Glasgow Film has announced the appointment of Seonaid Daly as its new Chief Executive, and Paul Gallagher as Head of Programme.
These two key appointments within Glasgow Film’s senior leadership team will succeed Allison Gardner, who will retire in October 2025 from her dual role as Chief Executive of Glasgow Film and Director of Glasgow Film Festival, after more than 30 years with the organisation.
Glasgow Film is an educational charity which runs Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT), the city’s original independent arthouse cinema and the home of film in Glasgow. The arts organisation also runs the award-winning Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) and Glasgow Youth Film Festival, and is the lead organisation for Film Hub Scotland. Glasgow Film is funded by Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland and Glasgow City Council.
Seonaid Daly is an esteemed cultural leader with significant experience across cinema, visual arts and the charitable sector. As Executive Director of Glasgow Film for more than five years, she has co-led on organisational strategy and overseen key areas including fundraising and development, equity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. She also represents the organisation at national and sectoral levels, nurturing relationships with funders, policymakers and industry partners.
Seonaid’s connection to Glasgow Film spans nearly two decades, beginning with her first role as Marketing and Events Officer at Glasgow Film Theatre in 2007. She later became Festival Producer at Glasgow Film Festival in 2009, helping to shape its creative direction through city-wide cross-cultural partnerships. Her career also includes roles as Head of Partnerships at The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust) and Director of the Scottish Contemporary Art Network, where she led on strategic development, advocacy, and sector-wide development initiatives.
Passionately committed to Glasgow Film’s values and vision of Cinema For All, Seonaid’s appointment ensures consistency of leadership for Scotland’s largest screen organisation. Seonaid will take up the post of Chief Executive from September 2025.
A visionary cinema leader, Paul Gallagher has been a key member of Glasgow Film’s management team for more than a decade, first as Marketing Manager and subsequently as Programme Manager, leading on year-round programming at Glasgow Film Theatre since 2018. Key successes during his tenure include the establishment of GFT’s long-running programming strands Scorsese of the Month and Coen Brothers of the Month; the diversification of GFT’s CineMasters programme to spotlight broader film industry talent; and the curation of GFT’s hugely popular 50th Anniversary programme.
Paul began his career in journalism, working as Film Editor for The Skinny and as a freelance film and books journalist for outlets including The List, Radio Scotland, Big Issue and more. He has experience across a range of cultural sectors, previously working as Web Editor for both STV and Scottish Book Trust. Paul will step into the new role of Head of Programme from September 2025, leading on creative direction for both GFT and GFF.
This new role adds to an existing high-performing and experienced leadership team at Glasgow Film, which includes David Gattens, Finance and Commercial Director, and recently refined roles for incumbent staff Lindsay Clydesdale, Head of Marketing and Communications, and Debbie Aitken, Head of Festival Operations.
Collectively the Glasgow Film team, with the support of their key partners Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland and Glasgow City Council, have cemented GFT’s position as the best performing independent cinema in Scotland, with admissions now back to pre-pandemic levels. Scotland’s leading film festival, GFF continues to go from strength to strength, attracting worldwide film talent to Scotland with a fast-growing industry programme and year-round talent development initiatives contributing to the future of the film sector in Scotland.
Seonaid Daly said: “I’m proud to take on the role of CEO at Glasgow Film, a place that has shaped both my career and my love of cinema. It’s a huge privilege to be responsible for such an important institution and I’m very excited to play a key role in ensuring its future.
“Glasgow Film is in a really strong position thanks to all the staff, volunteers, different people and organisations who make up our vibrant communities, and of course Allison Gardner, whose leadership has been central to Glasgow Film’s success.
“I’m inspired by my brilliant colleagues, our dedicated partners, the filmmakers we work with, and our loyal audiences, who remind us daily, why our cinema means so much to them. There’s always more to do to ensure everyone can see themselves on screen, explore creative careers, and feel at home in GFT. Cinema has the power to both reflect and shape the world around us and I believe deeply in the importance of open, inclusive cultural spaces, places where people feel welcome, inspired, and connected.”
Paul Gallagher said: “I am thrilled to take on the responsibility and privilege of the new Head of Programme role at Glasgow Film. Over the past six years I have loved leading on the year-round programme at GFT: working with such a wide range of partners and receptive audiences has been an education in expanding my horizons and understanding the vital role that independent cinema can play in the lives of so many different people. I'm excited to take that experience and build on those relationships as I step up to lead the curatorial vision for GFT and GFF. I can’t wait to work with Seonaid and the brilliant GFT and GFF Programme teams on what is an incredibly bright future for Glasgow Film.”
Allison Gardner, outgoing Chief Executive of Glasgow Film and Director of Glasgow Film Festival, said: “I am delighted that Seonaid will be taking up the position of Chief Executive at Glasgow Film as I know she is passionate about our organisation and upholding our values. I know she will do an excellent job, working alongside our brilliant staff to continue to make Glasgow Film a vibrant and important cultural venue for film and talent.
“Paul is an excellent appointment to make sure GFT and GFF continue to provide great cinema that is accessible to all. His programming work at GFT has been exceptional and, alongside the teams, has made our cinema the best in the world. I’m sad to be leaving after over 30 years but immensely proud to have worked here and helped to contribute to the success of GFT, GFF and our youth and community work. I retire knowing that our organisation is in good hands and will be celebrating Glasgow Film’s future successes from afar.”
Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotland, said: “Seonaid and Paul have each played a vital role in the success and growth of Glasgow Film in recent years and their appointments reflect the organisation’s commitment to excellence and to developing talent within the Scottish screen exhibition sector.
“Under their leadership, the future of Glasgow Film is bright, and the GFT will continue to flourish as a vital home for cinema culture, a welcoming home to diverse audiences and filmmakers, and a driving force for independent cinema from Scotland and beyond. We congratulate them both and look forward to working with them closely.”
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Image credits
Images of Seonaid Daly and Paul Gallagher courtesy of Glasgow Film