Yesterday marked the end of the 7th annual Glasgow Film Festival, a relatively recent addition to the country’s film tradition that is quickly becoming one of Britain’s most prestigious, a love letter to cinema of truly joyous proportions.

Divided across fifteen venues, including the Glasgow Film Theatre, the Glasgow school of art and the city’s Renfrew Street Cineworld – a cinema that holds the record for being the tallest in the world and the busiest in the U.K. – this year’s festival ran between the 17th and 27th of February, proving the most successful year yet, with attendance figures which now exceed 30,000.

Celebrating both new releases and old, the Glasgow Film Festival has this year screened The Eagle, Rubber, and Ken Loach’s latest offering, Route Irish (for which I shared a screen with Oliver Wood from Harry Potter – star struck!), along with welcome revisits to The Bridge Over the River Kwai and Battle Royale – now in g(l)orious 3D. With Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar playing as integral a role to the event as ever, it was no surprise to see the comic book writer showcasing Superman II as part of the festival’s Superheroes in Glasgow strand, as well as offering his personal criticisms of audience member’s own portfolios.

Choosing to this year honour one Meryl Streep, the festival presented nine of the actress’ most beloved movies, returning The Deer Hunter, Sophie’s Choice and Out of Africa, among others, to the big screen for one esteemed celebration of the respected Dancing Queen – who has amassed an impressive sixteen Oscar nominations over the years.

Simultaneously celebrating the best of British, Bollywood cinema and fashion in film, the Glasgow Film Festival has done its best to cater to everyone as it attempts to honour both big and small budget productions from home and away.

Though it may seem at times as though every city and their cathedral has a film festival these days, Glasgow is growing into quite the heavyweight, worthy of mention alongside fellow big-hitters London and Edinburgh. With thoughts soon turning to 2012’s festivities, Glasgow may well prove the place to be.