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.
A vivid and unflinching adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s wrenching personal memoir of addiction, powered by an extraordinary central performance from Saoirse Ronan. Addicted to hedonism, drink and drugs, a young woman must wrestle with recovery in the remote islands of Orkney whilst reckoning with her complex family history. Powered by a pounding soundtrack, a kinetic visual style and intricate narrative structure, this extraordinarily moving film is redemptive, cathartic and utterly riveting
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 profoundly moving meditation on ageing, loneliness and love in unexpected places. An elderly Iranian widow encounters a lonely taxi driver in Tehran, where female oppression and strict social structures are subverted as a delicate kinship blooms against the odds.
A cantor undergoing a crisis of faith runs into his high school music teacher who is intent on having a late life Bat Mitzvah in this sweet, melancholic comedy. Jason Schwartzman stars alongside Carol Kane as the unlikeliest of odd couples drawn together later in life
A powerful account of the Kolbari covert goods traden between the Kurdish cities and towns of Iran and borders of Iraq. The film follows Hamid and Yasser over six years as they contend with the life threatening conditions they and their families have to face to survive. A rare insight into the plight of the Kurdish people, this is an elegant portrait of a marginalised people, where the palpable sense of risk and danger is contrasted with the gentle rhythms of family life under harsh conditions.
A richly poetic and moving film about a young person journeying to bury their lover in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. Slow revelations and reflections begin to paint a picture of the deceased and a life before as we learn of a troubling past haunted by intimidation and violence. Deliberately paced and defined by a unique visual and sonic style, this haunting and emotional film is an unforgettable sensory experience.
An intricately constructed, lyrical and heart-breaking film about two young men wrestling with their sexuality in the repressive English society of the 1920s. Told in elegant flashback, an institutionalised novelist recounts the story of his love affair with a friend, convinced their shared sexuality could be “cured”. Visually striking, beautifully acted and defined by a haunting mix of romanticism and unflinching horror, this bold film bravely examines a shamefully neglected period in queer history.
An intimate portrait of family bonds, rural life and the importance of human connection in the survival from grief. The Payne family lead an idyllic, off-the-grid lifestyle in the Norwegian wilderness. When a tragic event shatters their world, they are forced to give up their home for a less rural model of living
With a career best performance from Colman Domingo, Sing Sing is a poignant drama that unfolds within the walls of the notorious prison in upstate New York. We meet wrongly imprisoned Divine G (Domingo), who discovers new purpose through a theatre program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts. Sing Sing is a story of resilience and the restorative impact of art, whilst offering us pieces of hope in even the darkest places.
Get ready for an after hours, after dark screening of Danny Boyle’s seminal 2002 horror masterpiece.
Presented with a special introduction from the film’s Producer Andrew Macdonald.
A delicate portrait of a young Mexican boy, struggling to deal with the death of his parents, who wants to know what happens when we die. The boy forms an unlikely friendship with a local hermit whose inconceivable age and ailing health feeds his curiosity along with the world around him, which is full of mystery and intrigue.
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.
