City welcome for movie star Reno

Jean Reno was introducing his new film

French actor Jean Reno has promised to work on improving the links between Glasgow and his homeland as he visited the "intriguing" Scottish city.

He said he was "overjoyed" to accept Lord Provost Liz Cameron's invitation and attend the French Film Festival UK.

He was introducing his latest movie Tais-Toi!, which co-stars Gerard Depardieu, at the Glasgow Film Theatre.

Mr Reno was also attending an event aimed at fostering the links between Glasgow and France.

Members of L'Alliance Française were invited to the civic dinner at the City Chambers.

It's an honour for the city and the festival to have such a world-class star as our guest Lord Provost Liz Cameron

"I am overjoyed at the opportunity to attend the French Film Festival UK, which is doing so much to widen the range of le cinima frangais seen in Scotland and the rest of the UK," said Mr Reno.

"I am especially pleased, in the year of the Entente Cordiale celebrations, to visit Glasgow, a city that has intrigued me ever since I met its Lord Provost Liz Cameron, who is such a great 'ambassadress'."

The pair have become "firm friends" since they met 18 months ago at an event in Brittany.

The Lord Provost said: "It's an honour for the city and the festival to have such a world-class star as our guest, and I can vouch that Mr Reno is totally charming, a side we don't always see in some of his portrayals on screen."

Film career

She said the actor had given an assurance that he would work with her to improve links between the city and France.

Mr Reno's film career includes films such as The Big Blue, French Kiss, Leon, Mission Impossible, Nikita and Ronin.

He was being accompanied on the visit by Lonc Frimont, a founder of an organisation which aims to re-establish ancient maritime links between ports around the world.

The French Film Festival UK runs until 5 December at cinemas in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and London.