Edinburgh International Film Festival 2021 programme announced

The 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival takes place at the heart of Edinburgh’s festival season, between 18 and 25 August, and presents a fantastic programme of feature and short films celebrating the long-awaited return to cinema.

This special programme of in-person and digital screenings includes 31 new features and 73 shorts – with 18 marking their world and 3 international premieres at the Festival – and with 50% of the new features in the EIFF 2021 programme from a female director or co-director.

The majority of Festival screenings take place at the Festival’s home, Filmhouse, with the Opening Gala and Special Preview at Festival Theatre and special screenings at partner venues across Scotland, along with introductions, Q&As, in person events and more screenings being available through a dedicated, accessible streaming platform Filmhouse at Home.

Watch Programme Launch video here:



EIFF is supported by Screen Scotland, the PLACE Programme (a partnership between the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals), the Scottish Government through the Festivals Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and the British Film Institute (BFI) using funds from the National Lottery.

EIFF 2021 PROGRAMME
Reflecting the diversity of stories and storytellers from across the world, EIFF’s 2021 programme includes two hugely anticipated musicals: hot from Cannes where it won the Best Director award, the UK premiere of Leos Carax’s Annette starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, co-written by pop legends Sparks and a Special Preview screening of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Festival Theatre with a starry cast including Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant, and newcomer Max Harwood in the title role.

The Festival opens with the European Premiere of Michael Sarnoski’s Pig with Nicolas Cage as a reclusive truffle hunter and closes with the UK Premiere of Here Today from the comedy legend Billy Crystal, also featuring Tiffany Haddish. Following in the footsteps of Whisky Galore! which premiered at EIFF in 2016, two Scottish films exploring island life receive their World Premieres at EIFF: a documentary Prince of Muck following the continuing battles of elderly patriarch Lawrence MacEwen and Hebridean feature drama The Road Dance based on a best-selling book by STV News presenter John MacKay who also stars in the film.

Determination in the face of adversity and addressing the social issues permeating societies around the world are strongly represented in this year’s programme. The UK premiere of Haider Rashid’s Europa starring British-Libyan Adam Ali as a young Iraqi refugee sees him fighting to survive in the wilderness and with ‘Migrant Hunters’ on his trail while Oscar-nominated Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Man Who Sold His Skin focuses on a young Syrian refugee who agreed to having his back tattooed in exchange for a better life in Europe. Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Ballad of a White Cow sees a wife fighting against the broken justice system in Iran after her husband is executed for a crime he did not commit and New Zealand’s The Justice of Bunny King tells the story of a troubled single mother trying to get the custody of her children back.

In documentaries, Walk with Angels offers a visceral look at South Africa’s legacy of Apartheid and child trafficking and Rebel Dykes explores the underground lesbian community in London in the 80s and the country’s lack of response to the AIDS crisis. Two very personal documentaries, Radiograph of a Family from Firouzeh Khosrovani centres on the director’s parents and uses them as a lens to look at Iran’s society split between secular and Islamic beliefs and Alicia Cano Menoni’s Bosco focuses on the director’s grandfather living in Uruguay and his ancestoral roots in a small Italian village.
Highlighting contemporary social issues, documentary The Gig Is Up shines light on the forgotten gig economy workforce, from Deliveroo to Amazon, and the European Premiere of Jennifer Ngo’s Faceless centres on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Continuing the theme of the gig economy and its recent struggles, Laurent Garnier: Off The Record tells the little-known story of the legendary French DJ and the political response to rave culture.

This year’s programme also showcases the best of horror from two EIFF-returners: impeccable Rebecca Hall in The Night House from the genre innovator David Bruckner and Martyrs Lane from Ruth Platt reinventing the classic ghost story. In animation, the legendary Academy Award-winning director and animator Phil Tippett presents the second instalment of his Miltonesque Mad God.

The quirky French feature comedy Mandibles sees two friends trying to train a giant fly to make money off of it and Norway’s Ninjababy beautifully blends animation and live action to tell the story of a young cartoonist and her unexpected pregnancy.

