A bold short film programme highlighting pioneering work from Scotland and beyond. Ranging from themes of family trauma and gender identity to existentialist molluscs and werewolves, this year’s competition traverses documentary, stop-motion animation, comedy and drama all within a limited runtime.
Alice Lowe’s vibrant second feature offers a playful take on the romantic comedy with a reincarnation twist. Agnes chases her true love across the centuries, but can’t quite seem to get the happy ending she’s looking for. Her various unlucky deaths and a cast of offbeat side characters repeatedly get in her way
An immersive documentary from acclaimed director Sophie Fiennes, looking behind the scenes of the acting process, from voice exercises to text analysis and the thrills of performance. In an old castle, theatre director Declan Donnellan leads a dozen young actors as they work on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. His insights unlock their imagination and help them find their own way through this challenging text.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Brian De Palma’s rock opera masterpiece. A Faustian tale of betrayal and obsession playing out in the gaudy halls of a concert hall, this deliriously entertaining musical features the legendary Paul Williams as cynical music producer Swan who tricks naive composer Winslow Leach (William Finley) into sacrificing his life’s work
We are absolutely delighted to welcome iconic filmmaker Gaspar Noé to present an after hours, after dark screening of a surprise film in our line-up
Raw, commanding and thoughtful Taiwanese drama about compassion and decency in the face of inequality and invisibility. An undocumented Thai careworker living in a remote region of Taiwan cares for the disabled and elderly, as he is forced to navigate their mutual lack of status and currency. This is a subtle and carefully painted portrait of disenfranchised people who are victims of a system that barely acknowledges them
A middle-aged man builds a mobile religious shrine to make money in this darkly funny and moving exploration of consequences. Confronted by the success of this get-rich-quick scheme, a crisis of conscience forces our hero into a spiral of remorse and self-examination. Deceptively simple and superbly acted, this elegantly subversive film doubles as an intriguing window into the diasporic Iranian community in Montreal.
An insightful and moving documentary about a thirty-something man and his relationship with the life-size AI doll he lives with, who is animated through an app. The real focus of this beautiful film is his honest reflection and the complex personal history that has led him to develop this confined yet very real relationship with the doll.
A modern re-imagining of classic fable Little Red Riding Hood, this tightly calibrated film explores trauma, grief and redemption in a dangerous world. A traumatised young girl is discovered in the woods by a social pariah dealing with his own demons, set against snowy Oregon landscapes reminiscent of The Shining
We are delighted to welcome BBC Radio 1’s film critic Ali Plumb to host one of his delightfully nerdy film quizzes at EIFF.
A darkly comedic, subversive and uniquely realised road trip film about a monkey, a man and a dead man’s watch. A woman escaping a toxic relationship ends up on the road in a monkey suit with a man seeking retribution from his dead father.
Two migrant workers find themselves thrown together in a quest to bury a body in this hypnotic and visually stunning drama. A fight over stolen property and a tragic death brings together two very different men for a hypnotic and moving odyssey across the Yorkshire landscape in search of a suitable burial place.
A funny, touching exploration of fidelity, strength and the lengths we go to honour our commitments. When Gemma’s (BAFTA winner Aisling Bea) American fiancé (Emmy nominee Colin Hanks) dies shortly before their wedding day, she decides to marry him anyway, facing public opinion, legal challenges, and family objections.
A stirring and powerful film about a young mother, recently released from prison and desperate to maintain custody of her two young children. Just when things appear to be at their darkest and most desperate for Molly (Posy Sterling), a chance encounter with an old school friend might be the start of a road towards a brighter future.
A radical new animated vision of a dystopian future probes our fears about social control and liberation. Imagine a world in which difference is erased. This is a world where everyone wears a paper bag over their head. But when rumours spread of a place without masks, pressures mount towards revolution. Using jaw-dropping video game animation technology, Schirkoa is a unique and timely nightmare.
Alice Lowe’s vibrant second feature offers a playful take on the romantic comedy with a reincarnation twist. Agnes chases her true love across the centuries, but can’t quite seem to get the happy ending she’s looking for. Her various unlucky deaths and a cast of offbeat side characters repeatedly get in her way
A tightly wound and exhilarating drama that examines the assumptions that adults make whilst trying to uncover the truth. When Elisabeth is called in to her sons’ school, she is shocked to discover that he has been accused of crossing boundaries with one of his classmates.
This event offers a behind-the-scenes look into some of the most innovative work coming from Scottish, UK-based and global artists. After the show, you will be able to offer constructive feedback to artists and participate in an informal conversation / networking session in Summerhall’s courtyard.
Edinburgh Psych Fest, the sister festival to the UK’s leading Psychedelic music and arts festival Manchester Psych Fest, returns to Scotland’s capital on Sunday 1st September after the sell-out success of its inaugural year. The 2024 edition sees the expansion of the festival with the addition of two of the city’s much-loved venues The Caves
The CineSkinny have teamed up with MUBI to give audiences a second chance to see one of the films of the year on the big screen: Alice Rohrwacher’s ethereal graverobbing saga La Chimera.
Prepare to be moved! Come along to Rock the Boat, Summerhall’s longstanding monthly poetry open mic, put on by Push the Boat Out: Edinburgh’s International Poetry festival. Sign up to perform your work or just drop by to listen – there’s something new every month
Calling all pizza lovers, pasta queens and arancini addicts! Summerhall has teamed up with local business San Ciro to put on a wee food festival to celebrate the beauty of Italian Cuisine. Just like an early summer eve in Rome we are hoping to celebrate the last of the Scottish summer with a feast of Italian delicacies
The world renowned Edinburgh Ceilidh Club brings you the very best in Scottish ceilidh dancing, featuring Scotland’s top ceilidh bands. Brilliant live music and dancing for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced ceilidh dancers.
Miss World are back at The Old Lab with another lineup of Edinburgh’s best selectors; Al Gu, Feena, miira & Ria. For fans of dancehall, club edits and hefty basslines.
