First ever Partick Film Festival takes place in Glasgow

Founder Joseph McLean, who was born in Partick and lives there now, says he has been wanting to start the festival for some time to give the local community an opportunity to access the film industry through screenings, talks and workshops. 

The TV producer was inspired to bring the idea to fruition after attending several film festivals which were showing a short film he was a part of called Car Sick.

READ NEXT: New images of major revamp to transform Merchant City building released

He said: "The festival itself is something I've been thinking about then over the past year I've had a short film I was involved in playing at other festivals. 

"I felt this was a really good time to get it started."

He continued: "I work in the industry and I felt that with the contacts I've got, I could bring people like writers to do talks or workshops. 

"I'm from Partick and I felt this was something I could do in the community and there's so many fantastic and unique venues like Partick Library and The Annexe building that lend themselves to a talk or a screening."

READ NEXT: When Billy Connolly played football for Radio Clyde...

After making the decision to launch the festival Joseph applied to the Partick and Thornwood Ideas Fund where members of the community voted for it to receive funding.

The Partick Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday, January 17 with Rab C Nesbitt creator Iain Pattison in conversation with broadcaster Paul English. 

Other events included a short film showcase on January 18 and a kids drama workshop which will take place today (January 20). 

All the events have been free to attend which Joseph says has been "great" for the community. 

The 43-year-old said: "It gives people access to the industry, we're trying to remove a barrier.

"There's been a really great response. So I think as a starting point it's been a really good launch for us."

While this year's festival is still to have its final event, Joseph is already thinking ahead to next year. 

He added: "Our plan for next year is to do more events. 

"It'll be along the same lines, we'll have film screenings, but we'll have more talks and more workshops. 

"The plan would be to invite actors, filmmakers, directors and writers to participate in talks and workshops so that we can engage with the local community."

You can find out more at partickfilmfestival.com.