Edinburgh International Film Festival
Encyclopedia
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. The EIFF aims to present both UK and international movie premieres and to exhibit the work of film-makers.
alongside the 1947 Edinburgh International Festival
(EIF), which continues to take place in August each year. At the time, Cannes
and Venice
were the most significant annual film festivals. Over the subsequent years, the programme expanded to include fiction films and experimental work in addition to documentary. From 2008, the film festival moved from its traditional August slot to June.
The EIFF shows a range of feature-length films and documentaries as well as short films, animations and music videos. A jury awards The Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film while the audience can vote for the Standard Life Audience Award and a panel of judges adjudicates the Skillset New Directors Award. There are also several awards given for short films. UK domestic films shown are usually limited to premieres. Europe
an and other international premieres are also offered.
The Artistic Director from September 2006 to 2010 was Hannah McGill, previously a film critic and cinema columnist for The Herald
newspaper. Her predecessor, Shane Danielsen, served from 2002-2006. Sean Connery
, Tilda Swinton
, Robert Carlyle
and Seamus McGarvey
are honorary patrons. In December 2009 Hannah McGill collected the prestigious Talkback Thames New Talent Award at the Women in Film and Television Awards.
Following McGill's departure a new format was announced with no artistic director and a series of guest curators led by producer James Mullighan
, Fountainpark Cineworld
; Edinburgh Festival Theatre
; and the Dominion Cinema
. Some of the events in recent years have taken place in The Sheraton Hotel, the Traverse Theatre, The Caves, and various other venues. In Glasgow
the Glasgow Film Theatre
and Renfrew St Cineworld participated until recently, but the EIFF has not arranged screenings in Glasgow since 2005. Proposals exist for a new Filmhouse to be built, designed by architect Richard Murphy
and named the Sean Connery
Filmhouse. It would be located close to the existing one and, with greater audience capacity, would become the future home of the festival.
Origin and scope
The first EIFF, a programme of documentaries, was presented by the Edinburgh Film GuildEdinburgh Film Guild
The Edinburgh Film Guild is a film society based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1929, it is notable as the oldest continually running film society in the world. Though pre-dated by the original Film Society, founded five years earlier, it has outlasted it, with the Film Society having ceased...
alongside the 1947 Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
(EIF), which continues to take place in August each year. At the time, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
were the most significant annual film festivals. Over the subsequent years, the programme expanded to include fiction films and experimental work in addition to documentary. From 2008, the film festival moved from its traditional August slot to June.
The EIFF shows a range of feature-length films and documentaries as well as short films, animations and music videos. A jury awards The Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film while the audience can vote for the Standard Life Audience Award and a panel of judges adjudicates the Skillset New Directors Award. There are also several awards given for short films. UK domestic films shown are usually limited to premieres. Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and other international premieres are also offered.
The Artistic Director from September 2006 to 2010 was Hannah McGill, previously a film critic and cinema columnist for The Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
newspaper. Her predecessor, Shane Danielsen, served from 2002-2006. Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton
Katherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
, Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
and Seamus McGarvey
Seamus McGarvey
Seamus McGarvey BSC, born 29 June 1967 in Armagh, Northern Ireland, began his career as a still photographer before attending film school at the University of Westminster in London....
are honorary patrons. In December 2009 Hannah McGill collected the prestigious Talkback Thames New Talent Award at the Women in Film and Television Awards.
Following McGill's departure a new format was announced with no artistic director and a series of guest curators led by producer James Mullighan
Venues
Principal venues are the Edinburgh Filmhouse, which is formally the EIFF's partner organisation; CameoThe Cameo, Edinburgh
The Cameo is an Edinburgh cinema which started life as the King's Cinema on 8 January 1914 and is one of the oldest cinemas in Scotland still in use. Since becoming the Cameo in 1949, it has been an independent cinema with a tradition of showing art house films. From 1949 onward it has been an...
, Fountainpark Cineworld
Cineworld
Cineworld Group plc is a cinema chain operating in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Jersey. The chain consists of 78 cinemas; 76 of which are located in the UK and one each in Ireland and Jersey. It is the second-largest cinema operator in the UK with 801 screens, and the owner of...
; Edinburgh Festival Theatre
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is a performing arts venue located on Nicolson Street in Edinburgh Scotland used primarily for performances of opera and ballet, large-scale musical events, and touring groups. After its most recent renovation in 1994, it seats 1,915...
; and the Dominion Cinema
Dominion Cinema
The Dominion Cinema is an independent Streamline Moderne cinema located in the Edinburgh suburb of Morningside. It was opened on 31 January 1938. It was designed by architect Thomas Bowhill Gibson....
. Some of the events in recent years have taken place in The Sheraton Hotel, the Traverse Theatre, The Caves, and various other venues. In Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
the Glasgow Film Theatre
Glasgow Film Theatre
The Glasgow Film Theatre or GFT is an independent cinema in Rose Street, , Glasgow. GFT is a registered charity...
and Renfrew St Cineworld participated until recently, but the EIFF has not arranged screenings in Glasgow since 2005. Proposals exist for a new Filmhouse to be built, designed by architect Richard Murphy
Richard Murphy (architect)
Richard Murphy OBE is an architect based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and principal architect in Richard Murphy Architects.-History:Murphy was educated at Newcastle and Edinburgh Universities, and has taught at the latter. He formed his practice in 1991, which has since grown to over twenty architects,...
and named the Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
Filmhouse. It would be located close to the existing one and, with greater audience capacity, would become the future home of the festival.
Film categories
- Gala - New international feature film productions, having a well-known actor or director
- British Gala - New UK feature film productions, having a well-known British actor or director
- Rosebud - Feature fiction films from first- or second-time directors, outwith the UK
- Directors' Showcase - Highlighting films from accomplished directors
- Night Moves - Horror and action films, either from countries whose mainstream films are given little worldwide release, or from independent film-makers
- Document - Documentaries, whether feature-length or short
- Retrospective - Films by an important director that many people may not have seen on the cinema screen
- Black Box - Abstract and artistic films
- Mirrorball - Music videos, music-related documentaries
- In Person - Live on-stage interviews with important figures from the cinema industry
- Under The Radar - Risk-taking films (introduced in 2008 in response to John Waters attending the festival)
External links
- Official Edinburgh Film Festival website
- Official Edinburgh Festivals Guide
- EdinburghGuide.com EIFF news, reviews, and photos.
- Fest Magazine Online - Free and independent review guide to the Edinburgh Festivals
- ThreeWeeks the complete guide to the Edinburgh Festival
- Eye For Film - Reviews, news and diary from EIFF 1999-2011
- UKHotMovies.com - Edinburgh International Film Festival: Past, Present and Future
- Festival information, 1998 to present
- Movie World - Reviews from the EIFF every year
- About the Filmhouse Cinema