An ambitious programme of short films – fiction, animation, documentary and experimental aka Black Box – divided into 7 strands by theme, explore a fantastic range of topics and issues: in short animation, Imaginings delve into the recesses of the human mind and Family Values look at how our lives are shaped by values that are handed down to us; in short fiction and documentary, One Step at the Time is rooted in the present moment, showing snapshots from all around the world, Visions project forward, imagining our future lives or alternative realities; and in Black Box we find Interconnections exploring the themes of collaboration and interrelation and Interruptions, a diverse programme playfully confounding the aesthetic expectations of the audience.

Some of the highlights include Ba, about growing up in Soviet Kazakhstan, a child seeking refuge from his stark reality in Romanian Candy Can, animated Hangman at Home exploring the awkward intimacy of humanness and Keith Water, a stop motion animation made from found materials during the 2020 lockdown.

The shorts programme also includes SHORTCUTS – Views From The Four Nations, presented in Edinburgh and France through a partnership with the Dinard Festival of British Film, led by Artistic Director Dominique Green. DFBF and EIFF are twinning to show together a selection of the best of recent British shorts.

All short films are available to audiences digitally on Filmhouse at Home. EIFF Shorts and Experimental films are sponsored by Innis & Gunn, with support from the Culture & Business Fund Scotland, managed by Arts & Business Scotland.

Tickets go on sale at 12noon on Wednesday 28 July for Filmhouse Members, and then on general sale at 12noon on Thursday 29 July.

Festival audiences will have a chance to vote for their favourite film which will receive the 2021 Audience Award. For more information and a full schedule of physical and digital screenings please visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk.

See Notes to Editors for a full list of new feature films in the 2021 programme plus the Restored Classics such as Fellini’s La Strada.

OUT AND ABOUT

This year’s EIFF spreads around the city and outside of the Scottish capital thanks to a fantastic range of events, opening up access and inspiring curiosity in many who may previously not have been able to experience the Festival programme. Film Fest in the City in St Andrew Square Gardens delivers a free programme of cinematic favourites such as Frozen and Grease, delivered in partnership with Essential Edinburgh and supported by Johnnie Walker, EIFF’s Official Whisky Partner, Innis & Gunn, EIFF’s Official Beer Partner, and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

A watery themed and now sold out Film Fest on the Forth on 31 July and 1 August presents films the whole family can enjoy at a purpose built outdoor cinema space at Port Edgar Marina in the shadow of the Forth’s iconic bridges. Film Fest on the Forth is also supported EventScotland in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.

Partnering with independent cinemas and in partnership with Film Hub Scotland, INDY Cinema and Regional Screen Scotland, and with support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund, EIFF travels around Scotland with three fantastic films screened at local cinemas including: Mareel Shetland, Tiree Isle of Tiree, Screen Machine Tobermory and Fort Augustus, Glasgow Film Theatre, Oban Phoenix, Macrobert Arts Centre Stirling, Eden Court Inverness, DCA Dundee, Heart of Hawick, Belmont Filmhouse Aberdeen, Birks Cinema Aberfeldy, and the home of EIFF, Filmhouse Edinburgh. The titles include the Festival’s Opening Film, Pig on 18 August, Closing Film, Here Today on 25 August and the World Premiere of Prince of Muck documentary on 19 August.

To coincide with the Special Preview of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie on 20 August, EIFF presents a one-of-a-kind community celebration of love and inclusivity, Edinburgh’s Talking About Jamie. This special event gets fizzy with drag queens and cocktails and those dressed to impress are in with a chance of prizes for the best outfits.

SPECIAL EVENTS & PROJECTS

An inspiring range of in-person events and Q&As offer EIFF audiences a unique access to some of the UK and world’s leading film figures.

