Tag: Edinburgh International Film Festival

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 draws to a close and continues to scale up, building creative in-roads with filmmakers and industry

  • With 194 screenings, 34 Industry and panel events, the Festival welcomed over 300 filmmakers, producers and distributors to present their films
  • A total in person attendance over 16500

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) 2025 draws to a close following a seven-day programme of sold-out premieres, illuminating talks, retrospectives and well-received industry events which continues to build on last year’s successful Festival reboot.

The Festival ran from 14 – 20 August with 43 new feature films, 18 of which were World Premieres including 10 World Premieres competing for The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, this year won by Abdolreza Kahani’s Mortican, and 6 short film programmes including The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence competition, this year won by Joanna Vymeris’s Mother Goose. 

The Festival presented special retrospectives including Sacred Bonds, the 6 original James Bond films starring Sean Connery, introduced by members of the Connery family and special guests, and Budd Boetticher’s The Ranown Cycle presented in partnership with Edinburgh Film Guild, alongside 6 special retrospective screenings with introductions from special guests including Andrea Arnold, Kevin Macdonald, Nia DaCosta and David Hayman. 

In Conversation events with major film talent took place, with legendary film editor Thelma Schoonmaker discussing Michael Powell, Ken Loach, Paul Laverty and Rebecca O’Brien, Jeremy Thomas and Mark Cousins, Eva Victor and Adele Romanski, Nia DaCosta, Ben Wheatley and Andy Starke, Andrea Arnold, and Kevin Macdonald and Andrew Macdonald, in partnership with BAFTA Scotland. Hosts included Director of BFI Filmmaking Fund Mia Bays, Variety Film Critic Guy Lodge, Director of Edinburgh TV Festival Rowan Woods, Edinburgh Comedy Award Winning Comedian, Actor & Writer Rose Matafeo, 90 Minutes or Less Podcaster Sam Clements and We Are Parable Co-Founder and Creative Director Anthony Andrews.

The Festival kicked off on 14 August with the UK Premiere of Eva Victor’s acclaimed breakout hit Sorry, Baby and presented a selection of compelling new and established voices in cinema including 39 World Premieres and 48 UK Premieres across features and shorts.

The Festival platformed new talent in Scotland with World Premieres of new shortform work from the inaugural NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab and new Bridging the Gap documentary shorts in partnership with the Scottish Documentary Institute.

Closing the Festival was the World Premiere of Paul Sng’s brilliantly inventive Irvine Welsh documentary Reality Is Not Enough, rounding off a programme with a strong presence for Scotland-based filmmakers and Scottish talent.

The Festival programme showcased new work from filmmakers from 36 countries including Scotland, UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Croatia, France, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Iran, Argentina, South Africa and beyond.

EIFF also continued to thrill audiences with its Midnight Madness strand beginning with the World Premiere of Ben Wheatley’s visionary Bulk and ending with Macon Blair’s new take on The Toxic Avenger.

The Festival worked with venue partners including the newly reopened Filmhouse alongside Cameo Cinema, Vue Omni, Monkey Barrel Comedy and a new pop-up cinema at the National Galleries of Scotland’s Hawthornden Theatre in partnership with Assembly Festival, once again placing EIFF at the heart of the Fringe and August’s unparalleled Festival landscape.

Tollcross Central Hall served as the Festival Hub, open throughout the Festival to industry and press delegates for industry panels and networking events, alongside informal meeting and working spaces.

With 194 screenings and 34 Industry and panel events, the Festival saw a total in person admissions at public events of over 16,500. All of which added up to the seven-day celebration of world-class new cinema championing a new generation of UK and international talent and seeing audiences, press and industry engage with the best of Edinburgh’s other arts and cultural Festivals.

The Industry Programme ran across the whole of the Festival and was very well received by attending guests with praise for EIFF championing both the spirit of independent cinema globally and locally and cross-arts conversations. Press and industry delegates experienced a wealth of programming including talks and panels discussing disability inclusion and access within film projects with CODE, OSKA Bright and BFI; a case study on Development to Distribution of The Outrun with BBC Film, StudioCanal, Brock Media,Protagonist and Edinburgh International Book Festival; Crafting Fear Through Games and Film with Screen Burn Interactive and Nia DaCosta; an overview of the animation sector in Scotland with Animation Scotland and Animated Women UK; a Screenwriting in Scotland discussion event in association with Writers Guild of Great Britain with Andrea Gibb, Paul Laverty, Paul Sng and Kelly Macdonald; a panel on How Female Creators Are Using TikTok to Break Into the Exclusive World of Film.

A Scottish/Irish Co-Production Opportunities event was hosted with Enterprise Ireland, Filming in Limerick and Screen Scotland, and Screen Scotland delivered an informative session on the new Talent Builder development project.

Other Networking Brunches and Networking Drinks were delivered in partnership with WFTV, Production Guild of Great Britain, Screen Fringe, BBC Film, Screen Academy Scotland, Animation Scotland, Animated Women UK and Writers Guild of Great Britain.

As part of a new partnership with production company Unified led by BAFTA winning producer Amy Jackson (The Nest, Aftersun) and BAFTA winning producer Lauren Dark (The Father, Enys Men), the Festival hosted industry talks from Interim Head of Creative at Film4 Farhana Bhula; Oscar-nominated producer David Hinojosa (Past Lives, The Brutalist, EIFF 2025 title After This Death); Oscar-winning producer Adele Romanski (Moonlight, Aftersun); Director of BBC Film Eva Yates; A24’s Rose Garnett, former Director of BBC Film and Film4; Oscar-nominated producer Finola Dwyer (An Education, Brooklyn), BFI Director of Video Games and Certification Anna Mansi and Executive Director of Screen Scotland Isabel Davis.

