Glasgow Film Festival to Premiere Emma Thompson-Produced Documentary

The Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) will kick off its 22nd edition with the premiere of the documentary Everybody to Kenmure Street, produced by acclaimed actress and two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson. The film, directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra, is set to open on February 25, 2024.

This documentary captures the events of May 2021, when a U.K. Home Office operation in the Glasgow neighborhood of Pollokshields sparked a remarkable act of civil resistance. Local residents mobilized to prevent the deportation of their neighbors, transforming a handful of protestors into a crowd of hundreds. The movement, which coincided with Eid celebrations, made Kenmure Street impassable for the immigration enforcement van during an eight-hour standoff that garnered international attention.

The film combines crowd-sourced footage from the day with archival materials, complemented by scenes featuring actors portraying anonymous contributors’ testimonies. Bustos Sierra is known for his previous work, Nae Pasaran, which examined the impact of workers’ protests against the Pinochet regime in Chile. This earlier film premiered as the closing gala of GFF in 2018 and was awarded the best film honor at the BAFTA Scotland Awards.

Production and Release Details

was produced by Ciara Barry of the Glasgow-based production company barry crerar, in collaboration with Bustos Sierra through Debasers Films. The project received backing from the National Lottery via Screen Scotland, with Mark Thomas serving as executive producer alongside Thompson. The film features an original score composed by Barry Burns of the band Mogwai.

The film is scheduled for a wider release in U.K. and Irish cinemas on March 13, 2024, distributed by Conic. Bustos Sierra expressed his excitement, stating, “This film is a snapshot of a day, of a neighborhood, and of gestures repeated through time, for the right to have a voice and to live in peace.” He emphasized the significance of Glasgow’s historical legacy of civil disobedience and its role as a beacon for meaningful change.

Festival Highlights and Future Prospects

Paul Gallagher, head of programming at the Glasgow Film Festival, expressed enthusiasm about the festival’s opening film, noting its relevance in today’s social climate. He remarked, “Everybody to Kenmure Street tells a story that is pertinent for the whole world right now, focusing on a very specific moment in Glasgow’s recent past to offer a deeply moving vision of community action and resistance to injustice.”

The GFF will conclude with the U.K. premiere of James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’ on March 8, 2024, marking the second consecutive year that the festival features Scottish productions as both its opening and closing films. This year’s lineup reflects Glasgow’s vibrant film culture and commitment to highlighting pressing social issues through cinema.