In Reel Talks, a series of panel discussions around a topic explored in the 2021 EIFF programme, The Power of Connection focuses on our fragile relationship with nature, inspired by the documentary Fathom and featuring one of the film’s subject, Dr Ellen Garland, while The Whole Picture draws on the themes highlighted in Rebel Dykes, a documentary about the relatively unknown London lesbian scene in the 80s and includes the film’s director, Harri Shanahan. Jennifer Ngo, a journalist and Human Rights Press Award recipient joins a panel discussing issues raised in her documentary Faceless which focuses on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Filmmakers Judy Kibinge, Wanjeri Gakuru and Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo form the panel Daughters of East Africa to discuss how their filmmaking offers radically different images of themselves and their coming of age experiences. This panel discussion and accompanying shorts programme are part of Film Feels Hopeful, a UK-wide cinema season, supported by the BFI Film Audience Network using funds from the National Lottery.

A series of digital Q&As presented as part of this year’s programme includes a conversation with the animation legend Phil Tippett and a more in-depth look at the career of Laurent Garnier with the director of the documentary and the French DJ himself. Other special guests include the director of Ninjababy, Yngvild Sve Flikke, director of Radiograph of a Family, Firouzeh Khosrovani and director of The Gig Is Up, Shannon Walsh.

The brand-new EIFF Fan Club, delivered in partnership with BAFTA Scotland, sees key Scottish cultural figures and artists interviewing their film heroes. EIFF Fan Club is supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown, and the UK Government through funding to enhance the Edinburgh Festivals' digital capabilities. Further details and full line up to be announced in due course.

EIFF regular projects – Talent Lab and EIFF Youth – are back to support film professionals and young film enthusiasts respectively. The first, designed to help writers, directors and producers from Scotland and around the globe take the next steps towards their first feature film, runs digitally across two August weekends (13-15 & 20-21) while EIFF Youth, supported by Baillie Gifford, gathers in Edinburgh over the middle weekend of the Festival (21-22), and online over an extended weekend, to take part in workshops, access career advice, look at environmental issues in cinema production, meet and interview filmmakers.

Both projects are funded through the PLACE programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals. EIFF Youth is also supported by the Foyle Foundation, Gannochy Trust, Procam Take 2, Culture & Business Fund Scotland and Young Start, while Talent Lab is supported by the William Syson Foundation and The Fenton Arts Trust.

EIFF Young Critics, supported by James and Morag Anderson, is a programme supporting the next generation of film journalists, offering experience, skills and networking to young people with a passion for cinema.

All screenings and events at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival will be delivered in line with Scottish Government Covid-19 mitigation measures in place at the time.

QUOTES

Ken Hay, Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Film Festival said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing audiences such an exciting Edinburgh International Film Festival this year. Celebrating cinema and film’s ability to bring us together, this year’s EIFF will have screening events indoors, outdoors and online.

“There’s a fantastic and diverse programme of new and classic features, documentaries, animations, experimental and short films programmed by our team of regular and guest programmers led by Nick Varley, addressing the big issues and inviting audiences to become involved. We hope you will explore the programme and join us whether in person in Edinburgh or around Scotland, or online.

“And in this really challenging climate, my personal thanks to the filmmakers in allowing us to show their films and to the ongoing support of our funders, donors, patrons and friends – it is hugely appreciated.”

Nick Varley, Lead Guest Programmer of Edinburgh International Film Festival said: “Despite the obvious challenges of presenting a festival during a pandemic the programming team is delighted to share this smaller but very strong line up with audiences. This year we have worked hard to ensure a diverse range of voices amongst the UK, European and International premieres, including achieving gender parity in our main selection. It’s been a joy working with such a fantastic team of programmers and we hope cinemagoers enjoy the films as much as we enjoyed selecting them.”

Dani Carlaw, Head of Unscripted at Screen Scotland said: “This year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival is a fantastic opportunity to welcome audiences back to Scottish and international cinema. The festival’s Scotland-wide screenings will simultaneously bring people and communities together through film right across the country. Our hugely talented Scotland-based filmmakers are strongly represented in this year’s stellar programme including Faction North’s world premiere of Prince of Muck; a chance for audiences to see vital documentary Rebel Dykes produced by Siobhan Fahey, and the world premiere of The Road Dance based on the novel by John MacKay.”