Every screening and event at the Festival was introduced by a member of the EIFF team, and BSL interpretation was offered at 33 screenings that were presented with HOH Descriptive Subtitles. Audio Description was provided where possible and live captioning was provided at In Conversation events and panels.

The Festival welcomed over 300 filmmakers, producers and distributors to present their films, over 250 industry delegates including buyers, sales agents, commissioners and festival programmers including Eugene Hernandez, Head of Sundance Film Festival & Public Programming, and Jacqueline Lyanga, Co-Director of Film Programming at Berlinale, and over 170 press delegates.

Filmmakers and actors attending the Festival included Thelma Schoonmaker, Ken Loach, Renée Zellweger, Andrea Arnold, Jeremy Thomas, Kevin Macdonald, Andrew Macdonald, Nia DaCosta, David Hayman, Kate Dickie, Paul Laverty, Rebecca O’Brien, Kelly Macdonald, Eva Victor, Ben Wheatley, Eddie Marsan, Burn Gorman, Rose Matafeo, Jane Horrocks, Golda Roshuevel, Paul Andrew Williams, Brenda Blethyn, John McPhail, Andrew Kötting, Simon Rumley, Stacy Martin, Sam Riley, Alexandra Maria Lara, Noah Taylor, Gerard Johnson, Polly Maberly, Julie Pacino, Nadia Fall, Reed Birney, Constantine Costi, Barry Ward, Lorne MacFadyen, Steve Oram, Steven Saltzman, Douglas Mackinnon, Abdolreza Kahani, Gola and many more.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd has said: “We are extremely proud of all the exceptional films we launched, as well as all the filmmakers, cinematic legends and audiences we welcomed to Edinburgh this past week.

“Our competitions continue to thrive, with buzzy titles provoking, entertaining and moving audiences, and our wider programme of features, shorts, events and talks signal our place in a global film culture that is alive and exciting.

“Putting it all together has been the collaborative work of many organisations, teams and individuals, and we owe them all an immense debt of gratitude. We cannot wait for EIFF 2026.”

Isabel Davis, Executive Director, Screen Scotland has said: “Filmmakers, audiences, and industry have been brought together thanks to a very strong proposition from Paul and the team at EIFF: the world premiere feature and short competitions, extraordinary insight from some of the most exciting filmmakers working today, and opportunities to network across the festival including with the Fringe being some of the highlights.

“With Cameo, the newly re-opened Filmhouse, Vue and the National Gallery all screening films and with Tollcross Central Hall now the recognized industry place to be and events venue, the festival has taken another confident step forward.”

EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and the industry programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland.

Edinburgh International Film Festival ran from Thursday 14 to Wednesday 20 August 2025.   

Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the EIFF team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.

Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by EIFF Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of award-winning indie, Aftersun; Teresa Moneo, Former Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at Screen Burn Interactive. 

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces 2025 Competition Winners

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces winners of this year’s Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence and The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition

The winner of the Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence is Abdolreza Kahani’s Mortician

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced the winners of its prize for feature filmmaking and its prize for short filmmaking.

The awards were presented at a special ceremony at Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh by Jason Connery on behalf of The Connery Foundation and by legendary film editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

The winner of this year’s The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, decided on by an audience vote and funded by The Connery Foundation is Abdolreza Kahani’s Mortician. Ten feature-length World Premieres were presented at EIFF as part of the competition with the winning filmmaker being awarded £50,000 to support their future projects.

In Mortician, a reclusive mortician faces an unusual request from a dissident singer in hiding, their bond providing the beating heart of this disarmingly elegant film. Combining a distinctive, lo-fi visual style, naturalistic performances and familiar wit and humanity, Director Abdolreza Kahani’s film is both utterly distinctive and affecting.

Mortician sees director Abdolreza Kahani return to EIFF following his film A Shrine screening as part of last year’s Festival. Mortician is presented as part of Spotlight Canada 2025, supported by The High Commission of Canada and The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation.

The other films in competition films were:

Blue Film (Dir. Elliot Tuttle)

Powered by extraordinary performances, a tight script and an elegant visual style, this unusual thriller makes for a shocking and highly compelling cinematic experience.

Concessions (Dir. Mas Bouzidi)

Propelled by a witty and weirdly lyrical script, great performances and some unexpected cameos, this is a fresh, funny and robust ode to cinema in a time of uncertainty over its future.

In Transit (Dir. Jaclyn Bethany)

An elegant, subtle drama with a chilly edge, this is a restrained and emotionally intelligent exploration of selfish desires, hidden motivations and what it really takes to know yourself.

Low Rider (Dir. Campbell X)

Powered by finely drawn characters and a freewheeling narrative, this is a vivid and visually striking queer road movie that has a strong message of self-empowerment at its core

Best Boy (Dir. Jesse Noah Klein)

A bold, original and blackly comic satire that fearlessly skewers social constructs, the nuclear family and toxic masculinity.

Novak (Dir. Harry Lagoussis)

An offbeat, intriguing exploration of idol worship, consumerism and non-conformity in the modern world, this is dark, unpredictable and humorous in equal measure.

On The Sea (Dir. Helen Walsh)

The humdrum contentment and daily routine of a married mussel farmer are thrown into chaos by the arrival of a mysterious stranger in novellist and filmmaker Helen Walsh’s beautiful, erotic love story set on the Welsh coast.

Once You Shall Be One Of Those Who Lived Long Ago (Dirs. Alexander Rynéus and Per Bifrost)

An affecting, gorgeously crafted documentary about the remaining people in Malmberget in north Sweden, a small town slowly collapsing into the mines beneath it.

Two Neighbors (Dir. Ondine Viñao)

A wealthy socialite (Cherry) and a struggling writer (Chalotra) are thrown together at a debauched party in this remarkable satire of greed and excess with a supernatural twist in the tale.

