Glasgow Film Festival has had its most successful year to date with record-breaking ticket sales, organisers said.

In total, the festival saw 39,106 admissions over the 10-day programme, the highest in its nine-year history and up 12% on last year.

The UK premiere of Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing closed the festival tonight and the director delighted fans as he stopped to sign autographs and have pictures taken on the red carpet.

Whedon, who created Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Angel, as well as directing The Avengers and co-writing Toy Story, said: "To be chosen to be in the film festival and to be a part of it is really exciting.

"When we made this film we didn't know if this was something we would put on iTunes, show each other at parties, we didn't know what kind of life it was going to have. And now to be here closing the festival, it's more than an honour - it's just a delight."

Much Ado About Nothing is a film-adaptation of the William Shakespeare play.

This year's film festival saw a total of 368 screenings, panel discussions and live performances, including a special "Geek Night" with comic-book writer Mark Millar and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond.

Stars who made their way along the red carpet included Gemma Arterton, for the UK premiere of Byzantium, James D'Arcy, ahead of the first public screening of Cloud Atlas, and James Cosmo, who held an audience question-and-answer session.

Allison Gardner, co-director of Glasgow Film Festival, said: "This festival is all about delivering magical events for our audience and from Jane Birkin on the eve of the festival to Joss Whedon at the closing gala, it has been filled with unforgettable moments."

The festival was held in 27 venues across the city, including Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow Cathedral, The Tall Ship and St Enoch Subway station.