FRIDAY 15 AUGUST
10:30 – 11:30 / Networking Brunch / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with WFTV
12:00 – 13:00 / Unified Series: Rose Garnett / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Industry passholders only
A24’s Rose Garnett, former Director of BBC Film and Film4, discusses her prolific career in a discussion hosted by Unified
13:30 – 15:00 / In Conversation: Ben Wheatley & Andy Starke / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Ticketed
We are joined by the acclaimed director Ben Wheatley and his longtime producing partner Andy Starke for an in-depth career conversation in which they will discuss their collaborations, their dynamic and the impressive range of films they have created together. From breakout horror thriller Kill List to EIFF Midnight Madness Opener Bulk, via hilarious black comedy Sightseers and many more, the films the pair have made together have always surprised and delighted audiences, speaking to a spirit of fearless independence and genre experimentation that is inspiring and exciting.
Hosted by Catherine Bray (Producer, Loop Films)
16:30 – 18:00 / Industry Panel: Access in Filmmaking / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with CODE Collaboration and Oska Bright
Access in Filmmaking will provide an in-depth discussion about disability inclusion and access within film projects, with a focus on re-engineering the conversation around these subjects. The panel aims to support development of a more proactive approach to creating accessible production by embedding access into the DNA of projects from the start, supporting barrierless productions and enabling disabled and non-disabled creatives to freely, frequently and confidently collaborate with each other.
Panellists: Sam Oldknow (CODE Collaboration), Sean Morrison (CODE Collaboration), Job Wolf (Writer/Director), Mia Bays (BFI Filmmaking Fund), Abbie Hills (Access Coordinator), Lizzie Banks (OSKA Bright) and Matthew Hellett (OSKA Bright).
Hosted by Lillian Crawford (EIFF Shorts Programmer)
18:00 – 19:00 / Networking Drinks / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with Production Guild of Great Britain
20:30 – 22:00 / In Conversation: Jeremy Thomas / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Ticketed
Legendary British film producer Jeremy Thomas is joined for an in-depth conversation with filmmaker Mark Cousins. The pair will discuss the many iconic films and filmmakers Thomas has worked with, from his breakout collaborations with Jerzy Skolimowski (The Shout) and Nicolas Roeg (Bad Timing, also screening at EIFF), via iconic films with Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor), to recent work with Takeshi Miike (Thirteen Assassins) and Matteo Garrone (Pinocchio). The session will celebrate Thomas’ life in film, and his rich body of personal, uncompromising work that embodies a fierce spirit of independence in cinema.
Hosted by Mark Cousins (Filmmaker)
SATURDAY 16 AUGUST
09:30 – 10:45 / In Conversation: Eva Victor & Adele Romanski / Festival Hub / Main Hall
Sorry, Baby director Eva Victor is joined by the film’s Oscar-winning producer Adele Romanski (Moonlight) for a conversation about the film and its creation.
Hosted by Rose Matafeo (Comedian)
11:30 – 13:00 / Networking Brunch / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with Screen Fringe
14:00 – 15:30 / Unified Series: Eva Yates / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Industry passholders only
Eva Yates discusses her remit as the Director of BBC Film and the creative direction of the organisation in a wide-ranging discussion hosted by Unified.
16:30 – 18:00 / Industry Panel: The Outrun – From Development to Distribution / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Industry passholders only
An insightful and informative case study exploring the hit novel and film adaptation (EIFF 2024 Opening Film) from development through to its successful run in cinemas and awards recognition.
Panellists: Claudia Yusef (BBC Film), Stuart Henderson (StudioCanal), Sara Brocklehurst (Brock Media) and Mounia Wissinger (Protagonist)
Hosted by Jenny Niven (Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival)
18:00 – 19:00 / Networking Drinks / Festival Hub / Delegate Centre / In association with BBC Film
20:30 – 00:00 / EIFF Ceilidh / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Invitation to follow
SUNDAY 17 AUGUST
09:30 – 11:00 / Networking Brunch: Screen Scotland Talent Builder / Summerhall Library Gallery / In association with Screen Scotland
11:30 – 12:45 / Unified Series: Adele Romanski / Summerhall Library Gallery / Industry passholders only
Oscar-winning producer Adele Romanski will discuss her career producing some of the most acclaimed films of the last 10 years in a conversation hosted by Unified.
14:30 – 16:00 / EIFF Keynote / In Conversation: Kevin Macdonald & Andrew Macdonald / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In partnership with BAFTA Scotland / Ticketed
We are honoured to welcome acclaimed director and documentarian Kevin Macdonald for a career conversation. He will be joined by his brother, producer Andrew Macdonald for a wide ranging conversation about filmmaking and their respective careers, the divergences and similarities, the challenges and the successes of lives lived in the pursuit of creating cinema.
Hosted by Rowan Woods (Director, Edinburgh TV Festival)
17:00 – 18:00 / Industry Panel: Animation in Scotland / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with Animation Scotland and Animated Woman UK
An overview of the animation sector in Scotland, exploring the funding landscape, creative highlights and discussing the range and impacts of new technology and AI in animation. This panel will provide practical advice and insights to support new and emerging animators.