The winner of The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition is Joanna Vymeris’s Mother Goose. The short film competition winner was also decided on by an audience vote and is awarded £15,000 to support their future projects.

After the death of her husband, Janet decides to distract herself by rearing a goose, which is to be the centrepiece of her Christmas dinner. However, as she grows ever more isolated from her daughter, Janet’s need to nurture the goose becomes an obsession: one which will cost her dearly. A modern day Grimm’s fairy-tale about grief, isolation and a goose.

EIFF 2025, Thelma Schoonmaker Award Winner, Mother Goose; Edinburgh International Film Festival, Aug 2025; Photographer: Kat Gollock © EIFF, Edinburgh International Film Festival All Rights Reserved

The other shorts in the competition are:

​​Love Me, Hold Me, Always (Dir. Hardey Speight)

Forced into homelessness after her release from prison, Chrissie searches for love in the margins of society.

Stray (Dir. Morven Christie)

From nightclub to wilderness, a young girl seeks shelter from a world that feels hostile.

Blondi (Dir. Jack Salvadori)

Can a dog still be man’s best friend if that man is the Führer?

The Golden Squacco Heron (Dir. Edward Smyth)

Two childhood friends search for the fabled golden Squacco Heron.

Fowl Play (Dir. Anabelle LeMieux)

A mother’s quest for a Thanksgiving turkey spirals into chaos.

Backstroke (Sırtüstü) (Dir. Asya Günen)

Burdened by pressure and isolation, a young swimmer finds freedom by reclaiming the water for herself.

She Said So (Dir. Madeline Clayton)

A persuasive teenage girl orchestrates a sleepover that tests her best friend’s sexual boundaries.

Jodie (Dir. Seb Tabe)

Jodie faces a moral dilemma as she contends with the harmful male influences in her life.

Your body in my room (Tu cuerpo en mi habitación) (Dir. Axel Cheb Terrab)

Knowing they will never see each other again, two former lovers are acutely aware of the passing of time.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd has said: “As the 2025 Edinburgh International Film Festival draws to a close I am once again moved and humbled by the hard work and astonishing effort that everyone has put into making this Festival stimulating, entertaining and fun.

“I am so grateful to all the organisations, teams and individuals who put their hearts and souls into this. These past seven days are testament to our collective belief in the power of film to provoke, to stimulate and to inspire empathy.

“Our two competition winners showcase outstanding work from their respective filmmakers and teams, proving that with formal dexterity, humanity and grace, cinema is alive and kicking.

“I am hugely inspired by all the filmmakers in Competition and beyond as well as all our special guests, who have worked so brilliantly with us to platform their work on the big screen and have been so generous with their time with audiences and with industry who we know very well are hungry for something fresh and exciting. I cannot wait for 2026!”

EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and the industry programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland.

Edinburgh International Film Festival ran from Thursday 14 to Wednesday 20 August. 

Police: Leave plenty of time for your travel in town tomorrow

Edinburgh City Centre is likely to be very busy on tomorrow (Thursday, 21 August) due to several events taking place.

Alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival, AC/DC will perform Murrayfield Stadium and Hibernian FC will play Legia Warszawa.

Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, Chief Superintendent David Robertson, said: “With multiple events on in Edinburgh on Thursday, locals and visitors are advised to leave plenty of time to travel around the city.

“Transport is likely to be busier than normal so please plan your journeys in advance.

“An appropriate policing plan is in place and additional officers will be on patrol in the city.”

New Guests at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced a new selection of guests attending this year’s Festival in support of World and UK Premieres and events.

Attending the Festival for the UK premiere of acclaimed film Dragonfly are director Paul Andrew Williams (London to Brighton, Bull), Andrea Riseborough (Oblivion, Birdman), Brenda Blethyn (Saving Grace, Pride & Prejudice) and Jason Watkins (The Last Honour of Christopher Jefferies, The Catch).

For the World Premiere of taut psychological crime thriller All The Devils Are Here director Barnaby Roper (The Interview, Scratch’n’Sniff) will attend the Festival with stars Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes, Ray Donovan), Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim, Watcher) and Tienne Simon (Grime Kids, C. B. Strike).

In town for the World Premiere of the exuberant and thoroughly entertaining family film Grow, director John McPhail (Anna and The Apocalypse, Dear David) will be joined by stars Golda Rosheuvel (Bridgerton, Eye For An Eye), Jane Horrocks (Little Voice, Cabaret), Dominic McLaughlin (HBO’s Harry Potter series), Priya Rose (Young Becky, The Lazarus Project) and Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso, Snow White).

For the UK Premiere of beautifully performed psychological thriller Islands, star Sam Riley (Maleficent, On The Road) will join director Jan Ole Gerster (Oh Boy!, A Friend Of Mine, Lara),  Jack Farthing (Poldark, Spencer) and Stacy Martin (The Brutalist).

The UK Premiere of The Golden Spurtle will see director Constantine Costi (Karakorum, Abduction) in attendance alongside participants from the competitive porridge making documentary including Charlie Miller, the former self-titled Chieftain of the Golden Spurtle.

