The 76th Edinburgh International Film Festival will take place this summer, from 18 to 23 August 2023, in collaboration with Screen Scotland and the Edinburgh International Festival.
This one-year special iteration will be a part of the Edinburgh International Festival, and the organizers are thrilled to announce this news.
Kate Taylor and Kristy Matheson, who are part of the 2022 EIFF programming team, have been working on plans for the 2023 edition of the film festival since December. Kate Taylor, the new Programme Director of EIFF, will lead the 2023 programme, and full details of the EIFF 2023 programme will be available in June 2023. Kristy Matheson will be taking up her new role as BFI Festivals Director at London Film Festival soon.
Thanks to the Edinburgh International Festival’s support, a selection of films will be showcased under the EIFF banner this August, in addition to the International Festival’s world-class performing arts programme. The program has been hand-picked to celebrate the outstanding work of local and global filmmakers, ensuring that the flame of EIFF continues to burn brightly for future generations of passionate cinema enthusiasts.
“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.”
Kate Taylor, Programme Director, Edinburgh International Film Festival
“From the Opening Night screening of Aftersun, the 2022 edition of EIFF had a great energy and was welcomed by audiences and industry. We are glad to be working again with Kate, the programme team and our colleagues in the International Festival to build on that success. Huge thanks to the Edinburgh International Festival Board and the amazing International Festival team for their proactive and positive work in delivering the EIFF as part of their world-renowned Festival with Kate in post as Programme Director. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Kristy for her work towards the 2023 edition and wish her every success in her new role.”
Isabel Davis, Executive Director, Screen Scotland
With the EIFF artistic programme devised and delivered by the Film Festival team, the supporting infrastructure including box office, HR and promotion of the 2023 Film Festival is being provided by the Edinburgh International Festival, who have also been working with Screen Scotland to support the continuation of the Film Festival across the last five months.
“The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an important cultural touchstone in our festival city, and we are pleased to be able to support its return. Over the last few months the EIFF programming team have been developing a plan for an ambitious film programme to add to the International Festival’s world-class dance, theatre, music and opera programme, ensuring that the Film Festival has a bright future. We look forward to working further with Kate and her team as we prepare for a compelling EIFF programme to be revealed in June this year.”
Francesca Hegyi,Chief Executive, Edinburgh International Festival
“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.”
Culture Minister of Scottish Government Neil Gray
Screen Scotland remains in place as the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s primary public funder. In parallel with the delivery of the 76th Edinburgh International Film Festival as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, Screen Scotland will work across the summer with a working group of industry experts to deliver a long-term future for a stand-alone Film Festival, which will be presented annually from August 2024.
Full programme details for the film selection will be released in June 2023.
