Leading stuntman to make Glasgow Film Festival appearance

ONE of Hollywood’s leading stuntmen is to make a guest appearance at next year’s Glasgow Film Festival to introduce one of his best-known films.

Vic Armstrong doubled for Harrison Ford. Picture: Contributed

Vic Armstrong, who has stood in for Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Christopher Reeve will be at Kelvingrove art gallery to introduce a 30th anniversary screening of the first Indiana Jones adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Festival chiefs are also promising live-action entertainment at the iconic venue, which boasts thousands of historic artefacts, along with the appearance from Armstrong, who will also be “in conversation” at the festival in February.

Armstrong, who depicted Indiana Jones in the original trilogy of the archaeologist’s adventures, also appeared in the first two Superman films, Flash Gordon, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Live and Let Die, Never Say Never Again and You Only Live Twice.

Armstrong, who has appeared in more than 120 films over the last 50 years, holds the world record as the most prolific stunt performer of all-time.

Kelvingrove will also be hosting a special late-night screening of The Silence of the Lambs, the thriller which won Anthony Hopkins an Oscar for his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter, to mark its 25th anniversary.

The festival also has plans to expand into two new pop-up venues, the Barrowland Ballroom and Glasgow Science Centre.

Former Arab Strap singer Aidan Moffat will stage a special live music and screening event to mark the premiere of Where You’re Meant To Be, a documentary he made with filmmaker Paul Fegan on a tour of “off-piste” locations around Scotland last year.

David Bowie’s iconic sci-fi film The Man Who Fell To Earth will get a special 40th anniversary screening at the science centre.

The Tramway arts centre, which is currently hosting the Turner Prize exhibition, will be deployed by the film festival for a three-day season of music events celebrating the post-punk era.

The festival, which has grown to become the third biggest in the UK, has also unveiled a new sponsorship deal with ScottishPower which will help attract new big-name guests to the event.

Organisers have already revealed that the 2016 festival, which will run from 17-28, will feature a celebration of cinema’s great “golden couples” and the introduce of an industry strand for the first time.

Allison Gardner, co-director of the festival, said: ‘At Glasgow Film Festival the audiences always come first, so we’re very proud to be able to announce that our first few events to go on sale this year are such show-stoppers, and that we can pay such great tributes to some of Glasgow’s favourite buildings.

“We’re also absolutely delighted and hugely grateful to ScottishPower for their sponsorship of our audience award, enabling us to bring the nominated directors to Scotland to meet our audiences and discuss their films.

“It seems very appropriate that we’re getting a boost to a part of the festival which has engaged our audiences so thoroughly.”

Tickets for the GFF events announced today go on sale from noon on Thursday.