Written by Annie Barber
Spanning twelve days, Glasgow Film Festival 2026 screened a diverse range of films, representing cultures and work from across the globe. Karma! managed to catch some of the films shown at the festival: Militantropos, Ghost School, California Schemin’, With Hasan in Gaza, Allah is Not Obliged, Orwell 2+2=5, and Midwinter Break, as well as Everybody to Kenmure Street, which earned its own review. Themes of loss, conflict, and strife tie these films together, the effects of which manifest themselves in different ways in each story. The concept of humanity remains at the core of each movie, with its different shades of light, grey, and dark on full display.
Militantropos
As Russia’s war on Ukraine progresses through the country, ordinary citizens have to make a choice: will they take up arms and fight, seek refuge somewhere safer, or stay exactly where they are? This choice has been the reality for the millions of people who have been profoundly affected by the conflict. The film Milintantropos explores the way in which this choice, and the ever-present threat of invasion affects Ukrainians. In particular, the movie delves into loss of self and humanity in the face of conflict, shrewdly examining both. Moments of normal life are contrasted with military scenes, bringing home the fact that war can affect anyone. Its examination of the ways in which people adapt, in the face of war, exposes the deep impact Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had on countless Ukrainians. The movie is visually stunning, thanks to Khrystyna Lyzohub’s cinematography. It is a beautiful portrayal of a horrific tragedy, striking the perfect balance between showcasing Ukraine’s natural beauty and the resilience of its people with the horrors of war.
Ghost School
Directed, produced, and written by independent filmmaker Seemab Gul, Ghost School blurs the boundaries of reality and deftly interrogates power structures in a Pakistani village. Nazualiya Arsalan puts on a captivating performance as Rabia, a young girl who follows her curiosity in pursuit of answers to the village’s mysteries. The concepts of spirituality and paranormal activity are explored in the film, which showcases the power of rumours and disinformation in controlling resistance. The story centres around a strong female character who cares about justice, and unwittingly discovers the corruption at play in the village. As the story progresses, real life and the supernatural become intertwined. The film is beautifully captured, with vibrant warm colours and textiles transporting viewers directly to the region. Its examination of the struggles faced by communities that are plagued by corruption is clever, and the choice for it to be viewed through the eyes of a young girl makes it all the more poignant.
California Schemin’
How far would you go to achieve your dreams? In James MacAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, based on a true story, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, two young men who live in Dundee and work in a call centre dream of becoming rappers. The pair set out on a mission to become the next big thing and get caught up in a lie. In order to cheat the system and secure a record deal, they both pretend to be Americans as Silibil N’ Brains and, remarkably, it works. But how long can they keep it up for? The film strikes the perfect balance between comedy and drama, with jokes and tension peppered throughout. As the weight of the lie comes crushing down, the relationship between Bain and Boyd fractures, showing the complexities and fragility of human connection. Séamus McLean Ross’ performance as Bain is a particular highlight and MacAvoy’s capabilities as a director are certainly promising.
With Hasan in Gaza
Life in Gaza is shown through the eyes of filmmaker Kamal Aljafari’s in With Hasan in Gaza which features documentary footage shot in 2001. It shows life for Palestinians from a firsthand perspective, as the film follows a man called Hasan as he takes Aljafari on a journey through the region. The film documents the Palestinian people’s struggles, against the constant threats of detention, injury, and death. Yet life goes on; mundane everyday experiences co-exist with unimaginable horrors in Palestine, something which the film showcases in an incredibly human way. Places like Gaza City and Khan Younis make haunting appearances in the documentary, both of which have since been devastated by the Israeli state’s occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people. Moments such as when Aljafari is warned that Israeli soldiers might think that his camera is a weapon, and that Israel sees documentary footage as a threat, due to its ability to expose the truth, show the true depravity of the situation. The film brings home a truth that many people are unwilling to face: that occupation and apartheid took full control of Palestine long before the October 7th attacks and that the Palestinian people have endured unimaginable suffering for far too long.
Allah is Not Obliged (Allah n’est pas obligé)
A touching tribute to child soldiers, animated movie Allah is Not Obliged follows the life of Birahima, a ten year old boy who gets forced into a life that he did not sign up for. Following the death of his mother, which left him orphaned, he leaves his village in Guinea with Yacouba, a man who says he is a marabout and leads Birahima down a dark path. The pair set out on a journey to find the young boy’s aunt in Liberia but get caught up in a civil war, which turns the innocent Birahima into a hardened child soldier. The film explores the interactions between faith and conflict, loss of humanity in the face of war, and the fraught nature of relationships that are founded in these turbulent circumstances. Birahima finds a community with the soldiers but his past continues to haunt him, making him feel insurmountable inner turmoil. The relationships between the characters are fraught yet moments of humanity and kindness shine through, despite the difficult circumstances they find themselves in. The film draws attention to some of the serious issues associated with the diamond trade, something which significantly and detrimentally affects many of Africa’s communities, in particular Sierra Leone, where Birahima and Yacouba pass through. Scenes throughout the film expose the horrors faced by thousands of child soldiers worldwide, and how loss of human life is often treated as a byproduct or even an unavoidable consequence of conflict. It is a damning report of the issues that the slave trade, racism, and colonialism have given rise to and a must watch movie.
Orwell 2+2=5
Sweeping scenes of Jura, an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, form the start of the film Orwell 2+2=5, a documentary style film about writer George Orwell’s life and work. For those who pay attention to the news and politics, this film does not make any striking revelations about the current state of our planet. But what it does is show audiences how Orwell managed to predict the future of politics with pinpoint accuracy. The movie combines footage of Jura, scenes from film adaptations of Orwell’s work, footage of the current state of the world, and even translations of phrases used in modern propaganda, presented as ‘newspeak’ (the fictional language from his novel 1984, which is used by those in power to maintain authoritarian control). The movie leaves almost no stone unturned. Examples of conflicts from across the globe are shown and the elements that uphold today’s power structures are interrogated. However, the use of AI generated images should have been restricted to examples of those already generated by others, rather than ones made specifically for the film, as this appears contradictory to the point the film is attempting to make. Nonetheless, Orwell 2+2=5 situates Orwell’s life and work within history and the current political landscape, effectively showing his impact and how accurate he was about almost everything.
In cinemas across the UK from the 27th of March.
Midwinter Break
In a bid to reinvigorate their dying connection, a woman buys a trip to Amsterdam for herself and her husband, in Polly Findlay’s Midwinter Break. Lesley Manville puts on a brilliant performance as Stella, a woman whose life is upturned by the troubles in Northern Ireland when she gets caught in crossfire. Flashbacks to this moment are shown throughout the film, illustrating how ordinary lives can be significantly altered by conflict. Stella is portrayed as complex and with a desire to be educated and seen. Her husband Gerry, played by Ciarán Hinds, is shown to be dismissive and flippant until he can no longer deny or hold in his emotions. These characterisations expose the ways in which patriarchy manifests itself: women are expected to do the emotional labour and men are expected to be strong and unfeeling. Another issue addressed within the film is alcoholism. Gerry’s struggles with drinking lead him to being dishonest and isolating himself from his wife, who finds solace in religion. The movie is a careful dissection of marriage and conflict, and a very thought provoking watch.
Each of these films explores the concept of truth — particularly its manipulation and the effects of that on our humanity, people of all different communities, as well as our relationships with ourselves and others. With an impressive selection of films and opportunities for industry access, Glasgow Film Festival 2026 has been a true triumph.
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