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “The Edinburgh International Film Festival excels in showcasing excellence in film making from around the world, and this year is no exception. I am delighted to welcome the festival back after its absence last year to remind us of the magic of watching films on the big screen.

“This year’s festival programme includes an exciting series of screenings, events and networking opportunities, as well as a series of talent development initiatives, which I am pleased to support.

“Through the Scottish Government’s PLACE programme, over £124,500 has been awarded to the festival to support a range of activity including a Talent Lab for professional development; Script Starter, a new screenwriting programme for under-represented writing talent from across Scotland; and a dedicated youth programme, designed to engage young people directly and support aspiring film makers.”

“I am also pleased that £50,000 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund has contributed to the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s innovative development of communal cinema experiences, so that a series of movies - including the Scottish-made documentary Prince of Muck - can be enjoyed nationwide.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “The programme for the 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival is a wonderful celebration of cinema with a diverse offering of in-person and online screenings and events set to entertain audiences this festival season.

“EventScotland is delighted to be supporting this year’s festival, including both Film Fest in the City and Film Fest on the Forth in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21, which will provide audiences returning to cinema and events with a unique experience in memorable outdoor settings.”

Cllr Donald Wilson, Culture and Community Convener said: "We're very proud to continue our support of the Edinburgh International Film Festival which will see the welcome return of the collective cinema experience as well as the online platform for audiences to enjoy from home.

“Through our funding via the PLACE partnership programme, the festival aims to create pathways in film talent development for participants from across Scotland, and it’s great to see the return of the Talent Lab and EIFF Youth projects as the festival continues to contribute to future film talent.”

Ben Luxford, Head of UK Audiences at the BFI, said: “We’re delighted that, thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, we’re able to support EIFF to deliver a nationally significant programme of screenings, Q&As and talks that is sure to engage a diverse range of audiences. I’m particularly looking forward to the Film Feels Hopeful panel discussion and accompanying shorts programme supported by the BFI Film Audience Network, as well as screenings of BFI-backed films such as the much-anticipated Martyrs Lane.”


EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021 PROGRAMME

FEATURE FICTION

Starring the inimitable, Academy Award-winning Nicolas Cage, Pig is a story of a reclusive truffle hunter whose beloved pig is kidnapped. Wed 18 Aug, 7pm, Festival Theatre

CLOSING FILM: Here Today, dir. Billy Crystal (2020), UK premiere

When veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Billy Crystal) meets singer Emma Payge (Tiffany Haddish), they form an unlikely yet hilarious and touching friendship that kicks the generation gap aside and redefines the meaning of love and trust. Wed 25 Aug, 7pm (Filmhouse 1), 7.15pm (Filmhouse 2), 7.30pm (Filmhouse 3), (117 min)

SPECIAL PREVIEW: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, dir. Jonathan Butterell (2019)

Starring Sharon Horgan, Richard E. Grant and Sarah Lancashire, this touching and uplifting story of a young man pursuing his dreams against all odds comes from the director of the smash-hit stage musical. Fri 20 Aug, 8pm, Festival Theatre (120 min)

Annette, dir. Leos Carax (2020), UK Premiere

From France’s chief enfant terrible and Sparks brothers comes Annette, a magnificently wild musical featuring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, which opened this year’s Cannes Film Festival to a great acclaim and brought the Best Director award to Carax. Sat 21 Aug, 6.15pm, Filmhouse 1; 6.35pm, Filmhouse 3 (140 min)

Ballad of a White Cow, dir. Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha (2021), UK Premiere

A social realism masterpiece exploring the guilt and atonement that have become synonymous with the best of contemporary Iranian cinema. A gripping story of Mina (Maryam Moghaddam) and her lonely fight against the cynical system after she learns her husband was innocent of the crime he had been executed for. Mon 23 Aug, 6.40pm, Filmhouse 1; Tues 24 Aug, 9.35pm, Filmhouse 3 (105 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Europa, dir. Haider Rashid (2021), UK Premiere

