Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is
renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in
international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global film-making. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fueled
by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to
spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting
steeped in history.
Born alongside Edinburgh’s International Festival in 1947, EIFF was
one of the world’s first international film festivals (and indeed is the
longest continually running film festival in the world), and helped to
define the type of event that has since become so pivotal to film
culture in nations all over the world.
EIFF has developed into a crucial business hub for the UK and
international film industry, a key attraction for Edinburgh, and one of
the world’s best -loved audience festivals. With an emphasis upon new
talent, discovery and innovation, EIFF’s vibrant programme of films and
events combines a commitment to audience edification and pleasure with a
strong ongoing stake in the development the UK and Scottish film
industries.
EIFF’s early remit was to bring the burgeoning documentary movement
to a wider public audience. Its first champions included John Grierson,
the founder of the British documentary movement, and Norman McLaren,
animation pioneer, and early audiences thronged to see films by Roberto
Rossellini, Humphrey Jennings and Robert Flaherty. As the Festival’s
reputation and ambitions grew over the 1950s, the programme expanded to
incorporate international fiction films, and visitors included Alexander
Mackendrick. In the 1960s a pivotal retrospective element was
introduced, and helped to define that now standard element in film
festival programming; early subjects included John Huston, Sam Fuller,
Douglas Sirk and a young Martin Scorsese.
In the 70s and 80s, the Festival consolidated its reputation as a pioneering force for UK audiences, screening films from the New German Cinema, the new wave of American Independents, homages to the masters of Japanese Cinema, and pioneering studies of black and feminist filmmakers. Festival audiences were able to witness masterpieces from across the whole spectrum of film culture, from the UK premiere of Spielberg's ET: The Extraterrestrial, to Abel Gance's silent classic Napoleon complete with a full orchestral score. New talents were nurtured, including Bill Forsyth, Stephen Soderbergh and Stephen Frears, whose TV film My Beautiful Laundrette scored cinematic distribution after its EIFF bow.
More recently, EIFF has continued and progressed its project of foregrounding discovery whilst welcoming the best and brightest established film talent. The Trailblazer's programme highlights new UK filmmaking talent, while onstage interviews with respected figures including Judd Apatow, Ray Harryhausen, Roger Corman, Sam Mendes,Tilda Swinton, Errol Morris, Roger Deakins and Shane Meadows provide behind-the-scenes insights into all areas of filmmaking.
2010 was another massive success with great audience figures and a
superb programme of films and associated events. In 2010 Premieres
included the UK Premiere of Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist, a Special
3D Gala Preview of Toy Story 3, plus a special Gala Screening of The Man
Who Would Be King to celebrate Sir Sean Connery's 80th year and his
dedicated support of EIFF as Patron since 1992.
Book Tickets: edfilmfest.org.uk
Copyright The Edinburgh International Film Festival
