Edinburgh Film Fest Celebrates Bond, Revives Classics
Scotland’s cinematic showcase unveils a star-studded lineup, honoring legacy while embracing innovation.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is set to return, spotlighting new works and classic retrospectives, while also celebrating the city’s vibrant arts scene. With a lineup that includes world premieres and tributes to icons, the festival aims to solidify its resurgence after recent challenges.
Star-Studded Premieres and Tributes
Among the highlights, the festival will host world premieres, including a remake of “The Toxic Avenger” featuring Peter Dinklage, and Andrea Riseborough in Paul Andrew Williams’s “Dragonfly.” Adding to the star power, Renée Zellweger will debut her animated short film, “They.”
In a special tribute, the festival will screen 4K restorations of Sean Connery’s six official James Bond films, including “Dr. No” and “Goldfinger.” Connery‘s legacy is further honored with the festival’s main prize named after him, and screenings from the Sean Connery Talent Lab.
Festival’s Vision for the Future
Festival director and CEO Paul Ridd emphasized the importance of Connery’s legacy, stating: “The legacy of Scotland’s biggest global star is central to what we’re trying to do, connecting it with the future generation of film talent…To have access to those six wonderful James Bond films and showing them on the big screen is very special.”
Since its dramatic collapse in 2022, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is working towards solidifying its revival. The festival is strategically positioned alongside the Edinburgh International and Fringe Festivals, potentially boosting its impact during the autumn awards season. In August 2024, the festival saw an increase in attendance of 14% compared to the previous year, signaling a strong return for the cultural event (Edinburgh Festival City).
Competition and Retrospectives
The festival’s competition, named the “Sean Connery prize for feature film-making excellence,” will feature ten world premieres. These include Campbell X’s “Low Rider,” a “queer road movie,” and “In Transit,” a drama starring Jennifer Ehle. The Out of Competition section will showcase films like the Dardenne brothers’ “Young Mothers” and Jan-Ole Gerster’s “Islands.”
The festival is also embracing archive films. A retrospective of westerns by director Budd Boetticher, including “The Tall T,” will be featured. Guests like Kevin Macdonald and Nia DaCosta will present and discuss their film selections, such as “The Cranes Are Flying” and “Go.”
Strategic Timing and City Revival
Moving the festival back to August aligns it with other major Edinburgh festivals, enhancing its appeal. Paul Ridd noted: “I’m very conscious that August is a strategic position for a lot of film distributors to launch their films going into that awards period. So I think August is a pure positive for us.”
The reopening of the Filmhouse is a significant boost for the city. Ridd added: “We’re a completely new organisation, which has emerged Phoenix-like from a difficult situation. But it’s obviously had a significant impact on the city, and I think everyone’s very, very excited to see it back.”
The Edinburgh International Film Festival, which will run from August 14-20, will open with “Sorry, Baby” and close with the Irvine Welsh documentary “Reality Is Not Enough.”
