Edinburgh International Film Festival returns on Friday 18 September for its 76th edition as a special one-year iteration as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
While this year's programme is more compact than in previous years, the handpicked selection boasts a dynamic and exciting range of work from local and global filmmakers, with something for all audiences.
The festival is renowned for providing a platform for the best new Scottish filmmaking talent. This year's programme is no exception, featuring Scottish director Johnny Barrington's feature debut, Silent Roar, which opens the festival. Other highlights include Rodger Griffiths' feature debut, Kill, which will have its world premiere.
We're thrilled to see so many of our supported productions featured in this year's programme. Find out more about our supported productions set to light up the big screen and captivate audiences below.
We hope you all enjoy the festival!
Silent Roar - Opening Night Film
Director Johnny Barrington
Writer/director Johnny Barrington’s feature debut is a teenage tale of surfing, sex and hellfire set in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Silent Roar stars newcomer Louis McCartney as Dondo, a young surfer struggling to accept his father’s recent disappearance at sea. Caught up in grief, he is brought to his senses by rebellious crush Sas (Ella Lily Hyland), a high achiever who dreams of escaping the island. When an oddly-behaved new minister arrives on the island, Dondo begins to have cosmic visions
Stills from Silent Roar, credit Ali Tollervey
Is There Anybody Out There? - Scottish Premiere
Director Ella Glendining
Is There Anybody Out There? is a deeply personal documentary from filmmaker Ella Glendining which premiered at Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year and had its UK Premiere at Sheffied DocFest. While navigating daily discrimination, Ella, who inhabits and loves her unusual body, searches the world for another person like herself. She also explores what it takes to love oneself fiercely despite the pervasiveness of ableism. The illuminating documentary is co-produced by Scottish based documentary production company Tigerlily Two.
Ella Glendining, courtesy of Hot Property Films
Kill - World Premiere
Director Rodger Griffiths
If you’re up for a thrill at this year’s festival, look no further than Rodger Griffith's gritty drama, Kill. Griffith's first feature film centers on three brothers who attempt to kill their violent father while on a hunting expedition that begins to turn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. The film is produced by Clare Mundell's Scotland-based Synchronicity Films.
Still from Kill, courtesy of Synchronicity Films
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - World Premiere
Director Hope Dickson Leach
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a unique retelling of the classic story from award-winning Edinburgh-based filmmaker Hope Dickson- Leach. Originally created as a live hybrid performance with the National Theatre of Scotland. Emphasising themes of capitalistic greed and unscrupulous social ascension, this interpretation is sure to echo with audiences attuned to the current political climate. Plus, it offers a rare chance to see Edinburgh in all of its shadowy glory on the big screen.
Still from The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, courtesy of National Theatre of Scotland
Bridging the Gap Documentary Short Films
Six short documentaries from the Scottish Documentary Institute's talent development initiative, Bridging the Gap, will be showcased at EIFF 2023. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the initiative offers emerging filmmakers a stimulating, supportive, and collaborative space to explore the medium of creative documentary, and provides them with the opportunity to have their ideas commissioned for the big screen, supported by Screen Scotland.
Scottish Short Films
This selection of short films features filmmakers who were either born or are based in Scotland, reflecting the current state of the nation. Five out of the six films were made through Short Circuit's Sharp Shorts programme, which is funded by Screen Scotland. The programme supports up-and-coming writers, directors, and producers in creating inspiring, engaging, and boundary-pushing short films. This exciting selection of short films brilliantly showcases the variety of Scottish filmmaking talent working in the industry today.
Still from short film BLACKWOOL,courtesy of Short Circuit