Attending the Festival are the Competition filmmakers who make up this year’s main competition, The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence. They are: Director Harry Lagoussis (Stratos), Zlatko Burić (Triangle of Sadness, Pusher) and Ella Rumpf (Raw, Tiger Girl) for Novak; Director Jaclyn Bethany (Indigo Valley, The Delta Girl), writer Alex Sarregeorgiou and star Francois Arnaud (The Borgias, I Killed My Mother) for In Transit; Campbell X (Stud Life, Des!re) for Low Rider; Filmmakers Per Bifrost (Autonomous, Giants and the Morning After) & Alexander Rynéus (The Glitter Factory, Giants and the Morning After)  for Once You Shall Be One of Those Who Lived Here Long Ago; Director Mas Bouzidi (Flâneur, Four Grooves) for Concessions; Filmmakers Ondine Vinao (Holy Fools, Bottom of a Bottle), Ivy Freeman-Attwood (Bob Marley: One Love, On Point) and Ralph Ineson (The Witch, Fantastic Four) for Two Neighbors; Director Jesse Noah Klein (Shadowboxing, We’re Still Together) for Best Boy; Abdolreza Kahani (A Shrine, which screened in Competition at EIFF 2024, Delighted, Hich), Nima Sadrzadeh Jolgeh (A Shrine) and Gola (Head Over Heels, Tehran 1998) for Mortician; Filmmaker Elliott Tuttle (The Steps, Lina’s Song), Reed Birney (The Menu, House of Cards) and Kieron Moore (Code of Silence, Vampire Academy) for Blue Film; Director Helen Walsh (The Violators, The Gathering), Barry Ward (Jimmy’s Hall, Blood Cells), Lorne Macfadyen (Operation Mincemeat, The Little Stranger) and Liz White (Life on Mars, The Woman in Black) for On the Sea.

Across the wider programme, director Nadia Fall attends Brides alongside performers Ebada Hassan and Safiyya Ingar; Director Brendan Canty will attend for his Cork set film Christy; Director Gerard Johnson and star Polly Maberly attend for their darkly hilarious new thriller Odyssey; Director Urska Djukic attends for coming-of-age film Little Trouble Girls; Filmmaker Lucio Castro for the erotic thriller After this Death and Charlie Shackleton for his meta documentary Zodiac Killer Project.

Director Simon Rumley and star Steve Oram bring their unflinching film Crushed to the Festival; Director Julie Pacino and star Cara Seymour bring psychological horror I Live Here Now; Welsh language opera adaptation Fires of the Moon director Christopher Forster will be town; Surviving Earth filmmaker Thea Gajic; Director of the intimate documentary Walk With Me; Heidi Levitt, Directors Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni for their film Cutting Through Rocks; Director Harry Sherriff for darkly comic Misper and timely documentary Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk director Sepideh Farsi.

Previously announced guests include Eva Victor (Boys Go To Jupiter, As Of Yet) for the Festival’s opening night film Sorry, Baby. Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace, Free Fire), Noah Taylor (Shine, Vanilla Sky), Alexandra Maria Lara (Rush, Downfall) will attend for the World Premiere of Ben’s Midnight Madness opening night film Bulk.

Paul Sng (Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché, Tish) and Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting, Filth) attending for the World Premiere of Paul’s immersive documentary film Reality Is Not Enough, which will close the Festival on 20 August 2025.

Filmmakers from The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence will also attend the Festival.

EIFF’s In Conversation strand also features a range of attending major filmmaking talent who will discuss their creative careers to date including legendary editor Thelma Schoonmaker, celebrated filmmaking team Ken Loach, Paul Laverty & Rebecca O’Brien (The Wind That Shakes The Barley; I, Daniel Blake) Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void, One to One: John & Yoko) speaking with his brother, producer Andrew Macdonald (Trainspotting, Civil War, 28 Years Later), acclaimed filmmakers Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) and Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, American Honey, Cow, Bird) and producer Jeremy Thomas (The Hit, Bad Timing, Naked Lunch).

Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.

The Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Ridd is supported by the EIFF Board, led by Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; as well as Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, Former Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at Screen Burn Interactive (formerly No Code Studio). 

Paul Ridd, CEO & Festival Director said: ‘We are thrilled to be welcoming so many terrific filmmakers and performers from around the world to this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival to celebrate their work with us.

“One of the greatest joys of a film festival is the opportunity for audiences and industry to interact directly with the creatives behind the work shown onscreen, to hear directly about their vision, and to discuss films in a space that is both welcoming and productive.

“Our guest list this year is testament to all the hard work and passion that has gone on behind the scenes here in Edinburgh to make this edition special and to celebrate this wonderful medium in style.’

EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland.  

Website: https://www.edfilmfest.org/  

Social handles: Facebook, Instagram, Letterboxd, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (@edfilmfest)   

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces special In Conversation event with Ken Loach, Paul Laverty & Rebecca O’Brien

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is pleased to welcome legendary British filmmaker Ken Loach and his longtime creative collaborators, writer Paul Laverty and producer Rebecca O’Brien, for a special In Conversation event at this year’s Festival.

The trio will discuss the acclaimed films they have created together over the years including Palme D’Or Winners The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016). The event takes place on Wednesday 20 August at 11am at Tollcross Central Hall.

This event will then be followed by a special retrospective screening of the filmmakers’ 2006 Palme D’Or winning film The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Starring Cillian Murphy, the film is a heartfelt and stirring epic exploring the rift that emerges between two brothers who find themselves fighting against one another in the conflict over Irish independence in the early 1920s.

Presented from a 35mm print, this screening will be preceded by a special introduction by the filmmakers. The event takes place on Wednesday 20 August at 1.30pm in Filmhouse Screen 1.

Tickets are now on sale for both events via the EIFF website.

EIFF’s In Conversation strand also features a range of other major filmmaking talent who will discuss their creative careers to date including director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void, One to One: John & Yoko) speaking with his brother, producerAndrew Macdonald (Trainspotting, Civil War, 28 Years Later), in a wide ranging conversation about filmmaking and their respective careers. Kevin will also present a screening of The Cranes are Flying (1957), a film which has heavily influenced his work.

Trailblazing filmmaker Nia Da Costa will discuss her acclaimed work which spans independent film, horror sequels and major studio comic book adaptations including The Marvels, Candyman and upcoming film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Nia will also present a special 4K restoration of Doug Liman’s 90s black comedy Go, a film that was a source of early inspiration for her.

