Lynne Ramsay to Receive Cinema City Honorary Award at Glasgow Film Festival

BAFTA-winning filmmaker Lynne Ramsay will be honored with the Cinema City Honorary Award at the upcoming Glasgow Film Festival (GFF). The celebrated Glaswegian director will receive the award on March 6 during a special In Conversation event titled From Page to Pulse.

Celebrating a Distinctive Career

Ramsay, known for her striking visual style and powerful storytelling, first gained recognition with her 1999 debut feature Ratcatcher, which earned her the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. Over the past three decades, she has directed acclaimed films including We Need to Talk About Kevin, Die My Love, and You Were Never Really Here.

Festival organizers praised Ramsay’s ability to translate her unique vision onto the screen. “Her films have changed our understanding of what cinema can do and be,” said Paul Gallagher, GFF head of program.

About the Cinema City Honorary Award

Launched in 2024, the Cinema City Honorary Award recognizes filmmakers who have made an outstanding contribution to cinema. The award’s name pays tribute to Glasgow’s history as “Cinema City” in the 1930s, when the city boasted more cinemas per person than anywhere else in the U.K. Previous recipients include Viggo Mortensen and Glasgow-born Hollywood star James McAvoy.

Industry Focus Event

The From Page to Pulse conversation will be hosted by Glasgow filmmaker Adura Onashile (Girl) as part of the festival’s Industry Focus strand. Ramsay will discuss her approach to adaptation and her creative process, offering insights into her filmmaking journey.

Samantha Bennett, GFF industry manager, emphasized the importance of Ramsay’s participation: “It is a true honor to welcome a homegrown talent of Lynne’s calibre to the Industry Focus program.”

Glasgow Film Festival 2026 Highlights

The 22nd edition of GFF runs from February 25 to March 8 and will feature a wide range of premieres and special events. James McAvoy will attend the closing gala for the U.K. premiere of his directorial debut California Schemin’. The opening gala will showcase Everybody to Kenmure Street by Felipe Bustos Sierra, fresh from its Sundance success.

Other notable filmmakers attending include Alice Winocour, Mark Jenkin, Polly Findlay, Marc Evans, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, and Edinburgh director Sean Dunn, who will premiere his black comedy The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford. With Ramsay’s recognition and a star-studded lineup, GFF 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting editions yet, celebrating both homegrown and international talent.