James McAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, will have its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on March 8, 2026, bringing the 22nd edition of the festival to a close.
The film, based on the true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, follows Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd as they attempt to break into the music industry by posing as Californian hip hop artists. The audacious scheme unfolded over three years, during which the duo secured a record deal with Sony, made appearances on MTV and even shared a stage with Eminem, according to reports.
McAvoy, known for his roles in films such as The Last King of Scotland, Atonement, and the X-Men franchise, previously received the Cinema City Honorary Award at the Glasgow Film Festival in 2025. He expressed his delight at the premiere taking place in his hometown, stating, “As a proud Glaswegian, I’m delighted to be premiering California Schemin’ as the Closing Night Gala of the Glasgow Film Festival.”
The film was shot in locations across Scotland, including Dundee, the home city of Silibil N’ Brains, and Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom. McAvoy emphasized the local collaboration involved in the production, noting, “We made our film in Glasgow and Dundee with the support of a phenomenal Scottish cast and crew, so it feels fitting that we bring it back home for its UK premiere.” Cast members Samuel Bottomley and Seamus McLean Ross, alongside Lucy Halliday, are expected to join McAvoy on the red carpet.
California Schemin’ is a production of Patriot Productions, Home Front Pictures, and Blazing Griffin, with support from Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund. STUDIOCANAL will release the film in UK and Irish cinemas on April 10, 2026. The film explores themes of identity, ambition, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of fame, as described by McAvoy: “California Schemin’ is an unbelievable true story about identity, ambition, fame and how much you’re willing to sacrifice to get it. It’s a wild story and I can’t wait to share the film with festival audiences in March.”
Tickets for the UK premiere will go on sale in January 2026.