From breakout horror thriller Kill List to EIFF Midnight Madness Opening Film Bulk, via hilarious black comedy Sightseers and many more, filmmaker Ben Wheatley and long time producing partner Andy Starke will discuss their collaborations and their working dynamic.

Award-winning writer and director Andrea Arnold is one of the UK’s most outstanding filmmakers. She will discuss her searing debut feature Red Road (2006), also screening at EIFF this year, which won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut, along with her critically acclaimed work such as Fish Tank, American Honey, Cow and, most recently, Bird.

Legendary producer Jeremy Thomas (Eureka, 13 Assassins, Sexy Beast) will discuss his long and varied career, which includes collaborations with Nicolas Roeg, Takeshi Miike and Jonathan Glazer, in a conversation with filmmaker Mark Cousins (A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things, The Story of Film, The Storms of Jeremy Thomas). Jeremy Thomas will also introduce a special 35mm screening of Nicolas Roeg’s Bad Timing (1980), one of his earliest films.

Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.

The Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Ridd is supported by the EIFF Board, led by Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; as well as Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, Former Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio.

Paul Ridd, CEO & Festival Director, said: “It is a great honour for us to welcome Ken Loach, Paul Laverty and Rebecca O’Brien for what promises to be a lively and fascinating discussion of their work together, with two Palme D’Ors to their names and a body of work that includes ferociously powerful films produced across decades.

“We are also delighted to be presenting one of their major films THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY from a 35mm print. It is a genuine thrill to be able to add this formidable trio to a roster of speakers at EIFF in a programme of In Conversation events which already includes Jeremy Thomas, Nia Da Costa, Andrew and Kevin Macdonald, Andrea Arnold and Ben Wheatley.”

EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland. 

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces UK Premiere of eagerly-awaited cult classic remake THE TOXIC AVENGER

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced that the UK premiere of Macon Blair’s gloriously outlandish cult classic remake THE TOXIC AVENGER will be the closing night film of the Festival’s Midnight Madness strand.

Before Deadpool and Venom, there was The Toxic Avenger, the original mutant mop-wielding hero that confirmed production company Troma Entertainment as a favourite to cult film fans the world over.

Premiering at Fantastic Fest, Macon Blair’s THE TOXIC AVENGER stars Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Jacob Tremblay (Doctor Sleep), Taylour Paige (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F), Kevin Bacon (MaXXXine), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Julia Davis (Gavin & Stacey) and Luisa Guerreiro (Baldur’s Gate III).

When a downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), is exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident, he’s transformed into a new kind of hero: The Toxic Avenger. Now, Toxie must rise from outcast to savior, taking on ruthless corporate overlords and corrupt forces who threaten his son, his friends, and his community. In a world where greed runs rampant… justice is best served radioactive.

Based on the franchise-spawning 1980s cult classic, THE TOXIC AVENGER is directed by Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore), written by Macon Blair, Lloyd Kaufman (Mother’s Day) and Joe Ritter (The Toxic Avenger 1984), produced by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz of Troma Entertainment, Alex Garcia (Godzilla MonsterVerse) and Mary Parent (Dune Part One, Dune Part Two) of Legendary Pictures.

Signature Entertainment will release the film in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 29 August.

THE TOXIC AVENGER joins Ben Wheatley’s BULK as new films presented as part of this year’s EIFF Midnight Madness strand which runs throughout the Festival and unleashes the very best in new genre cinema from around the world.

Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media. 

Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to be hosting the UK Premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER, which will bring our Midnight Madness strand this year to an extravagantly gory and hilarious close.

“Peter Dinklage’s terrific reimagining of this iconic character in Macon Blair’s genius film, together make for an absolute blast of cult cinematic energy. Bring it on!”
 

Katie Wilkinson, Acquisitions & Development Manager at Signature, said “We couldn’t think of a better place for THE TOXIC AVENGER’s UK Premiere than as the closing film of Midnight Madness at EIFF 2025.

“Genre fans can expect a crazy world of mutated maintenance men, killer chicken brutes and Elijah Wood as you’ve never seen him before.

“Peter Dinklage’s take on the Toxic Avenger will leave audiences forever changed by this fantastically unique hero story.” 

Helmed by CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.

Ridd is supported by the EIFF Board, led by Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of  BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; as well as Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio. 

More information will be released on the 2025 Festival in the coming weeks.

EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland.  

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 announces World Premiere of Ben Wheatley’s secret new film BULK

BULK to open Festival’s Midnight Madness strand

EIFF runs from 14 – 20 August 2025

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced the world premiere of Ben Wheatley’s ingenious new film BULK as the opening night film of the Festival’s Midnight Madness strand. 

Produced by Andy Starke of Rook Films and financed by Film4, BULK marks a return to the thrillingly free-spirited filmmaker’s homegrown, kaleidoscopic works In The Earth and A Field in England. Executive producers for Film4 are Ollie Madden and David Kimbangi.

BULK will be presented as part of EIFF’s Midnight Madness strand which runs throughout the Festival and unleashes the very best in new genre cinema from around the world. 

Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media. 

Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF, said “I have been sworn on pain of death to not give too much away about BULK!

“Suffice it to say this is a truly unique film that took our breath away then fried our brains. We could not think of a better way for us to launch the second year of Midnight Madness at EIFF than with a new trip from a true visionary of cinema.

“It is guaranteed to bring the house down in August. Bring it on!”

Ben Wheatley said: “I’m very excited and proud to be premiering BULK at Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness.

“This is a midnight film through and through. Car chases, gun fights, sci-fi and romance. Thanks to Edinburgh for having us. It’s going to be a wild night.”

Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 comments: “Ben Wheatley is one of a kind, and BULK is truly the result of his unique and brilliant filmmaking brain.

“It was an honour to work with him on this secret project, for which Midnight Madness at EIFF is the perfect launchpad. Can’t wait for it to surprise and delight audiences in the way it did us!”

