Edinburgh International Film Festival announces industry programme for 2025
The industry programme presents an impactful series of panels and networking opportunities for local and international creatives to engage with industry experts from around the world.
Article Source: Edinburgh International Film Festival
Last Updated: 24 July 2025 14:02
On Friday 15 August, the day begins the first EIFF Networking Brunch delivered in association with WFTV. This will be followed by a Unified Series conversation with executive and producer Rose Garnett.
This will be followed by Ben Wheatley and Andy Starke as part of EIFF In Conversation that afternoon.
Later in the afternoon, an industry panel on Access in Filmmaking will take place, delivered in association with Code Collaboration and Oska Bright. This event will be followed directly by EIFF Networking Drinks in association with the Production Guild of Great Britain. Legendary film producer Jeremy Thomas will take the stage for an EIFF In Conversation with filmmaker Mark Cousins later that evening.
On Saturday 16 August, the day opens with an EIFF In Conversation event with Eva Victor (writer, director and star of EIFF Opening film Sorry, Baby) and film producer Adele Romanski (Sorry, Baby, Moonlight, Aftersun), followed by an EIFF Networking Brunch delivered in association with Screen Fringe. The afternoon features a Unified Series discussion with Eva Yates, Director of BBC Film, before an industry panel on The Outrun - From Development to Distribution, exploring the hit novel and film adaptation from development through to its successful run in cinemas and awards recognition. This panel will be followed by EIFF Networking Drinks in association with BBC Film, before the evening kicks off in true Scottish style with the renowned EIFF Ceilidh.
On Sunday 17 August, the day will start with the EIFF Networking Brunch in association with Screen Scotland, at Summerhall Library Gallery. This will be followed by a Unified Series discussion with award winning feature film producer Adele Romanski. Filmmaker and documentarian Kevin Macdonald and his brother, producer Andrew Macdonald, will deliver the EIFF Keynote that afternoon, discussing their long and varied careers.
An industry panel Animation in Scotland will be delivered in the early evening, in association with Animation Scotland and Animated Women UK, exploring the funding landscape, creative highlights and new technology in animation.
The panel will be followed by EIFF Networking Drinks, before a Unified Series discussion with Oscar nominated US producer David Hinojosa (EIFF 2025 UK Premiere After This Death, Past Lives, Bodies Bodies Bodies).
On Monday 18 August, the morning EIFF Networking Brunch will be hosted in association with Screen Hub Scotland, followed by a Unified Series discussion with Farhana Bhula, Interim Director of Film4.
In the afternoon, trailblazing filmmaker Nia DaCosta will be taking part in an EIFF In Conversation, followed by an industry panel on Crafting Fear through Games and Film, delving into survival horror, exploring how games and films create fear through mechanics like resource scarcity, vulnerability and pacing. This event will be followed by EIFF Networking Drinks.
On Tuesday 19 August, the morning EIFF Networking Brunch will be hosted in association with Enterprise Ireland, Filming in Limerick and Screen Scotland, followed by a special Unified Series panel event on international co-productions.
In the afternoon, writer and director Andrea Arnold will be joining an EIFF In Conversation event to discuss her stellar career. This will be followed by an industry panel on Screenwriting in Scotland before the evening EIFF Networking Drinks in association with Writers Guild of Great Britain.
On Wednesday 20 August, the Festival’s final day will begin with Ken Loach, Paul Laverty and Rebecca O’Brien as part of EIFF In Conversation, where they will discuss their far-reaching and illustrious careers and collaborations.
Industry Accreditation is priced at £150 (excluding VAT), and £135 (excluding VAT) concessions available to current students across any discipline (aged 18+) and people who may be in receipt of benefits. For more details and to apply, please visit www.edfilmfest.org.
Press Accreditation is also now open and applications can be made by visiting www.edfilmfest.org.
Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director has said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome so many major Scottish, UK and international guests from the world of film to take part in our industry programme in August. Building on the success of last year, we are delighted to present a week of diverse and exciting events, talks and networking opportunities, with a programme speaking to a wide range of themes, ideas and learning opportunities for our industry delegates. We are passionately committed to connecting Scottish and UK talent with the international film community and we are especially thrilled to have worked so closely with Unified and so many other supportive organisations and individuals to access their formidable networks and to build something truly special. This promises to be a significant and vital week for film and the film industry, as well as a great deal of fun, and we look forward to welcoming press, buyers, producers, filmmakers and the wider industry to Edinburgh this August.’
EIFF 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and the industry programme is backed by EXPO funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland.
Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from Thursday 14 to Wednesday 20 August 2025.
Press and Industry accreditation for the Festival closes on 2 August 2025.
With press and industry accreditation now open, the Festival welcomes industry applications from people from a range of backgrounds and experiences; from those making their way into the screen industries to people looking to support a new generation of talent. EIFF also welcomes applications from press from a range of backgrounds and experiences; from emerging writers and journalists to those covering for media outlets. Press delegates will gain access to Press and Industry (P&I) screenings of World, International and UK Premieres across the programme.
Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by EIFF Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of award-winning indie, Aftersun; Teresa Moneo, Former Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio.
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