Tina Fey and Charlie Brooker Set for Edinburgh TV Festival
Helmed by creative director Rowan Woods and this year's advisory chair, Bad Wolf CEO Jane Tranter, the line-up for the 50th edition of the fest includes masterclasses, 'In Conversation' sessions and keynote speeches, including the prestigious James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture.
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U.S. comedian, actress and producer Fey will bring her distinct charm to a lively conversation with beloved broadcaster Graham Norton on Friday, Aug. 22, while Brooker — lauded as the creator of one of the U.K.'s most impactful television in the last 10 years — will also have his own In Conversation session, covering everything from comedy and AI to evil production design and the TV shows that made him.
The alternative MacTaggart will be given by satirist, comedian, writer and actor Munya Chawawa.
Among other sessions will be deep-dive explorations of the success of Adolescence, Rivals and Last One Laughing, as well as events with Shonda Rhimes, who will be receiving the inaugural Edinburgh Fellowship, Lenny Henry, receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award and Michael Sheen, who will be in conversation with Tranter.
Woods and Tranter said about the annual Scottish TV event, running Aug. 19-22 this year and presented by Screen Scotland, 'This year's program contains all the attributes and tonal variations of great TV: it's inspiring, thought-provoking, entertaining, attitudinal, glamorous, inclusive and actively relevant to our current challenging landscape.'
They concluded: 'The 50th anniversary is a moment to look back and celebrate how far we've come, and the many people who've contributed to this remarkable legacy; but it's also an opportunity to look forward and ask what the future of British television looks like, how we define it, protect it and evolve it to meet the challenges ahead. We can't wait to see you in Edinburgh in August.'
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