Glasgow Short Film Festival announces first events

A new film about cult writer and poet Charles Bukowski and a night of jazz and film are the first events revealed for next year’s Glasgow Short Film Festival

Feature by The Skinny | 07 Dec 2016

Glasgow Short Film Festival – Scotland's largest celebration of short film – will celebrate its tenth edition next year (15-19 Mar), and the first morsels of programme news have started to filter in with two crossover events honouring short film’s links with music and poetry.

There’s An Evening With Bukowski planned for 17 Mar, which centers on the UK Premiere of Matteo Borgardt’s You Never Had It: An Evening With Bukowski. Based on a 1981 interview with Bukowski that was thought lost for over 30 years, the film shows the poet and writer talking long into the night as he smokes cigarettes and drinks wine with his soon-to-be wife, Linda Lee Beighle, and italian journalist Silvia Bizio, who's conducting the interview. The film also features poems read by Bukowski himself over footage of today's LA shot in Super8.

After the film, the night will continue with live performances from poets including Stephen Watt, whose 'crime poetry’ addresses Glasgow's gritty underbelly, and from musicians including Jacob Yates And The Pearly Gate Lock-Pickers.

The other event announced is a rare 35mm screening of Jazz Is Our Religion, John Jeremy's 1972 exploration of the musical form (18 Jan). The screening will be followed by an afterparty including live performances and a set from London jazz DJ Donna Leake.

Both events’ afterparties will take place at the newly-reopened Joytown Grand Electric Theatre in Garnethill. Having previously served as an exhibition hall, theatre, early cinema, zoo and snooker club, Joytown Grand Electric Theatre will become GSFF's festival club for four days and nights, with food, drink, screenings and special events from midday until late.

“I’m over the moon to have reached this significant anniversary, thanks to the dedication of the many short film-lovers who have generously contributed their time and passion to the festival over the last decade,” said Matt Lloyd, GSFF’s director. “We’re marking this birthday by introducing an exciting new venue, providing a base for our loyal audience and the ever-growing number of international filmmakers flocking to Glasgow each March. More special guests to be announced!”


Tickets for both events are available today from glasgowfilm.org/gsff. The full festival programme will be announced 1 Feb