Glasgow's film festival has announced what it has called its most successful year to date.

Attendance at the Glasgow Film Festival was recorded at 40,107.

This year's festival attendance figures did not include the Glasgow Youth Film Festival, which is now to be held later in the year, or any festival-long exhibitions.

Audience numbers at the festival's free screenings - which included a retrospective of film noir and a series of talks from stunt directors, make-up artists and composers - increased by 27%.

The 2017 festival included the world premiere of Mad To Be Normal about the controversial psychiatrist RD Laing, with star David Tennant in attendance, and the UK premiere of Alankrita Shrivastava'sLipstick Under My Burkha, which won the festival's Audience Award.

The Glasgow Short Film Festival will run from March 15-19 and the Glasgow Youth Film Festival moves to its new slot from September 22-24.

Allan Hunter, the co-director of the Glasgow Film Festival, said: "It has been a real thrill to witness how enthusiastically audiences have embraced the entire programme.

"They have also warmly welcomed a bumper list of guests from Ben Wheatley and Jack Reynor to Macha Grenon, Quintin Aaron and our Audience Award winner Alankrita Shirvastava.

"Their support provides us with endless encouragement as we look to the Festival’s future."

Allison Gardner, co-director, said: "GFF17 has been a delight, from the great audiences who rode the fairground rides with me at our screening of The Lost Boys at our secret location to those who braved the extreme cold for our screening of The Thing at Snow Factor, the audiences have been with us 100%."

The leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Frank McAveety said: "It’s apparent from the eclectic and inventive programming that Glasgow Film Festival loves its audience. And audiences love the Festival in return, as has been confirmed by this year’s record-breaking attendance figures.

“We’re delighted to support the festival; its success in attracting visitors from across the UK and overseas only helps to consolidate Glasgow’s reputation as a global major events city. We recognise the importance of such festivals to Glasgow, which is why events is a key pillar of our new Tourism and Visitor Plan to 2023."

Paul Bush, director of event for VisitScotland, said: "Once again the Glasgow Film Festival team have delivered another outstanding event.

"It is great to see that so many people have engaged with the festival over its 12 days, showing why it is one of the UK’s premier film festivals.

“From its use of unique venues that offer the perfect stage for hosting memorable pop-up cinema events to its free screening of films each day, the festival pushes the boundaries while ensuring it is fully inclusive and accessible to all. EventScotland is proud to support the Glasgow Film Festival and we look forward to what they have in store in 2018."