Having received its world premiere at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, Europa focuses on an Iraqi young man (Adam Ali) who migrates into Europe on foot, only to face merciless wilderness and human cruelty. Fri 20 Aug, 6.30pm, Filmhouse 1; Sat 22 Aug, 9.20pm, Filmhouse 1 (72 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Man Who Sold His Skin, dir. Kaouther Ben Hania, (2020), UK Premiere

Depicting a “Faustian pact between the privileged and the damned,” The Man Who Sold His Skin focuses on Sam Ali, a young Syrian refugee who accepts having his back tattooed by one of the world’s most sulphurous contemporary artists, hoping it will allow him to travel to Europe and be with the love of his life. Sat 22 Aug, 6.30pm, Filmhouse 1; Tues 24 Aug, 9pm, Filmhouse 2 (104 min)

The Beta Test, dir. Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe (2021)

A wicked satirical thriller set in L.A. blending incendiary comedy with brutal political commentary – a story of a ruthless talent agent Jordan who receives a mysterious envelope offering sex with a stranger in a hotel room. No strings attached. Thurs 19 Aug, 9.05pm, Filmhouse 2; Sat 21 Aug, 3pm, Filmhouse 3 (93 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Bright Side, dir. Ruth Meehan (2020), UK Premiere

Following a stomping success with her short film, director Ruth Meehan makes a welcome return to the Festival with her debut feature telling a poignant – and inspired by personal experience – story of a young woman going through cancer treatment with an unlikely band of companions. Thurs 19 Aug, 6.30pm, Filmhouse 2; Fri 20 Aug, 9.20pm, Filmhouse 3 (98 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Justice of Bunny King, dir. Gaysorn Thavat (2020), UK Premiere

Featuring Essie Davis (Babadook) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit), this is a powerful drama about a single mother with a troubled past, fighting to get her children back. Fri 20 Aug, 6.15pm, Filmhouse 2; Sun 22 Aug, 9.30pm, Filmhouse 3 (101 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Mandibles, dir. Quentin Dupieux (2019), UK Premiere

When simple-minded friends Jean-Gab and Manu find a giant fly trapped in the boot of a car, they decide to train it in the hope of making a ton of cash. Sat 21 Aug, 9.40pm, Filmhouse 1; Mon 23 Aug, 6pm, Filmhouse 2 (78 min)

Martyrs Lane, dir. Ruth Platt (2020), UK Premiere

Ruth Platt returns to the Festival with a timeless, emotionally-led ghost story of a girl who befriends a nocturnal visitor. But when she is talked into taking something which doesn’t belong to her, she sets off a train of events which may make her worst nightmares come true. Fri 20 Aug, 9.30pm, Filmhouse 1; Sun 22 Aug, 6pm, Filmhouse 3 (97 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Night House, dir. David Bruckner (2020), UK Premiere

Peerless Rebecca Hall stars in this modern and accomplished take on the classic haunted house story. A new, not-to-be-missed horror from the genre innovator David Bruckner. Thurs 19 Aug, 9.30pm, Filmhouse 1 (107 min)

Ninjababy, dir. Yngvild Sve Flikke (2021), UK Premiere

A hilarious and poignant story of a young cartoonist who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. When an animated cartoon baby suddenly appears, she embarks on a humorous journey encountering new people and circumstances that might actually help her make up her mind… or not. Fri 20 Aug, 1.15pm, Filmhouse 1; Sat 21 Aug, 10pm, Filmhouse 3 (103 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Road Dance, dir. Richie Adams (2021), World Premiere

Based on a best-selling book from STV’s news presenter John MacKay who also stars in the film, The Road Dance is a pre-WW1 love drama set in the Scottish Hebrides, offering a unique insight into the island life at the turn of the twentieth century. Tues 24 Aug, 5.45pm, Filmhouse 1; Wed 25 Aug, 3pm, Filmhouse 2 (116 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Skies of Lebanon, dir. Chloé Mazlo (2020), UK Premiere