Helmed by CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.

Ridd is supported by the EIFF Board, led by Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; as well as Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio. 

More information will be released on the 2025 Festivalin the coming weeks.

Submissions open for Edinburgh International Film Festival

The revitalised Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced that its 78th edition will run from 14 to 20 August 2025. Submissions for the 2025 edition of the Festival open today (6 January 2025) via the Festival website.

Building on EIFF’s invigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.

Further details on the 2025 Festival will be announced in the next few months.

Helmed by CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd, the Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Ridd is supported by an expanding Board, including Teresa Moneo, Director of UK Film, Netflix; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio; Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun.

EIFF CEO and Festival Director, Paul Ridd said: “Our reborn Film Festival is now a major part of the excitement of August in Edinburgh when the city hosts the biggest and best Arts Festival in the world.

“We are delighted to announce our next edition in August 2025 and cannot wait to see the submissions that will come our way for potential selection in the new year.

“For my team there is no feeling greater than discovering something truly great for audiences, and knowing so many of our 2024 films have had lives well beyond our Festival is truly invigorating. Bring it on again!” 

Criteria for submitting films to the Festival can be found via the Festival website at https://www.edfilmfest.org/submissions/ with submissions to open on 6 January 2025. More information will be released on the shape of the 2025 Festival, venues and key strategic partners in the coming months.

EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland.

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces prize winners

The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced the winners of its new prize for feature filmmaking and its new prize for short filmmaking.

The awards were presented at a special ceremony at Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh by Jason Connery on behalf of The Connery Foundation and by legendary film editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

The winner of the inaugural The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, decided on by an audience vote and funded by The Connery Foundation is THE CEREMONY, directed by Jack King.

Two migrant workers are forced to bury a colleague in the Yorkshire hills. When one demands to perform the dead man his rightful Islamic burial, nerves begin to fray and a righteous power struggle emerges as the long and bitter winter night closes in on them.

Beautifully directed and performed and shot in stark black and white with a vivid sense of visual splendour, this humane and moving film packs quite the emotional punch.

Director Jack King is a self-taught writer/director & film-maker from Bradford, Yorkshire. He started out making music videos for independent and major record labels, and his work has racked up repeated Vimeo staff picks and millions of views online.

He has since made several short films, both publicly funded and independent, including PRINTS which was shot on location in Japan and premiered at Clermont Ferrand in 2019 before going on to play at festivals worldwide.

His most recent short PREDATORS supported by BFI Network was nominated for a UK critics circle award earlier this year after premiering at BFI London Film Festival in 2023.

Whilst working on debut ‘The Ceremony’ Jack has also been developing a handful of features for international collaboration, including SUNBURN which was selected for EIFF Talent Lab Connects in 2022 and SNOWBIRD recently awarded a development grant from the Great British Sasakawa Foundation.

Ten feature-length World Premieres were presented at EIFF as part of the competition with the winning filmmaker being awarded £50,000 to support their future projects.

The other films in competition films were Arash Rakhsha’s urgent documentary ALL THE MOUNTAINS GIVE; Mary Jiménez and Bénédicte Liénard’s richly poetic FUGUE (FUGA); Will Seefried’s haunting queer drama LILIES NOT FOR ME; Daisy-May Hudson’s stirring film LOLLIPOP; Abdolreza Kahani’s subversive comedy drama A SHRINE; Bryan Carberry’s clear-eyed take on artificial intelligence *SMILES AND KISSES YOU*; Nina Conti’s absurdist road movie SUNLIGHT; Kelsey Taylor’s dark psychological thriller TO KILL A WOLF; and Manuela Irene’s delicately moving XIBALBA MONSTER (MONSTRUO DE XIBALBA).

The winner of The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition is MANNY WOLFE, directed by Trevor Neuhoff.

It’s 1947. Manny Wolf is an actor exhausted by Tinseltown. He also happens to be a real werewolf. After nonstop rejection, a chance encounter sets him up to get a role in a major monster movie. Does Manny sacrifice artistic integrity and take the job? Or is there another path?

A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2013, Trevor is a director, writer, producer and occasional actor. He spent almost a decade working for Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey.

He joined Robert on many sets before serving as Co-Executive Producer on Downey Jr.’s Max TV series DOWNEY’S DREAM CARS. He’s made music videos, short docs, and short narrative films that live on the internet and resides in Los Angeles, California.

The short film competition winner was also decided on by an audience vote and is awarded £15,000 to support their future projects.

The other shorts in the competition were Lisa Clarkson’s starkly realist PATERNAL ADVICE; Jamie Di Spirito’s powerful HOMEWORK; Gavin Reid’s quirky and poignant documentary MY DAD AND THE VOLCANO; Liberty Smith’s experimental documentary MY EXPLODING HOUSE; Max Olson’s bold and haunting NICO; Inés Villanueva’s beautiful Argentine comedy SHOAL (CARDUMEN); and Wilma Smith’s JUBILEE which blends live-action with napkin-based stop-motion animation.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd said: “We are so pleased to be presenting these inaugural awards for excellence in filmmaking to two incredibly exciting films and filmmaking teams.

“These new EIFF awards were set up to support new and emerging filmmakers in their careers. Both these films show immense vision and skill at connecting with audiences and we wish both filmmakers the very best for the future.”

EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, the Industry Programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, and EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from Thursday 15 to Wednesday 21 August 2024.


The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence

ALL THE MOUNTAINS GIVE (Arash Rakhsha, Iran) World Premiere
A powerful documentary about the Kolbari covert goods trades between the Kurdish cities and towns of Iran and borders of Iraq, the film follows friends Hamid and Yasser as they balance fragile work and family lives.

