BAFTA-winning writer and director Lynne Ramsay, from Glasgow, will receive an Honorary City of Film Award at the Glasgow Film Festival.
She will receive the honor on March 6 at a special In Conversation event titled “From Page to Pulse,” which will be hosted by Glasgow filmmaker Adora. Onashil (Girl) and be part of the festival’s annual industry focus. Organizers said the director will take a “deep dive into her unparalleled approach to adaptation.”
The director made her feature film debut in 1999 with Glasgow-shot Mouserwhich won the BAFTA Award for Best Debut. “Over the past three decades, Lynn has become known for her distinctive visual style and powerful storytelling, directing Hollywood films that include We need to talk about Kevin, My love dies, and You weren’t really heresaid the festival.
Launched in 2024, the Cinema City Honorary Award recognizes filmmakers who have made an “outstanding contribution to cinema.” The award’s name dates back to the 1930s when Glasgow was home to more cinemas per person than anywhere else in the UK and became known as the Film City.
Previous winners of the award include Viggo Mortensen and Glasgow Hollywood star James McAvoy.
“Lynn Ramsay is one of the very few directors who has the seemingly miraculous power of taking a unique vision in their mind and creating it on screen exactly as they imagined it,” said Paul Gallagher, Program Head of El Gouna Film Festival. “Her films changed our understanding of what cinema could do and what it could be.”
Samantha Bennett, Industry Director at GFF, added: “It is a real honor to welcome local talent of Lynne’s caliber to the Industry Focus programme.”
The 2026 GFF guest lineup will also include a variety of other stars and filmmakers. McAvoy will attend the GFF closing ceremony for the UK premiere of his directorial debut California chartThe film was joined on the red carpet by cast members Samuel Bottomley, Seamus McLean Ross, and Lucy Halliday.
Glasgow-based director Felipe Bustos Sierra (Flute Basaran) will return to the festival to attend the opening ceremony All to Kenmore StreetAfter the film won the Sundance Award.
Other filmmaking talent attending the festival include Alice Winokur, Mark Jenkin, Polly Findlay, Mark Evans, Ian Forsyth, Jane Pollard and Edinburgh filmmaker Sean Dunne at the UK premiere of his black comedy. The fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford.
The 22nd edition of the Gulf Film Festival will be held from February 25 to March 8.