Inspired by the family history of the director, the film uses live action and animation to tell a touching and heart-breaking story of love during wartime. Starring Alba Rohrwacher (Happy as Lazzaro) and Wajdi Mouawad (author of the play Incendies, which was the source material for Denis Villeneuve’s 2010 film). Tues 24 Aug, 9.50pm, Filmhouse 1; Wed 25 Aug, 3.45pm, Filmhouse 3 (90 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Stop-Zemlia, dir. Kateryna Gornostai (2021), UK Premiere

“They say when you get goosebumps, your soul touches your body.” Steering clear of overly simplistic psychology, the film focuses on Masha, Yana and Senia’s last but one year of high school. Sun 22 Aug, 3.45pm, Filmhouse 2; Tues 24 Aug, 6.30pm, Filmhouse 3 (122 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Prince of Muck, dir. Cindy Jansen (2021), World Premiere

A beautifully shot story of retired patriarch Lawrence MacEwen whose life mission was to preserve the fragile society on The Isle of Much, an Inner Hebridean island. As he begins to live out his final days, he becomes a person haunted by the past and struggling to maintain their relevance for the future. Thurs 19 Aug, 6pm, Filmhouse 1; Sun 22 Aug, 3pm, Filmhouse 3 (77 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Laurent Garnier: Off The Record, dir. Gabin Rivoire (2020), Scottish Premiere

This inspiring, generational music documentary explores the birth and rise of techno music through the eyes of one of its pioneers: acclaimed French DJ Laurent Garnier. It is also a celebration of the ineffable collective music experience, much missed in these times of self-isolation. Sat 21 Aug, 9pm, Filmhouse 2; Tues 24 Aug, 3.30pm, Filmhouse 3 (89 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Gig Is Up, dir. Shannon Walsh (2021), UK Premiere

An eye-opening documentary about the gig economy which is worth 5 trillion USD dollars and growing. From Uber to Amazon, what are the hidden costs of our convenient, modern lives? A complex and compelling cinematic essay about the role of work within modern tech-savvy societies. Fri 20 Aug, 4pm, Filmhouse 1; Tues 24 Aug, 6pm, Filmhouse 2 (88 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Fathom, dir. Drew Xanthopoulos (2021), UK Theatrical Premiere

The study of whales challenges our most basic assumptions about what it is to be human. This film follows some of the world’s most immersed whale researchers, including Dr. Ellen Garland from University of St Andrews, to explore their ground-breaking work and how a life among whales has shaped them personally. Sat 21 Aug, 2.20pm, Filmhouse 1 (140 min, incl. event)

Walk With Angels, dir. Tomasz Wysokiński (2021), UK Premiere

Polish filmmaker Tomasz Wysokiński centres on Jerry, a former child soldier who now helps families regain their stolen children in the economically deprived townships surrounding Johannesburg. Tues 24 Aug, 3pm, Filmhouse 1; Sat 21 Aug, 6pm, Filmhouse 2 (84 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Rebel Dykes, dir. Harri Shanahan, Siân A. Williams (2021), Scottish Premiere

A richly textured and nuanced archive of an irrepressibly vital community of Rebel Dykes - a relatively unknown underground London lesbian scene of the early 1980s. Fri 20 Aug, 5.45pm, Filmhouse 3 (140 min, incl. event); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Faceless, dir. Jennifer Ngo (2021), European Premiere

Featuring compelling real-life stories and immersive on-the-ground footage of the increasingly violent battles with police, Ngo charts the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and creates a film throbbing with the urgency of a political moment that could well be a flashpoint for a much wider conflict to come. Mon 23 Aug, 8.30pm, Filmhouse 2; Wed 25 Aug, 1.30pm, Filmhouse 3 (80 min, Mon 23 Aug – 125 min, incl. Reel Talk); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Bosco, dir. Alicia Cano Menoni (2020), UK Premiere

