The 22nd annual Glasgow Film Festival closed on Sunday 8 March 2026 with the star-studded UK premiere of James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’. The film is inspired by the true story of aspiring Dundee rap duo, Silibil N’ Brains – a.k.a. Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd.
Determined to escape regional prejudice and realise their dream of scoring a record deal, they hatch a daring plan to reinvent themselves as a self-confident pair of American MCs. But as fame beckons, they find their friendship pushed to the limit.
McAvoy was joined on the Glasgow Film Festival red carpet by the film’s stars, Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross (who play Billy and Gavin), Lucy Halliday (who plays Billy’s long-term girlfriend Mary) and Rebekah Murrell (who plays their agent Tessa). Also making a red carpet appearance was one of the real-life rappers, Gavin Bain.
California Schemin’ will be released in UK and Irish cinemas by STUDIOCANAL on Friday 10 April 2026. California Schemin’ is a Patriot Pictures and Homefront production supported by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland's Film Development and Production Fund.
The festival also announced the winner of its prestigious Audience Award, chosen by the most important people at Glasgow Film Festival - the audience. The Audience Award is voted for from a selection of 10 handpicked films from first or second-time directors who show the promise of having long and exciting careers ahead of them. The winner of the GFF26 Audience Award is Mélisa Godet’s A Place For Her, a heartfelt and powerful French drama about a dedicated doctor and her team striving to keep their women’s shelter open and to help women heal from abuse.
The 22nd edition of Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) took place from 25 February to 8 March 2026. The festival hosted 126 films across 12 days, including 16 World, European and International premieres, 68 UK premieres, and 18 Scottish premieres, with titles from 44 countries and six continents. GFF26 highlights included the UK premiere of Glasgow-shot documentary Everybody To Kenmure Street and renowned Glasgow director Lynne Ramsay receiving the festival’s Cinema City Award.
GFF is Scotland’s leading film festival and is run by Glasgow Film, a charity which also runs Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT). The festival is made possible by support from Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, both awarding National Lottery funding, and Glasgow Life, the charity which delivers culture, events and active living in Glasgow.
Paul Gallagher, Glasgow Film Festival Head of Programme, said: “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. From our electric Opening Gala with Everybody to Kenmure Street, to the riotous Closing Gala celebration of California Schemin’, we have witnessed cinema that connects, startles, provokes and enthralls - I can’t wait to do it all again in 12 months’ time.”
James McAvoy, director of California Schemin’, said: “It’s a real honour to be here with California Schemin’ to close this year’s Glasgow Film Festival at the GFT. Bringing the film home to a Scottish audience and celebrating it in such an iconic cinema makes the moment incredibly special for all of us who made it.”
Mélisa Godet, director of the GFF26 Audience Award Winner,A Place For Her, said: "It is a great honour and a great joy for me that this film, so dear to my heart, is receiving the Audience Award. When you have the privilege of making a film like this one, you dream that it might touch people's hearts. It seems that is indeed the case here at the Glasgow Film Festival. And on this day, the 8th of March, International Women's Rights Day, this award takes on a very special meaning. So today, I think of all the women around the world who are fighting for their rights, for their safety, for their freedom. And I think of all those, women and men, who support them in this fight, who help them rise again. Thank you so very much. Long live women! Long live cinema! And all those who love them!"
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Image credits
Header image: Still from California Schemin' courtesy Bankside Films
Second image: L-R Rebekah Murrell, Gavin Bain, Samuel Bottomley, James McAvoy, Lucy Halliday, Producer Danny Page and Seamus McLean Ross on the GFF red carpet, credit Eoin Carey.