Edinburgh International Film Festival is celebrating a hugely successful 72nd edition, which saw packed public screenings and special events, an array of high profile talent in attendance and widespread support across the city.
This year the Festival showcased 121 new feature films from 48 countries across the globe and included 20 World Premieres, 11 International Premieres, 10 European Premieres, 75 UK Premieres, 2 Scottish Premieres and 32 special events and programmes reaching 56,000 people with an additional 10,500 people enjoying the Festival's weekend of outdoor screenings, as part of Film Fest in the City. More than 600 filmmakers were in attendance this year to support their films, with 215 press delegates and more than 500 industry delegates also present.
Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director said: “We had a truly memorable festival with filmmakers and audiences really seeming to enjoy not only a wonderful film programme but also the joy of a spectacular Edinburgh in the brilliant summer sunshine. Response this year has been really gratifying with the film selection striking a chord with an appreciative and enthusiastic audience.”
Ken Hay, CEO Edinburgh International Film Festival, added: “EIFF is unashamedly international and outward-looking in its programming and its reach, with 59 countries represented through the programme, our filmmaker and industry guests, and our truly multi-national team delivering the event. We’re delighted that audiences and guests have responded so positively to the programme and the broader Festival experience and are thrilled to see a further increase in admissions.”
Agnieszka Moody, Interim Director of Screen at Creative Scotland said: “Congratulations to the entire EIFF team, and especially the volunteers, for a packed 12 day of amazing films, inspiring guests, and excellent and valuable industry events. This year's programme provided a great platform for emerging talent, sitting alongside established filmmakers, and we are especially delighted that Matt Palmer’s debut feature Calibre won the Michael Powell Award.”
As previously announced, winning films this year included Matt Palmer’s debut feature, Calibre (Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film); Cyril Schäublin’s Those Who Are Fine, (Best International Feature Film), which received its UK Premiere at this year’s Festival; Kevin Macdonald’s Whitney (Best Documentary); Emily Ann Hoffman’s stop-motion animation Nevada (Best Short) and Peter Peake’s Take Rabbit (The McLaren Award). The Audience Award was won by Fran Healy’s Almost Fashionable: A Film About Travis and this year’s EIFF Works in Progress winner and recipient of the £2,500 prize money was Riding the Waves by Martyn Robertson.
2018 also saw the inaugural New Visions Awards take place; a short film competition running as part of The Young & the Wild youth programme that honours two outstanding Scottish short films made by young filmmakers aged 14-18 and 19-25, part of Scotland’s 2018 Year of Young People celebrations. Winner in the age 14-18 category was Ghost directed by Georgia Ayres and Sam McDonald and in the 19-25 age group, Night's Out made by Li Gong.