Over thirteen years filmmaker Alicia Cano Menoni creates a magical cinematic bridge between a sleepy Italian village Bosco filled with tradition and a city on the other side of the ocean, in Uruguay where the filmmaker’s grandfather, whose ancestors once emigrated from Bosco, currently lives. Thurs 19 Aug, 3.30pm, Filmhouse 2 (80 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Radiograph of a Family, dir. Firouzeh Khosrovani (2020), UK Premiere

A deeply personal documentary telling the story of Khosrovani’s parents as they lived through the 1979 Islamic revolution, experiencing the shift from a secularized nation to an Islamic Republic which saw the mother's traditional Islamic beliefs at odds with the father's secular way of life. Mon 23 Aug, 6.20pm, Filmhouse 3 (82 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase the Blues Away, dir. Devin Chanda, Devin Amar, Charles Todd, Matt Mitchener (2021), UK Premiere

The story of how a Louisiana sharecropper, George “Buddy” Guy, became one of the most influential guitarists of all time. Told both in his own words and through contributions from the likes of President Obama to Eric Clapton, the film looks at how Buddy’s music inspired The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, among many others. Sun 22 Aug, 1pm, Filmhouse 1 (83 min)

FEATURE ANIMATION

Mad God, dir. Phil Tippett (2020), UK Premiere

A labour of love and 30 years in the making, Academy Award-winner Phil Tippet – widely known as the man behind the Star Wars creatures – presents the second instalment to his stop-motion film set in a Miltonesque world of monsters, mad scientists and war pigs. Mon 23 Aug, 10pm, Filmhouse 1; Sat 21 Aug, 3.40pm, Filmhouse 2 (83 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

The Deer King, dir. Masashi Ando, Masayuki Miyaji (2021), UK Premiere

A directorial debut of the acclaimed animator Ando who has worked with the famed Studio Ghibli. As the deadly Black Wolf Fever disease runs rampant in the Empire of Zol, enslaved ex-soldier Van and a young girl named Yuna, both bitten, search for a cure for the disease that is spreading among the Zolian settlers. Sun 22 Aug, 3.20pm, Filmhouse 1; Mon 23 Aug, 3.30pm, Filmhouse 1 (120 min)

Even Mice Belong in Heaven, dir. Jan Bubenícek, Denisa Grimmová Abrhámová (2021), UK Premiere

Using over 100 puppet characters and 11 sets, the animation tells the story of an unlikely friendship between little mouse Whizzy and the fox Whitebelly who meet up in the animal paradise following an accident… Sat 21 Aug, 10.30am, Filmhouse 1 (87 min)

Absolute Denial, dir. Ryan Braund (2021), UK Premiere

An obsessive, genius programmer sacrifices everything in his personal and professional life to build a computer of unprecedented power. After weeks in isolation and watching his life crumble around him, he must now confront the ever-increasing problem of a machine that is much smarter than himself. The unique animation is the passion project of writer-director-producer Ryan Braund. Sun 22 Aug, 6.50pm, Filmhouse 2; Mon 23 Aug, 9pm, Filmhouse 3 (71 min); also available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

RESTORED CLASSICS

A Man Called Adam, dir. Leo Penn (1966)

A gripping story of a young troubled jazz musician (Sammy Davis Jr.) and the tumultuous relationship with the people in his life. Fri 20 Aug, 3.15pm, Filmhouse 2 (102 min)

The Servant, dir. Joseph Losey (1963)

Written by Harold Pinter and starring Dirk Bogarde, this social class drama uses the story of Hugo Barrett, a servant in the Chelsea home of indolent aristocrat Tony, to depict the decay and decline of Britain. Thurs 19 Aug, 3pm, Filmhouse 1 (115 min)

La Strada, dir. Federico Fellini (1954)

