Inverclyde Film Festival returns to Greenock cinema

A total of 12 films will be showing at Waterfront Cinema between Friday and Sunday.

All of the films featured in the line-up have a Scottish link, including several which were independently produced in Scotland.

Festival lead Carys Knox said: “The film industry itself at the minute is going through a big turnover of independent films.

“In Scotland especially, there’s a lot of funding for these and, for us, it’s really important that there’s independent cinemas they’re able to be shown in.

“With us only having four screens, we can’t alternative programme throughout the year – so this is a good opportunity for us.

“It’s a chance for us to bring some of those independent films to the big screen, but also some Scottish classics.”

The festival will open with a screening of George Wyllie documentary The Why?s Man - which will be introduced by its director – at 7pm on Friday.

The film was shown at Inverclyde Film Festival in 2020 when plans for the Wyllieum at Greenock Ocean Terminal were being finalised, and now returns ahead of the facility’s grand opening.

This year’s line-up also features 1973 horror The Wicker Man, family-favourite Shrek, and Robin Williams classic Mrs Doubtfire.

Cinema-goers can also opt for screenings musical drama Wild Rose, Moulin Rouge, The Little Vampire, Janey and Typist Artist Pirate King.

On Sunday afternoon, there will be a showing of To See Ourselves – an Inverclyde-made documentary which offers a ‘deeply personal account’ of the Scottish independence referendum through the eyes of a pregnant filmmaker.

Following the film, there will be a Q and A with director Jane McAllister and protagonists Fraser McAllister and Matthew Wilson.

The festival will close with Charlotte Wells’ award-winning independent drama Aftersun – starring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio.

Carys said: “We’ve had a really, really good reaction so far.

“We’ve had quite a few tickets sold which is always a promising start.

“There’s a good mix of titles so hopefully we see people from all walks of life coming in.

“We’ve kept tickets at £5 because we understand coming to the cinema is a bit of an expense now.

“As a whole, we’re trying to make the cinema as accessible as possible and trying to garner more community support.”

Carys thanked Film Scotland for funding this year’s festival, as well as the cinema’s owner David Shaw and operations manager Kiera McSorley for their support.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now at waterfrontcinema.co.uk.