GLASGOW Film Festival (GFF) has announced the first of its titles for the 19th edition of the event. 

The programme for the 2023 festival, which will take place from March 1 to 12, will include Looking for America: The Films of Lee Grant, a celebration of the documentary work of the extraordinary actor and director. 

Grant began directing documentaries in the 1980s that were ahead of her time and she won the Oscar for Best Documentary for Down And Out In America and was the first female director to win the Directors Guild Of America Award.   

GFF23 will screen five of her documentaries: Battered, Down and Out in America, What Sex Am I?, When Women Kill and The Willmar 8. 

READ MORE: Michael Bublé announces extra tour date in Glasgow

The festival will celebrate the work of a new generation of Spanish filmmakers with its 2023 Country Focus: Viva el cine español!

The titles screening include the heart-breaking social drama On The Fringe with Penélope Cruz and Luis Tosar, the gripping true-life tale Prison 77, and Lullaby, a film championed by Pedro Almodóvar as "undoubtedly the best debut in Spanish cinema for years".

Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: "Glasgow Film Festival is one of the most popular annual highlights of the city’s rich cultural calendar.

"Its outstanding international reputation as a carefully curated showcase of the best of world cinema, on-screen talent and off-camera creative craft ensures the event always attracts audiences in their thousands, making it a significant contributor to our visitor economy. 

"The first titles announced for GFF23 set the tone for what promises to be another superb festival offering a hugely varied choice of contemporary and retrospective screenings across a great range of genres and other exciting events."

READ MORE: Behind the scenes magic – Watch how The Royal Mint makes new Harry Potter coins

Also returning next year is the GFF's popular Retrospective strand which screens 10 free films during the festival. 

The films selected span eight decades and include It Happened One Night, Roman Holiday and The Piano. 

Each Retrospective film has a special introduction beforehand from festival co-director Allan Hunter, whose filmmaking insights and anecdotes have become a favourite with GFF audiences. 

GFF23 will sadly be the final edition with Allan as festival co-director, a role he has held since 2007. 

Allan is a film critic for Screen International and has written several books including biographies of Faye Dunaway, Walter Matthau and Gene Hackman

READ MORE: Hollywood star Dougray Scott spotted filming in West End

Allan said: "It has been one of the great privileges of my career to be part of the Glasgow Film Festival for the past 15 years.

"It has been humbling to witness how the festival has grown and to discover just how much is it cherished by our incredible audiences.

"Everything has its season and it is time to move along.

"Time for someone with fresh ideas and energy to assist the Festival on the next stage of its journey.

"I will miss wonderful colleagues and the best audiences in the world but I look forward to watching the festival continue to grow and prosper."

READ MORE: Glasgow to host film festival celebrating cinema from twin city Havana

Allison Gardner, GFF co-director, said: "We are excited and delighted to share some of the upcoming treats we have for GFF23 with our audiences, however as it is Allan’s last festival the moment is tinged with sadness for me.

"I cannot properly articulate how much I have loved working with alongside him, his knowledge, enthusiasm and patience are legendary, and I will be bereft without him.

"However, I am looking forward to guiding GFF to a new phase that will continue to delight audiences and be a beacon of film light to our burgeoning film industry."

READ MORE: 'Lost' film unseen for 50 years to have world premiere in Glasgow

Isabel Davis, executive director at Screen Scotland, said: "Glasgow Film Festival’s tireless commitment to finding great work and introducing it to new audiences has seen it grow in strength and reputation. 

"As Allan delivers his final edition, having shaped it from the outset with co-programmer Allison Gardner, we owe him huge thanks for his dedication, hard work and careful curation.

"The festival’s friendly and welcoming nature is reflective of Allan himself.

"He’ll be much missed, and we wish him well for the future."

GFF is run by Glasgow Film, a charity which also runs Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT), and is made possible with support from Screen Scotland, the BFI (awarding funds from the National Lottery) and Glasgow Life. 

The full 2023 programme will be announced in January, with tickets going on sale later that month. 

You can find out more HERE.