According to some, one of the most influential films ever made which launched Fellini’s international career, winning him the inaugural Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1957. Guilietta Massina plays the heartbreakingly naïve Gelsomina sold into a marriage and work with circus strongman Zampano. Wed 25 Aug, 2.30pm, Filmhouse 1 (108 min)

Two Cents Worth Of Hope, dir. Renato Castellani (1952)

Third instalment of Castellani’s “Young Love” trilogy: two young lovers from different backgrounds triumph over the objection of their parents in this post war Neapolitan romantic comedy. The film shared the Grand Prix award at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival. Mon 23 Aug, 3pm, Filmhouse 2 (110 min)

SHORTS PROGRAMME - available digitally on Filmhouse at Home

Bridging the Gap: Mobile

From a year in which everything felt at a standstill, get transported by these brand-new shorts on the theme of Mobile from the brightest Scottish and Northern Irish talent. A playful and intimate exploration of face-blindness. An endurance race with young female athletes. A family-run haven for foreign fishermen in North East Scotland. An atmospheric portrait of labour and land in the West Country. Two cousins reconnecting after seeing their paths separated by the war in Syria.

Family Values

Animations that examine the family and the values, beliefs, and behaviours passed down by generations, and in some cases challenged by the new generation. The complexities of adult-child relationships are scrutinised by both adult and child protagonists, alongside a consideration of the wider influence that cultural attitudes have on personal lives. At the core of these films is connection, whether it be to Mother Earth or to our kith and kin.

Imaginings

Induced by the stasis of the last year, this selection presents a glimpse into the human mind, and the memories, anxieties, yearnings and dreams of the characters we encounter. From unspoken urges to frank exchanges around longing and loneliness, the mind’s attempts to suppress traumatic memory or to make sense of the horror, and above all else the manifestation of psychological states so beautifully brought to life by the medium of animation.

Interconnections (part of Black Box)

With their fluid approach to structure and close attention to rhythm, the films in this programme demonstrate different ways of expressing connection and interconnection – with oneself, with another, between humans and non-humans, and with both the urban environment and natural surroundings. They ask us to be attentive to the relationship between exterior and interior worlds, transforming perception through new languages of observation and contemplation. 

Interruptions (part of Black Box)

Images that explode the confines of the cinematic frame, employing creative interventions in order to playfully confound aesthetic expectations. Nine immersive works that engage with, reconfigure or subvert, the grammar and processes of moving image making, applying the tools of repetition, layering, circularity and physical contact, to strikingly inventive ends. In considering cinematic space as a sensory landscape, the filmstrip is explored as a vibrant site of tactile interactions and transformation; reactivating archival ephemera, harnessing the artisanal processes of early cinematic innovation, and powerfully entangling politics and aesthetics.

One Step at the Time

This programme is about movement, whether that is literal travel or progress more figuratively. These films are snapshots of lives around the world. We see stories of immigration, both the journey to somewhere new and the return to an old home. We delve into family memory and the process of grief. We take a moment to visit various generations of women at a leisure club. And we join people working with nature and others struggling in capitalist structures.

Visions

In this programme short filmmakers explore the possibilities of reality. We start in a familiar setting, a high street hair salon and then we twist and turn, through virtual lives, dystopian visions that could be the here and now. We watch the power of resistance through the eyes of a science fiction author, then imagine a world without the scars of a colonial past and finally we land somewhere completely strange and yet familiar.

SHORTCUTS – View from the Four Nations

Programmed by Dinard Festival of British Film, a French film festival celebrating British cinema, whose collaboration with EIFF adds a distinct dimension to our endeavours to present not only excellent short films, but to further the understanding of the complexities of British society.

EIFF Youth New Visions Short Film Competition 2021

New Visions brings the freshest voices in Scottish film to the global stage. We invited 15–25 year-old filmmakers from across Scotland to submit their latest work to the EIFF Youth New Visions Short Film Competition. This showcase has been carefully selected by the EIFF Youth team, and promises to be entertaining, thought provoking and inspirational. Three awards are up for grabs, with the winners announced after the screening in a special Q&A event.

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