Meet the Programmer

Glasgow Film Theatre’s Programme Manager Paul Gallagher would love to surprise his audience with an impromptu visit from Martin Scorsese

First cinema memory?

I was born in a town called Guiseley, just outside of Leeds. One of my earliest cinema memories is of my Dad taking me and my brothers to the UK’s first IMAX screen in what was then called the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford. This was in the mid- to late-80s, and we saw a film called The Dream Is Alive – a documentary about the NASA space programme, shot by astronauts in training and in space. I don’t remember much except the screen was mind-blowingly huge, it was amazing.

Best film you’ve seen on the big screen? Much too difficult to say, but I’ll mention two experiences that are forever lodged in my mind. Lawrence of Arabia on 70mm at the Edinburgh Filmhouse in 2016 – cinematic perfection in every respect. And the other is The Matrix at East Kilbride UCI, summer of 1999. I’ll never forget stumbling out of that cinema, knowing that movies would never be the same again. These were also both experiences shared with my late Dad, who was one of my favourite people to watch films with.

Favourite piece of programming you’ve put together?

I am really enjoying the Scorsese of the Month season that I began last June at GFT, which I plan to keep going for as long as there are more films directed by Martin Scorsese that we can screen! The reason I love it is because it brings together a lot of the best things about programming; the films connect very personally with people, so there is always a sense of connection with the audience; it allows me to put films on the big screen that don’t get seen in that context very often, and that lots of current cinemagoers will have only ever watched at home; and it involves the ‘detective’ aspects of the job of hunting down the rights to certain films, which can be very satisfying (although occasionally very frustrating!).

Favourite piece of programming by another programmer?

I have been constantly inspired by Allan Hunter’s retrospective programming at Glasgow Film Festival over the years. Allan has an unfailing instinct for screening films and filmmakers that sit in the perfect crossover point of that ideal audience Venn diagram containing ‘new discoveries’ and ‘old favourites you really want to see in the cinema’. His is a programming genius, to which I continually aspire.

What’s the best part of your job?

I mean there’s no two ways about it; it’s getting to watch films for a living! ‘Lucky’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Who’s your most memorable GFT guest?

I loved having Julian Barratt with his film Mindhorn. As a huge fan of The Mighty Boosh, I was super-excited to talk to him in front of an audience, and his hilarious and surreal answers did not disappoint. I also really enjoyed hosting Joachim Trier when he came to GFF in 2016. He was such a passionate, engaged filmmaker. I’ve been delighted to see him go on to such success and acclaim. More recently, it was a real privilege to host Laura

Poitras; such a sharp mind, with such generosity in conversation. She’s incredible.

Who’s your dream GFT guest?

I would love to host Paul Thomas Anderson at GFT. I love his unique perspective, his sense of humour and his commitment to cinema, and I know he would find a warm, receptive audience here. It’s also my dream to have Mr Scorsese turn up unannounced at one of our Scorsese of the Month screenings – imagine! And if I can pick one more I’d also like Barry Jenkins to come, and share a bit of that infectious passion for film that just pours out of him.

What films are you most looking forward to showing to audiences over the next few months at GFT?

I’ve heard a whisper of a hint that we might see Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City around the same date as its US release (23 Jun), so if that turns out to be true then that would be my number one forthcoming highlight, and I know it will be top of the must-see list for most GFT-goers too! Hlynur Pálmason’s Godland (7 Apr) is a stunning piece of cinema, a real epic in spirit and vision, which I think has the potential to get into lots of cinephiles’ end-of-year Top Tens. And I also can’t wait for audiences to get to see The Eight Mountains (12 May) – a beautifully-told Italian film of friendship and stunning vistas, and my favourite film from last year’s Cannes film festival. Oh, and also One Fine Morning (14 Apr) has a career-best performance from Lea Seydoux; it’s brilliant.

What film over the next three months would you urge people to take a risk on?

A film called Love According to Dalva (28 Apr), the debut of Belgian director Emmanuelle Nicot. The subject matter is incredibly tough – it focuses on a child who has been systematically abused by her father – but it draws us so close to the young girl’s perspective, through the incredible performance by actress Zelda Samson, and we begin to see there can be hope for her. It’s a film of great sensitivity and empathy.

As part of GFT’s Scorsese of the Month season, Justin Currie of Del Amitri will introduce New York, New York on 17 Apr glasgowfilm.org