Back in October, it was announced that the Edinburgh International Film Festival was cancelled. However, organizers now say the festival will be returning as a one-time, scaled down event from the 18th to the 23rd of August. Whether the festival will continue for future years has not yet been confirmed.
The announcement of the festival’s cancellation came as a surprise to many film fans, especially due to its status as the world’s longest-running film festival. It was first established in 1947 by the Edinburgh Film Guild. The festival was initially planned to be shut down as a result of the Centre for the Moving Image, the charity which runs the event, ceasing trading. The CMI had faced financial difficulties, both due to smaller audiences as a result of the pandemic and an increase in inflation.
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Now, however, the festival has secured funding in the form of a £400,000 grant from Screen Scotland. The event plans to feature both local and global filmmakers.
EIFF programme director Kate Taylor, said: “Attending first as audience member, then as film worker, my experience of Edinburgh International Film Festival has always been of a place that sparks inspiring conversations about film, and over the past few months it has been nourishing to hear the stories of many people – filmmakers, audience and industry who hold this festival dear.
“I’m excited to deliver the ideas that the team and I have been working on over the past few months and be a custodian for this year’s programme, ensuring the flame of EIFF burns bright, and I can’t wait to welcome audiences to enjoy the curated selection of films we’ll be presenting in August.”
The list of featured films and artists is yet to be announced, and will be revealed in June. The list is expected to be scaled back from the festival’s previous years.
Neil Grey, Scotland’s Minister of Culture, said: “The Scottish Government is a strong supporter of the Edinburgh International Film Festival and I’m delighted that there will be a 76th edition this summer.
“Film Festivals play an important part in Scotland’s screen industry success story by promoting domestic productions, supporting talent development, showcasing high-quality international films and encouraging more people to go to the cinema.
“We have vibrant creative and screen industries in Scotland and our film festivals provide a fantastic opportunity to highlight this abundance of talent to audiences at home and abroad.”