The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced details of its industry programme for 2024.
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. EIFF 2024 runs from Thursday 15 August to Wednesday 21 August.
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, 50 George Square and Inspace. 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. Further Festival guests will be announced on 1 August along with ticket releases across all screenings.
The 2024 Industry Programme
Friday 16 August
A morning Networking Brunch co-hosted with Screen Fringe will take place at Summerhall Library Gallery, in collaboration with Summerhall.
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) Eva Yates (Director of BBC Film) 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 supported by BBC Film.
Saturday 17 August
Saturday will begin with a Networking Brunch which will take place at Summerhall Library Gallery in collaboration with Monkey Barrel.
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 ahead of the now legendary EIFF Ceilidh.
Sunday 18 August
A morning Networking Brunch will take place at Summerhall Library Gallery, in collaboration with Assembly Festival.
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 How A Doc Does The Rounds 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), and filmmakers from the programme selection.
Early evening Networking Drinks will take place at Inspace in association with Monkey Barrel, supported by SDI.
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. Tickets for this event will go on sale on 1 August.
Tuesday 20 August
Evening Networking Drinks in the Cameo Cinema bar will take place.
Industry Accreditation is priced at £80 (inc VAT) and £65 concessions which includes current students across any discipline (aged 18+) and people who may be in receipt of benefits. For more details and to apply, please visit the EIFF website.
Press Accreditation is also now open and applications can be made by visiting the EIFF website. There is no charge for Press Accreditation. When completing applications, press are requested to apply for a ‘Standard Accreditation’.
Paul Ridd, Festival Director has said: "Since moving up to Edinburgh permanently, I have been keen to work with local people and organisations to embed our new look Festival into this beautiful city and its vibrant creative industries, in film and beyond.
"I am over the moon that our partnerships with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Summerhall, Monkey Barrel Comedy and Assembly Festival, as well as of course The Cameo have enabled us to open our programme out into brand new spaces and generate awesome collaborative events. We want to attract new local audiences to our film programme as well as the international audiences that flock to the Fringe each year, we are both local and international in our ambitions.
"I am so thrilled that we have attracted such a wealth of global talent to our Festival, not only within our Film Programme, but also as guests and delegates for our Industry Programme.
"Across three intensive days of panels, career talks, networking sessions and parties, global and local film talent will mix, sparking conversations between professionals either just starting out in film and the performing arts or seasoned folk ready to share their knowledge and experience. To have a filmmaker as globally renowned and truly visionary as Alex Garland speaking with us as our keynote speaker truly encapsulates that vision. Bring it on."
More information
EIFF industry delegates are welcome to 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.
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.
Press and Industry accreditation for this Festival closes on 2 August.
With press and industry accreditation now open, the Festival welcomes industry applications from people from a range of backgrounds and experiences; from those making their way into the screen industries to people looking to support a new generation of talent. EIFF also welcomes applications from press from a range of backgrounds and experiences; from emerging writers and journalists to those covering for media outlets. Press delegates will gain access to Press and Industry (P&I) screenings (13-20 August), taking in World Premieres and selected UK Premieres across the programme.