Glasgow Film Festival to Launch with ‘Everybody to Kenmure Street’

The 22nd edition of the Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) will open with the documentary Everybody to Kenmure Street, directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra and executive produced by acclaimed actress and filmmaker Emma Thompson. The film is set to premiere on February 25, 2024, capturing a significant moment of civil resistance in Scotland.

Everybody to Kenmure Street chronicles events from May 2021, when a raid by the U.K. Home Office in the diverse Glasgow neighborhood of Pollokshields sparked a powerful community response. Local residents mobilized to halt the deportation of their neighbors, leading to a dramatic eight-hour standoff that garnered international attention. As the news of the raid spread, the protest grew from a handful of individuals to hundreds, effectively blocking the immigration enforcement van on Kenmure Street.

Documentary Highlights Community Solidarity

The documentary features a mix of crowd-sourced footage from the day, archival film, and dramatized scenes. Cinematographer Kirstin McMahon captured these moments, with actors conveying the testimonies of participants who chose to remain anonymous. This approach adds a layer of personal narrative to the film, highlighting the community’s extraordinary act of peaceful solidarity.

Bustos Sierra is known for his previous work, Nae Pasaran, which explored the impact of a boycott by East Kilbride Rolls Royce factory workers in the 1970s on ending General Augusto Pinochet’s regime in Chile. That film premiered as the closing gala at the Glasgow Film Festival in 2018 and received the award for best film at the BAFTA Scotland Awards.

Produced by Ciara Barry of the Glasgow-based company barry crerar, in collaboration with Bustos Sierra through Debasers Films, Everybody to Kenmure Street has also received backing from the National Lottery via Screen Scotland. Mark Thomas of Screen Scotland served as executive producer alongside Thompson. The film features an original score by Barry Burns of the band Mogwai.

Premiering Across the U.K. and Beyond

Following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the film will have its U.K. premiere in Glasgow before being released in U.K. and Irish cinemas on March 13, 2024, by Conic. Bustos Sierra commented on the film’s significance, 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 expressed enthusiasm for screening the film at the Glasgow Film Theatre, emphasizing the joy it may bring to the local audience.

Paul Gallagher, head of programming for the Glasgow Film Festival, expressed his excitement about the opening film, describing it as “hugely inspiring.” He noted that it addresses themes of community action and resistance to injustice, resonating with issues relevant worldwide today. Gallagher highlighted how the film encapsulates the spirit of Glasgow’s commitment to civil disobedience and meaningful change.

The festival will conclude on March 8, 2024, with the U.K. premiere of James McAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, marking another year of showcasing Scottish talent.