Panellists: Paula Bird (Zaratan), Selina Wagner (Blobina), Richard Scott (Utility Vehicle), Ron Henry (Wild Child) and David Smith (Screen Scotland)
Hosted by Jake Cunningham (EIFF Animation Shorts Programmer)
18:00 – 19:00 / Networking Drinks / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with Animation Scotland and Animated Woman UK
19:30 – 20:45 / Unified Series: David Hinojosa / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Industry passholders only
Acclaimed producer David Hinojosa (Past Lives, The Brutalist, EIFF 2025 title After This Death) will discuss his productions to date and building success in the feature landscape in a conversation hosted by Unified.
21:15 – 22:45 / Thelma Schoonmaker on Michael Powell / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Ticketed
EIFF welcomes legendary film editor Thelma Schoonmaker for an in-depth and fascinating discussion of her late husband Michael Powell’s life and filmmaking.
Hosted by Emma Boa (EIFF Festival Producer)
MONDAY 18 AUGUST
10:00 – 11:00 / Networking Brunch / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with Screen Academy Scotland
11:30 – 12:45 / Unified Series: Farhana Bhula / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Industry passholders only
Producer and Interim Head of Creative at Film4, Farhana Bhula, discusses her remit at Film4 and outlook for the future in a conversation hosted by Unified.
14:00 – 15:30 / In Conversation: Nia DaCosta / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with We Are Parable / Ticketed
Trailblazing American writer/director Nia DaCosta’s diverse body of work spans independent film, franchise remakes and major studio comic adaptations. The Marvels was the highest-grossing film ever directed by a Black female filmmaker, the remake of Candyman was a box office smash and upcoming sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the latest instalment of the cult independent horror series. EIFF is thrilled to welcome Nia to Edinburgh to discuss her fascinating career.
Hosted by Anthony Andrews (Co-Founder & Creative Director, We Are Parable)
16:30 – 18:00 / Industry Panel: Crafting Fear Through Games and Film / Festival Hub / Main Hall
A panel delving into survival horror, exploring how games and films create fear through mechanics like resource scarcity, vulnerability and pacing. Panellists will compare interactive survival mechanics in games like Alien: Isolation with cinematic techniques in horror cinema.
18:00 – 19:00 / Networking Drinks / Festival Hub / Main Hall
TUESDAY 19 AUGUST
09:00 – 11:00 / Networking Brunch: Co-Production Opportunities with Ireland and Scotland / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with Enterprise Ireland, Film in Limerick and Screen Scotland
11:30 – 12:45 / Unified Series: International Co-Production Panel / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Industry passholders only
EIFF brings together an informative panel of industry professionals from Scotland and the UK to discuss international co-production and opportunity in a conversation hosted by Unified.
14:00 – 15:30 / In Conversation: Andrea Arnold / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Ticketed
Award-winning writer/director Andrea Arnold is one of the UK’s most outstanding filmmakers, starting her career with notable short films Milk, Dog and the Academy Award winning Wasp. Her searing debut feature Red Road, also screening at EIFF this year, won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut in 2006, followed by the critically acclaimed and Cannes Jury Prize winning Fish Tank (which also won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film) and American Honey. Cow and, most recently, Bird, were both nominated for BAFTAs. Andrea has also created brilliant work in television, including Transparent, I Love Dick and the second season of Big Little Lies. EIFF is thrilled to be welcoming Andrea to Edinburgh to discuss her exceptional career, and to present a special screening of Scottish classic Red Road.
Hosted by Mia Bays (Director, BFI Filmmaking Fund)
16:30 – 18:00 / Industry Panel: Screenwriting in Scotland / Festival Hub / Main Hall / In association with WGGB
An overview of the screenwriting landscape in Scotland, exploring original writing, adaptation and opportunities.
Panellists: Andrea Gibb (Screenwriter), Paul Laverty (Screenwriter), Paul Sng (Director) and Kelly Macdonald (Actor)
Hosted by Chris Young (Producer & Head of NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab)
18:00 – 19:00 / Networking Drinks / Festival Hub / Delegate Centre / In association with Writers Guild of Great Britain
WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST
11:00 – 12:30 / In Conversation: Ken Loach, Paul Laverty & Rebecca O’Brien / Festival Hub / Main Hall / Ticketed
We are thrilled to welcome legendary British filmmaker Ken Loach and his long-time creative collaborators, writer Paul Laverty and producer Rebecca O’Brien for a conversation event. The trio will discuss the acclaimed films they have created together over the years including Palme D’Or Winners The Wind That Shakes The Barley and I, Daniel Blake.
Hosted by Guy Lodge (Film Critic, Variety)
13:30 – 15:00 / Woman with a Movie Account: How Female Creators Are Using TikTok to Break Into the Exclusive World of Film / Festival Hub / Main Hall
Join three women making waves in entertainment as they discuss how they used social platforms to build audiences and springboard their careers in film & TV.
Panellists: Jamilo Mohamed (Creator), Meg Hudges (Creator & Aspiring Director) and Indigo Stafford (Creator & Entertainment Reporter)
Hosted by Beatrice Mustocea (Creator & Public Figures Lead UKIN)
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EIFF Industry Programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland.