THE CEREMONY (Jack King, UK) World Premiere
A fight over stolen property – and a tragic death – brings together two migrant workers as they search for a suitable burial place. Shot in black and white against a rolling Yorkshire landscape, this drama packs a powerful punch.

FUGUE (FUGA) (Mary Jiménez, Bénédicte Liénard, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Peru) World Premiere
A richly poetic journey to the heart of the Peruvian jungle, where a lover must be laid to rest. This drama – where we uncover lives of intimidation and violence – has a unique visual and sonic style.

LILIES NOT FOR ME (Will Seefried, US, South Africa, UK) World Premiere
Told through elegant flashbacks, two men wrestle with their sexuality in the repressive English society of the 1920s. Exploring a neglected period in queer history, this drama is defined by a haunting mix of romanticism and unflinching honesty.

LOLLIPOP (Daisy-May Hudson, UK) World Premiere

A stirring drama about a mother desperate to maintain custody of her children, following her release from prison. When things seem dark for Molly (Posy Sterling), an encounter with an old friend may spark something new.

A SHRINE (Abdolreza Kahani, Iran, Canada France) World Premiere
A mobile religious shrine acts as a get-rich-quick scheme for an ambitious man. But there may be consequences… This subversive comedy drama also offers an intriguing and offbeat window into the diasporic Iranian community in Montreal.

*SMILES AND KISSES YOU* (Bryan Carberry, US) World Premiere
The relationship between a man and his life-size AI-animated doll is explored in this moving documentary. A clear eyed and open hearted take on machine learning and loneliness, in an age of algorithmic dating apps.

SUNLIGHT (Nina Conti, UK) World Premiere
An absurd, original and darkly comic road movie about a monkey, a man and a dead man’s watch. Written, produced and directed by EdFringe favourite Nina Conti, the comedian stars as a life-size iteration of her stand-up sidekick.

TO KILL A WOLF (Kelsey Taylor, US) World Premiere
Reimagining the classic fable Little Red Riding Hood, a young girl is discovered in the snowy Oregon landscapes by a social pariah. This dark psychological drama interrogates trauma, grief and redemption in a dangerous world.

XIBALBA MONSTER (MONSTRUO DE XIBALBA) (Manuela Irene, Mexico) World Premiere A young boy forms an unlikely friendship with an ageing hermit while struggling to make sense of the death of his parents. This delicately moving film explores the circle of life, the human experience and the order of the natural world.

The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition

PATERNAL ADVICE (Lisa Clarkson, Scotland) World Premiere

A starkly realist short from Scottish director Lisa Clarkson exploring tough love and masculinity passed down the generations.

HOMEWORK (Jamie di Spirito, UK) World Premiere

A powerful film about the secrets kept between a mother and her daughters from British director Jamie di Spirito. Director: Jamie di Spirito.

MY DAD AND THE VOLCANO (Gavin Reid, Scotland) World Premiere

Scottish director Gavin Reid explores his relationship with his father and his art in this quirky and poignant documentary short.

MY EXPLODING HOUSE (Liberty Smith, UK) World Premiere

An experimental documentary by British director Liberty Smith investigating her mother’s thirty-year-old memory of their old house being blown up for a television film.

NICO (Max Olson, US) World Premiere

American director Max Olson debuts their unique visual style, in this bold and haunting short about a trans man who reminds an elderly widow of her late husband.

MANNY WOLFE (Trevor Neuhoff, US) World Premiere

A funny and moving spin on classic noir featuring a werewolf actor who can’t catch a break in Hollywood, directed by Trevor Neuhoff.

SHOAL (CARDUMEN) (Inés Villanueva, Argentina) World Premiere
Given the task of writing a song about molluscs and existentialism, a young singer works on her entry during a birthday party in this beautiful Argentine comedy from Inés Villanueva.

THE JUBILEE (Wilma Smith, Scotland) World Premiere

Blending live-action with napkin-based stop-motion animation, this Scottish short directed by Wilma Smith explores dementia through a new and potent lens.

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces Thelma Schoonmaker In Conversation event

  • The legendary film editor will speak as part of the EIFF 2024 Programme line-up
  • Festival also announces industry guests hosting tables at EIFF Networking Brunches
  • EIFF Industry events also include case study panels and distribution sessions in a wide-ranging programme focusing on cross arts conversations, Fringe partnerships and new talent support

The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced details of a special in-conversation event with the legendary Thelma Schoonmaker who is celebrated for her iconic work as an editor on landmark moments in cinema history and for her collaborations with Martin Scorsese, including Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Thelma will be discussing her outstanding career on Tuesday 20 August at 3pm at Tollcross Central Hall. Tickets are on sale now.

Whilst at the Festival, Thelma will also present the award for The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence Competition which showcases World Premieres of new exciting short form work from Scottish, the UK and international filmmakers. The award comes with a cash prize of £15,000 and will be decided by audience vote during EIFF with the winner announced on Wednesday 21 August.

Alongside this, she will also introduce a retrospective screening of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s much loved film I Know Where I’m Going! (1945) set on the islands of Scotland.

Paul Ridd, Festival Director said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled that Thelma Schoonmaker has agreed to an in-person career conversation with us at this year’s Festival. An icon of cinema, Thelma has already been so generous with us already, allowing us to launch our brand new shorts prize in her name.

“Our line-up of guests across the film and industry programmes is absolutely star-studded, including newly announced guests at our Networking Brunches.

We are just immensely grateful to everyone for their continued support of the relaunched Festival. Bring it on!’

Running throughout the Festival, but with a focus of activity across the weekend of Friday 16 August to Sunday 18 August, the industry programme presents an impactful series of panels and networking opportunities for Scottish and international creatives to engage with industry experts from around the world.

This 77th edition of the Festival honours the film festival’s history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking in a format rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. 

