories to share from the making of Rob Roy.

The good news for film fans is that the festival is coming back. The next Partick Film Festival will run from Monday 25 to Sunday 31 January 2027, with tickets available through its Eventbrite page.

Details of the 2027 programme and tickets will be published at partickfilmfestival.com.