Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realise they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.

Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles”, “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). The film opens in UK cinemas on 12 July 2013.

In addition to the Family Gala and schools screening of “Monsters University”, EIFF boasts a number of events and activities for young people keen to explore the world of film.
For students aged 15-17 years taking Higher Media Studies, Media Days on 26 & 27 June will provide an exciting insight to EIFF. Each day includes the premiere of a new film and the screening of a short film, along with meetings with filmmaker guests and presentations from individuals from across the film and creative industries. Previous guests have included directors, actors, cinematographers, games designers and composers. Guests in 2012 included director Benjamin Pascoe; Noe Mendelle from the Scottish Documentary Institute; Jacqui Barr from BBC Films; director John Roberts; producer Jonathan Roe; writer Eirene Houston and composer John Lunn.

Download the full press release here.

Starring Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Amy Ryan, BREATHE IN will have its European Premiere on Wednesday 19 June at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh with Felicity Jones and Drake Doremus in attendance. The film will open nationwide on 19 July through Curzon Film World.

Chris Fujiwara, EIFF Artistic Director, said: ‘In a healthy year for American cinema, BREATHE IN is clearly a stand-out. It’s an emotionally powerful, beautifully understated and intelligent work from director-writer Drake Doremus, who reveals tremendous sensitivity, style and skill. He also draws superb performances from Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones. BREATHE IN is the ideal opening film for our festival this year.’
BREATHE IN director Drake Doremus said: ‘I’m very excited that BREATHE IN has been selected to play the Edinburgh International Film Festival and to be given the opening night slot is overwhelming. I now look forward to visiting Edinburgh and celebrating not just the event but the Festival’s recognition of a film I am incredibly proud of.’
As summer turns to fall, music teacher Keith Reynolds (Guy Pearce) privately reminisces about his days as a starving artist in the city. While his wife, Megan (Amy Ryan), and daughter, Lauren (Mackenzie Davis), look forward to Lauren’s final year of high school, Keith clings to those evenings he’s called on to sub as a cellist with a prestigious Manhattan symphony. Megan decides the family should host a foreign exchange student. Sophie (Felicity Jones), a British high school senior, settles in comfortably, but soon challenges the family dynamics. She reinvigorates the impulsiveness of Keith’s personality which ultimately pushes their seemingly perfect family into unfamiliar territory.

Writer/director Drake Doremus, winner of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for LIKE CRAZY, reunites with co-writer Ben York Jones and producers Jonathon Schwartz, Andrea Sperling, Steven M. Rales and Mark Roybal for this revealing family drama.

BREATHE IN will be released by Curzon Film World on 19 July. As previously announced, NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING will close this year’s EIFF on 30 June.

Download the press release here.

The Student Critics Jury programme, inaugurated at EIFF 2012, affirms EIFF’s support for the future of film criticism by giving the next generation of film critics an opportunity to gain practical experience in their craft under the guidance of established professional critics. Members of the jury are selected from applications received from Scotland’s colleges and universities. In addition to giving an award, the jury members will write short essays about the films and the festival. Selected pieces will be published on the EIFF web site. The jurors will also determine the winner of the Student Critics Jury Award, presented at the EIFF Awards Ceremony.

Chris Fujiwara, Artistic Director of EIFF, said: “This is a time of huge changes in the profession and the practice of film criticism, and it’s more vital than ever that upcoming critics be given the encouragement and the opportunities they need to advance in their field. I’m very happy that again this year, thanks to the generous support of James and Morag Anderson, our festival will confirm our commitment to this mission in a concrete and practical manner. I look forward to meeting this year’s Student Critics in Edinburgh.”

The students will be chosen on the basis of a 500 word essay submitted by 13 May which can be written on any recent or classic film, demonstrating the applicant’s writing skills as well as passion for and knowledge of cinema. Once selected, the seven chosen students will be brought to Edinburgh for six days of the festival (EIFF runs 19-30 June), during which they will be mentored by leading international critics.

Last year’s Student Critics Jury members were Genevieve Bicknell from Edinburgh College of Art, Jonathan Glen from Glasgow University, and Liam Nolan from Napier University, who awarded the prize to ‘Sleepless Night’ directed by Jang Kun-jae for “his simple yet compelling story of modern romance in which the unremarkable becomes remarkable.”

For applications and enquiries about bursaries contact: education@cmi-scotland.co.uk and for further information visit: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/learning

Download the full press release here.

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is proud to announce NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING starring Karen Gillan and Stanley Weber (alongside Amy Manson, Iain de Caestecker, Kate Dickie, Freya Mavor, Gary Lewis and Henry Ian Cusick), as the Closing Night film of the 67th edition of the Festival.

The red carpet will be rolled out at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 30th June when the stars and filmmakers attend the World Premiere of this indie romantic comedy set in Glasgow.

Chris Fujiwara, EIFF Artistic Director, said: “Speaking as somebody who, before coming to Scotland, knew Scotland partly through its portrayal in films, I'm really excited to find in NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING a fresh, interesting, and almost idyllic take on the cultural vibrancy of Scottish city life. The film also shows how well the time-honoured genre of romantic comedy can work in the contemporary Scottish context. The film will add just the right note of celebration with which to close our festival this year.”

NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING is directed by John McKay (Crush, We’ll Take Manhattan), is produced by Claire Mundell (Crying With Laughter, Weekend) of Synchronicity Films, co-produced by Wendy Griffin (Wasted) and written by David Solomons (The Great Ghost Rescue, Five Children and It).

When struggling, maverick publisher Tomas Duval discovers his only successful author Jane Lockhart is blocked he knows he has to unblock her or he’s finished - with her newfound success, she’s become too damn happy and she can’t write when she’s happy. The only trouble is, the worse he makes her feel, the more he realises he is in love with her…
Producer Claire Mundell said: “We’re thrilled and excited to bring our feel-good film to the Edinburgh Film Festival and honoured to be the Closing Night film. Living and working in Scotland, we wanted to create something representative of the bustling creativity and wonderful, witty sense of humour we see around us. The result is NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING; a film that’s unashamedly upbeat, romantic and funny. We want audiences to be charmed and leave the cinema feeling great, so it's fitting that our film will be a very happy finale to what will be an exceptional year at the Festival.”
NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING is presented by British Film Company and Creative Scotland in association with BBC Scotland and is a Synchronicity Films Production. Executive Producers are Steve Milne, Robbie Allen, Ewan Angus and Christian Eisenbeiss. Additional funders include Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Glasgow Film Office and Southwest Scotland Screen. International sales by LevelK. Post-production by the award winning Molinare.

For further information on the film, follow:
http://www.facebook.com/NotAnotherHappyEnding
@NAHappyEnding and www.notanotherhappyending.com

Following the announcement of its partnership with the BFI to celebrate the films of French director Jean Grémillon, the EIFF proudly announces a retrospective of Hollywood director Richard Fleischer in partnership with the Filmhouse, which hosts an extensive programme running 13th June–7th July.

Festival-goers will be able to enjoy stars of the silver screen such as Charlton Heston in futuristic SOYLENT GREEN (1973), Richard Attenborough and John Hurt in 10 RILLINGTON PLACE (1971), Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda in THE BOSTON STRANGLER (1968), Stephen Boyd and Rachel Welch in FANTASTIC VOYAGE (1966), Joan Collins as THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING (1955) and edgy film noir with THE NARROW MARGIN (1952).

Over a career that spanned six decades and ranged from film noir to science fiction, American director Richard Fleischer (1916-2006) was responsible for some of the most distinctive and most enduring Hollywood classics. His versatility, while enabling him to achieve commercial longevity, may also be a reason why Fleischer has been consistently underrated by critics and historians. Yet his films are in the best tradition of mainstream cinema with their deft interweaving of thrilling action and psychological complexity. This retrospective reveals the full range of Fleischer’s work.

Chris Fujiwara has said: “I'm delighted to bring Richard Fleischer's best films to our audiences and let them discover and trace out the distinctive style and vision that marked his work. Some of Fleischer's films, such as THE VIKINGS and FANTASTIC VOYAGE, are fantasies that can be appreciated on one level by children and on other levels by adults. Others, such as THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING, THE BOSTON STRANGLER and 10 RILLINGTON PLACE, are sophisticated thrillers that work in unpredictable ways to engage and challenge the viewer. He is a great director to study to see how the most mainstream forms of film entertainment can be filled with artistic purpose and imagination.”

The EIFF screenings feature as part of a full Filmhouse programme encompassing Fleischer's films across four decades. Please see www.filmhousecinema.com for further details.

Download the full release here.

On 2 April, BBC Breakfast featured members of the documentary, Dylan Duffus and Zimbo Freemind as well as director Penny Woolcock, in a discussion on the importance of the film and its spotlight on inner city gang culture in Birmingham. This Award Winning film documents the journey to peace between two of the biggest gangs in the country: the 'Burgers' and 'Johnsons'. Due to the success of the film, the former 'Burgers' and 'Johnsons' gang members have come together to found a social enterprise, which runs programmes that discourage young people from gang life; this ensures that the underlying message of the film continues.

The 2012 EIFF jury previously stated that "One Mile Away" is a "brave and honest film tackling a huge problem with sensitivity and skill, not only charting the efforts to reconcile a community but also showing the great wealth of creativity that is part of that struggle." The film is available to stream from the "One Mile Away" website, and is screening nationally at select cinemas. (See links below)

There is also a Kickstarter campaign currently raising funds to get the film into the hands of inner city youth, prison offenders, and schools and to the people who govern their lives; police, prison guards and politicians. All pledges, no matter how small, will help reach the £20k goal. The unique feature of this crowd-funding site is that unless you make your whole total, you come away with none of the money - so it is essential to break the £20k goal

Here at EIFF, we are delighted to celebrate the coverage on this film and encourage you donate to this life changing campaign.

For more information about the film and links to the documentary, please follow the links below:

The Guardian video review

The Financial Times? Gang of One

British Film Institute Film of The week

The Guardian Society shows exactly where Kickstarter donations are going

The Observer Peace on the Streets?

The Times The woman who took on the gangs – and won

The Telegraph Give Peace a Chance

To download, stream or visit a screening of the film

Download or Stream the film online at onemileaway.com
To find a local screening of the film at a cinema, please click here

For more information on the Kickstarter campaign, please click here

The Edinburgh International Film Festival today confirms its continued support from the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund and announces the call for entries for the 2013 EIFF Talent Lab. Now in its third year, the Lab takes place during the Festival and offers up-and-coming filmmakers the opportunity to learn from the world’s key film industry players.

The Scottish Government Expo Fund investment is part of a £250,000 funding package backing EIFF’s talent and industry programme, with support also coming from Creative Scotland, Creative Skillset and Creative England.

In addition to supporting talent during EIFF, the Festival is keen to provide opportunities for filmmakers to receive career and project development further afield. EIFF will also offer a select group of Scottish producer participants from the Talent Lab the opportunity to attend the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2013 and three Scottish producers will be nominated to attend the Rotterdam Lab at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2014.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: "The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an important hub for Scottish, UK and international filmmakers to develop and showcase their work.
“The Edinburgh festivals contribute more than £250m to Scotland’s economy and promote Scotland's rich culture, heritage and distinct identity on the world stage. So it makes strong economic sense to support the festivals’ continued growth and to ensure Scotland’s own emerging talent is placed at their centre.
“That is why I am proud to announce £110,000 to support the EIFF’s work to cultivate emerging Scottish talent. This takes the total Scottish Government Expo Funding awarded to the film festival to £710,000 since the Expo Fund began in 2008/09.”

