“Edinburgh International Film Festival has a long history of supporting and showcasing the very best Scotland has to offer and 2019 will be no exception. I am thrilled to be able to give this year’s audiences the chance to enjoy a huge range of films, talks, events and talent that highlight the very best of Scottish craftsmanship and skill.”
- Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director
This year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival opens with the European Premiere of Ninian Doff’s Boyz in the Wood, which features a star-studded Scottish cast. Balance, Not Symmetry from director Jamie Adams is our People’s Gala, supported by Accenture, shot in Glasgow and made in conjunction Scottish band Biffy Clyro the film features a wonderful cast of Scottish actors.
“This year’s EIFF shows that Scotland is brimming with talent, from the high octane cast in Ninian Doff’s Boyz in the Wood, to the phenomenal feature documentary Scheme Birds, bringing this TriBeCa award winner home to Scotland. The new wave of Scottish writers and directors through the Scottish Film Talent Network’s Scottish Shorts strand promise great things for the future.”
- Isabel Davis, Executive Director at Screen Scotland
Scottish films in the programme include: the Dundee setSchemers by Dundee-born writer/director David McLean; Scheme Birds, set in the former steel town of Motherwell in the West of Scotland, which is a compassionate and engrossing documentary that tells the real-life story of teenage “scheme bird” Gemma; and Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen reprising the role he played so memorably in Braveheart as the eponymous warrior king in Robert the Bruce. In addition, celebrated Scottish actor Brian Cox will star alongside Blythe Danner in the powerful and atmospheric thriller Strange But True and Scottish-born producer Sophia Shek brings comedy drama Go Back to China to this year’s Festival.
Scottish actor and activist Tam Dean Burn will join other guests in a special event before the screening of Best Before Death in which Irish filmmaker Paul Duane follows artist and musician Bill Drummond over a two-year period during his ambitious 12-year world tour. Honorary patron Mark Cousins will present a special introduction toVarda by Agnès, the last film made by the pioneering French filmmaker Agnès Varda, as part of a retrospective of Varda’s work.
Staying with musical connections, world-renowned jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith OBE will present Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra at Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall on Friday 28 June, with a special performance by award-winning trumpeter Laura Jurd. Meanwhile, Peter Mullan will join Scottish composer Craig Armstrong in a special event to discuss their collaborations throughout the years.
“Film tourism is booming in Scotland and it’s no wonder given the amazing breadth of work being produced that showcases our stunning urban and rural scenery. Together with the depth of Scottish talent on show, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is the perfect stage to showcase Scotland’s assets to the international film community, inspiring enthusiasts to visit and experience the best of our people, food, drink and music first hand.”
- Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events
EIFF will present an exclusive opportunity to see TV series Good Omens, a stunning new adaptation of the bestselling fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, directed by Scotland’s very own Douglas Mackinnon. This epic tale of an angel (Michael Sheen) and a demon (David Tennant) joining forces to save the world boasts a truly stellar cast and music by the brilliant David Arnold (Casino Royale). EIFF audiences will have a chance to see all six episodes on Saturday 29 June, which launches on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and around the world on Friday 31st May and on BBC Two in the UK later this year. Special guests are expected to attend.
The festival will also be welcoming Scottish talent as part of the In Person events, supported by Johnston Carmichael. These include; Pollyanna McIntosh, fresh from The Walking Dead, the Scottish writer, actor and director will also present her directorial debut Darlin’, and Award-winning actor and producer Jack Lowden who appeared in Calibre, winner of the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film at EIFF 2018. Jack Lowden will also appear alongside Shauna Macdonald, at an event for 15-25 year olds, to discuss how they prepare for auditions as part of BAFTA Scotland at EIFF Youth.
Audiences can look forward to 4 Views of Scotland, a chance to look back at some of the most important Film4 and Channel 4 productions made in Scotland: Paul McGuigan's The Acid House, Philip John's Wedding Belles and Ken Loach’s Carla’s Song and My Name is Joe. Featuring the writing talent of Irvine Welsh, Dean Cavanagh and Paul Laverty and the Scottish acting talent of: Peter Mullan, Gary Lewis, Robert Carlyle, Shauna Macdonald, Michelle Gomez, Ewen Bremner, Kevin McKidd, Jamie Sives, Tam Dean Burn, Stephen McCole and Shirley Henderson.
This year’s short film programmes include some of the latest works from Scottish Film Talent Network (SFTN), and the Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) celebrates its 15th anniversary with a special programme curated by SDI Director Noe Mendelle entitled Phenomenal Women.The EIFF Youth New Visions Short Film Competition returns to celebrate the best in young film making talent from across Scotland, with the two New Visions Awards, to be announced on Sunday 30th June.
CineCuisine, the Festival’s culinary cinema strand will feature: Chef’s Diaries: Scotland, a documentary following world-famous Spanish chefs, the Roca Brothers of the Michelin starred restaurant El Celler de Can Roca, on their quest to find the best food that Scotland can offer. The strand also includes The Amber Light, a documentary about Scotland’s most famous national drink with Spirits writer, Dave Broom. Scottish food and drink will also be discussed in a fun, informal event, Food for Thought, which will feature a panel discussion chaired by Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food, Scotland Food & Drink, and a tasting session of Scottish produce and creative twists on classic recipes specially prepared by the Edinburgh School of Food & Wine.
The 73rd edition of EIFF runs from 19 – 30 June 2019.
The full programme will be announced on 29 May 2019.
Tickets go on sale to EIFF Friends and Filmhouse Members on Wednesday 29 May at 12noon and on sale to the public on Friday 31 May at 10am.