EIFF is delighted to have initiated groundbreaking new collaborations and partnerships with Fringe organisations over non-traditional cinema spaces in renowned Summerhall, Inspace and 50 George Square in the University of Edinburgh. Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh’s acclaimed comedy club, is hosting the venue at Inspace, whilst Fringe favourite Assembly Festival is hosting the venue at 50 George Square.

On Friday 16 August, a morning NETWORKING BRUNCH co-hosted with Screen Fringe will take place at Summerhall Library Gallery, in collaboration with Summerhall.

Invited Table Hosts at the Brunch include: Sam Gough (Summerhall), Briony Hanson (British Council), Tricia Tuttle (Berlinale), Julia Trawinska (Picturehouse Entertainment), Bec Martin (Artistic Director, New Diorama), Jess Toomey (Director, Live Comedy Association), Karel Och (Director, Karlovy Vary), Sarah Brocklehurst (Producer, THE OUTRUN) and Katie Metcalfe (Nowness).

SCRAPPER TO SCREEN: A CASE STUDY will be a panel exploring the development to distribution of the hit 2023 film SCRAPPER, taking place at EIFF venue Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel on Friday afternoon. Moderated by Melanie Iredale (Reclaim the Frame) and with panellists including Charlotte Regan (Director of SCRAPPER), Theo Barrowclough (Producer of SCRAPPER), Lucie Desquiens (Sales at Charades) and Julia Trawinska (Acquisitions Manager at Picturehouse Entertainment). 

Following the panel, early evening NETWORKING DRINKS will take place at Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel, ahead of an evening EIFF CURTAIN RAISER filmmaker and industry reception in Summerhall Library Gallery, both in partnership with BBC Film.

Saturday 17 August will begin with a NETWORKING BRUNCH which will take place at Summerhall Library Gallery in collaboration with Monkey Barrel.

Invited Table Hosts include: Jack Thomas O’Brien (Producer), Julia Jackman (Filmmaker), Mike Muncer (Evolution of Horror), David Bleese (Monkey Barrel) and writer and event producer Wendy Mitchell.

On Saturday early afternoon, IN CONVERSATION: GASPAR NOE will take place at Tollcross Central Hall with the iconic filmmaker discussing his work.

Later in the afternoon, a STAND UP TO THE SCREEN panel involving filmmakers who have transitioned from live performance/TV to filmmaking along with Fringe producers and creatives that are interested in screen work and working on developing ideas/adaptations for film. 

The event will take place at Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel, and will be moderated by Rowan Woods (Edinburgh TV Festival) with panellists Alex Walton (WME), Afolabi Kuti (Producer) and filmmakers from the programme selection.

In the evening, NETWORKING DRINKS will take place at Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel and supported by NFTS Scotland, ahead of the now legendary EIFF Ceilidh.

On Sunday 18 August, a morning NETWORKING BRUNCH will take place at Summerhall Library Gallery, in collaboration with Assembly Festival.

Invited Table Hosts include: William Burdett Coutts (Assembly), Helene Espeiss (Charades), Jonathan Rutter (Premier), Wahida Niblo (Vertigo), Luke Moody (Doc Society), Matt Mueller (Screen International) and Robbie Collin (Telegraph).

Sunday afternoon will see the Festival’s Keynote address from acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland and producer Andrew Macdonald at Tollcross Central Hall. The pair will discuss their long history of collaborations across films that include The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), Ex Machina (2014), as well as the recent global hit Civil War (2024). Tickets for this event will go on sale on 1 August and EIFF industry delegates will be able to access tickets closer to the Festival.

In partnership with Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI), a DOCUMENTARY DISTRIBUTION PANEL will take place at Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel, engaging Scottish documentary filmmaking talent, documentary producers and international documentary sales agents to deliver a rounded session on the business of independent documentary exhibition and distribution.

The session will be moderated by SDI’s Flore Cosquer with panellist Luke Moody (Doc Society), Graham Fulton (Conic), Sophie Fiennes (ACTING) and filmmakers from the programme selection.

Early evening NETWORKING DRINKS will take place at Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel, supported by SDI.

On Monday 19 August, coinciding with the Festival’s Out of Competition Shorts screening, there will be evening NETWORKING DRINKS in the Cameo Cinema bar supported by Screen Academy Scotland.

The same evening, BAFTA SCOTLAND celebrates the life and work of the ground-breaking film producer, curator, writer and former Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival Lynda Myles in a special event celebrating her presentation of the BAFTA Scotland Outstanding Contribution to Film Award.

From 9pm, Ali Plumb (BBC Radio 1) will host the EIFF Film Quiz at Summerhall’s Dissection Room.

On Tuesday 20 August, evening NETWORKING DRINKS in the Cameo Cinema bar will take place.

EIFF Industry delegates are welcome to also register with Screen Fringe, a Screen Scotland-backed programme delivered in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

Open to TV and film professionals, Screen Fringe offers a concierge service to delegates to help discover the best theatre and comedy talent from Scotland, the UK and beyond. EIFF industry delegates who want to engage with the Edinburgh Festivals to find talent and pursue opportunities for screen adaptation can accredit via the Fringe Society’s Arts Industry page (http://www.edfringe.com/take-part/arts-industry).

EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, the Industry Programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, and EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from Thursday 15 to Wednesday 21 August 2024.

From August 15 to August 21 2024, Edinburgh International Film Festival will take place at unique venues in Edinburgh allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF.

This year’s 77th edition of the Festival honours the film festival’s history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking in a format rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. EIFF encourages general audiences, film fans and industry professionals to make the trip this summer to Edinburgh.

The revamped Festival has recently announced its programme which includes over thirty-eight feature films, five shorts programmes and various talks and events across its dates. Concession pricing is available and Pay What You Can tickets will be available across select screenings. 

Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.

Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by an expanding Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Amy Jackson, producer of last year’s BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun.