Latest news with #EIFF
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
'Immersive' Irvine Welsh documentary to premiere at Edinburgh festival
Reality is Not Enough, directed by Paul Sng, has been revealed as the closing film at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). The biographical film follows Welsh on a hallucinogenic trip, with the observational footage interwoven with archival film clips and readings of his popular novels by celebrities Liam Neeson, Stephen Graham, Maxine Peake, Ruth Negga and Nick Cave. Paul Ridd, CEO and festival director of EIFF, said: 'We were so impressed by this brilliantly immersive and fascinating documentary about iconic Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. READ MORE: Glasgow Film Theatre board members resign after Israeli boycott decision 'Director Paul Sng's refreshingly unusual and highly cinematic approach perfectly fits his subject, a man who has spent an entire career refusing to be pinned down, always surprising us with works of profound impact, rawness and grace. 'We could not think of a better way to round off our festival than with this terrific film.' Director Paul Sng added: 'I'm completely delighted that Reality is Not Enough has been chosen to close this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. 'When I read Trainspotting as a teenager in London back in the nineties, I had no idea I would one day live in the city where the book is set, let alone make a film with its author, Irvine Welsh. READ MORE: Comedian faces private prosecution over social media posts 'Having our world premiere in our home city is a huge honour and we're looking forward immensely to sharing the film with the EIFF audience.' Reality is Not Enough was co-financed and produced by Edinburgh-based production company LS Films, with the support of Screen Scotland. The 78th edition of EIFF will take place in Edinburgh from August 14–20, 2025, and the full festival programme is set to be launched on July 2. Reality is Not Enough will be released in the UK later this year.
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Irvine Welsh documentary to premiere at Edinburgh festival
Reality is Not Enough, directed by Paul Sng, has been revealed as the closing film at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). The biographical film follows Welsh on a hallucinogenic trip, with the observational footage interwoven with archival film clips and readings of his popular novels by celebrities Liam Neeson, Stephen Graham, Maxine Peake, Ruth Negga and Nick Cave. Paul Ridd, CEO and festival director of EIFF, said: 'We were so impressed by this brilliantly immersive and fascinating documentary about iconic Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. READ MORE: Glasgow Film Theatre board members resign after Israeli boycott decision 'Director Paul Sng's refreshingly unusual and highly cinematic approach perfectly fits his subject, a man who has spent an entire career refusing to be pinned down, always surprising us with works of profound impact, rawness and grace. 'We could not think of a better way to round off our festival than with this terrific film.' Director Paul Sng added: 'I'm completely delighted that Reality is Not Enough has been chosen to close this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. 'When I read Trainspotting as a teenager in London back in the nineties, I had no idea I would one day live in the city where the book is set, let alone make a film with its author, Irvine Welsh. READ MORE: Comedian faces private prosecution over social media posts 'Having our world premiere in our home city is a huge honour and we're looking forward immensely to sharing the film with the EIFF audience.' Reality is Not Enough was co-financed and produced by Edinburgh-based production company LS Films, with the support of Screen Scotland. The 78th edition of EIFF will take place in Edinburgh from August 14–20, 2025, and the full festival programme is set to be launched on July 2. Reality is Not Enough will be released in the UK later this year.
The Herald Scotland
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
What is EIFF's selling point now in a world of film festivals?
Sorry, Baby arrives in Edinburgh on August 14 following an acclaimed world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where Ms Victor won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. She's in good company there: previous winners include Christopher Nolan, Jesse Eisenberg and Noah Baumbach. Her film will also screen later this month as part of the Cannes Film Festival's prestigious Director's Fortnight strand. Just as important, Sorry, Baby has been picked up for distribution by muscular indie A24, the people who brought us quirky and offbeat hits such as Uncut Gems, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Civil War, Lady Bird and Moonlight. The Oscar-winning director of that last film, Barry Jenkins, serves as co-producer on Sorry, Baby. Will he make the trip to Auld Reekie? With the Edinburgh Festival in full flow at the time, he just might. But the EIFF is still finding its feet following the – how shall I put it? – organisational misadventures which nearly snuffed it out, so we should offer only cautious applause at this first glimpse of the 2025 programme. The wider question which has faced the festival for many years – what is its exact USP in a world where film festivals proliferate? – remains unanswered. Crowd-pleasing American indies, albeit edgy ones from exciting talents, are not enough to differentiate Edinburgh from the rest. Close scrutiny of the full programme when it is revealed will better show the direction of travel. Kneecap recapped I love learning a new phrase. The latest is 'outrage archaeology', which is the practice of combing through people's social media posts looking for anything controversial which could engender a headline. You do it with a mouse rather than a toothbrush, though in common with the more traditional and honourable form of archaeology I'd say you still do it in trench – only this one is an offensive position in the culture wars. Which brings us to fiery Belfast rap group Kneecap, to whom the eyes of the outrage archaeologists have turned following political statements made by them in visuals accompanying their appearance at US rock festival Coachella. These turned on the issue of Palestine, and specifically on a US-assisted campaign by Israel which is viewed by many (not just the three members of Kneecap) as genocidal. Lo and behold, two days later came news reports of comments made by the band which did certainly cross a line. Cue outrage, some valid, some less so. Herald writers Dani Garavelli and Derek McArthur have both written on the issue and I commend their columns to you, especially as the stramash has moved closer to home with calls from some quarters to have Kneecap removed from the line-up of TRNSMT, the music festival to be held on Glasgow Green over the weekend of July 11 to 13. And finally The Herald's critics have been out and about, with Teddy Jamieson heading to Stirling's Albert Halls to watch Mercury Prize-nominated alt-folk singer King Creosote run through a selection of work new and old – but mostly new, and mostly delivered on a battery of modular synths which are his latest obsession. There are others, though, as Teddy relays in an entertaining review of what seems to have been an eventful evening, one in which the Fife-based musician aired his views on everything from fluoride in the water to 15 minute cities. 'Was he being ironic?' was the question one concertgoer asked of her companion afterwards. The chances are he was not. I interviewed Mr Anderson ahead of the release of his most recent album and he told me then that his current concerns were with 'the sort of stuff that gets censored. It's like you can have an opinion these days but it has to be a very certain [one]. It's very narrow. If you agree with this, it's fine, you can say what you like. But if you don't, it's nu-uh.' Still with music, Keith Bruce was at the City Halls in Glasgow to hear the Scottish Chamber Orchestra perform new work by its Associate Composer, rising Scottish star Jay Capperauld. The piece was Carmina Gadelica, a five movement suite performed by 10 wind instruments – or a dectet, if you prefer – with added foot stomping at the end. Also in the programme were works by Mozart and Schubert. No foot stomping required there. Elsewhere theatre critic Neil Cooper was at The Studio in Edinburgh to take in a sobering and moving portrayal of dementia in Matthew Seager's play In Other Words, and at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow for Studio 3, a 'bitesize showcase' of works originally produced for Òran Mór's A Play, A Pie And A Pint season. Finally dance critic Mary Brennan was at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh for Scottish Ballet's revival of its well-received 2019 production The Crucible, based on Arthur Miller's 1953 play (in turn a riff on McCarthyism) but choreographed by Helen Pickett. An electrifying watch worthy of its five star review, The Crucible arrives at Glasgow's Theatre Royal on May 22.
Scotsman
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
'Completely floored us': The Sundance indie film to open Edinburgh International Film Festival
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An indie film that premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival is to open this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). Sorry, Baby, starring and written by Eva Victor, will launch the reborn film festival's second edition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The film, which features supporting performances from Naomi Ackie, who has appeared in Mickey 17, and Lucas Hedges, who was in Lady Bird, saw Ms Victor win the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance. Meanwhile, the production will be screened as part of Directors Fortnight at this year's Cannes Film Festival and will be released later this year by A24 in the US and Picturehouse Entertainment in the UK. Paul Ridd, chief executive and festival director of EIFF, said: 'This is a film that completely floored us. Its witty and moving script and formal confidence is married to heart-breaking performances from a wonderful cast, and it signals Eva Victor as a major talent on screen and behind the camera. 'The film's fierce, uncompromising spirit and independence perfectly aligns with EIFF, and we are honoured to open this year's festival with such a wonderful film.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Ridd was appointed in November 2023 to lead the programming of the festival, which was plunged into crisis two years ago with the collapse of the arts charity behind the event. Sorry, Baby will be the opening film of the EIFF. | Sorry, Baby Sara Frain, director of distribution and marketing at Picturehouse, said: 'The Edinburgh International Film Festival is renowned for its commitment to showcasing distinct new voices in cinema. Eva Victor's Sorry Baby is a shining example of this, marking the emergence of a remarkable talent. We are delighted to be the opening film, serving as a launch pad to bring this unique and sharply humorous film to UK audiences.'