Drawing from the Festival’s successful track record in talent development, the 2013 EIFF Talent Lab will bring emerging Scottish and UK filmmakers together in group discussions and networking events, including an invaluable afternoon of one-to-one advice and information sessions with experienced industry insiders, all with the aim of developing skills and building confidence among the next generation of filmmakers. The EIFF Talent Lab is open to screenwriters, directors and producers with a short film or feature credit to their name. Application details can be found at www.edfilmfest.org.uk/talentdevelopment

EIFF Talent Lab 2013 is also supported by the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future 2 and by Creative England.

Dan Simmons, Head of Film at Creative Skillset said: “Each year the UK and international film industry descends upon EIFF and it makes sense to harness that expertise whilst they are in the UK to benefit our emerging film talent, who can apply this knowledge and experience to their own careers and project development. Previous candidates at the Talent Lab have taken bold and successful steps forward in the Film Industry since their participation, and we are confident that this year’s cohort will also make the most of this brilliant opportunity.”

Creative England’s Senior Talent Development Executive Caroline Cooper Charles said: “Creative England is very pleased to support filmmakers from the English regions to attend such an inspiring talent development programme. Exposure to exceptional role models, accessing industry expertise and the confidence that comes from sharing that experience with a supportive peer group produces great results. We look forward to hearing more from the distinctive voices that will participate in the Lab this year.”

The EIFF Talent Lab is part of a wide variety of talent development programmes provided by EIFF which form a key part of the Industry focussed activity both during and outside of the Festival dates.

This week also sees the opening of delegate registration for 2013. Industry pass holders will be able to access a full programme of screenings, events and networking opportunities throughout the Festival. EIFF is pleased to confirm that the Delegate Centre will once again be housed in the Traverse Theatre.

Chris Fujiwara, EIFF Artistic Director, said: “Encouraging the creativity of the next generation of filmmakers is a core part of EIFF’s mission. With the vital support of the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, we’re continuing to carry out that mission in the third year of our Talent Lab.”

Additional talent development programmes at EIFF 2013 include residential labs for emerging composers and sound designers who are looking to work in the moving image industry and who will be offered the chance to meet and talk with successful professionals from their chosen field. Further industry elements at the Festival will be announced at a later date.

You can download the full press release here

Critically-acclaimed feature documentary I AM BREATHING will raise money and awareness for Global Motor Neurone’s Disease Awareness Day on 21st June 2013 through a global screening day, launching with the UK Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival the previous day (20th June 2013). Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) and the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) will collaborate to promote awareness and raise funds with cinema and community screenings of the film all over the world on 21st June 2013. Participating so far are the Balkans, Australia, USA, Finland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Russia and New Zealand.

I Am Breathing is the hard-hitting story of Neil Platt – a thirty-three-year-old Yorkshireman who contracted Motor Neurone’s Disease. Paralyzed from the neck down with only months to live, he tells his story to help raise awareness around his devastating disease and dedicates the film to his one-year-old son Oscar. Collaborating with filmmakers Emma Davie and Morag McKinnon on I Am Breathing, he used his remaining months to communicate about his illness. He also wrote a blog and committed himself to playing a part in making MND history by inspiring a community of people to join the fight.

I Am Breathing is a co-production between SDI Productions and Danish Documentary, with investments by Creative Scotland, Danish Film Institute, Wellcome Trust, MND Association and the former UK Film Council. Broadcasters involved in the production are Channel 4, DR (Denmark) and YLE (Finland).

Directors Morag McKinnon and Emma Davie of I Am Breathing said: “When we started filming with Neil, it was very much from his initiative. He put out a request in his blog for anyone involved in the media to come and speak to him. We planned initially to make a short film for MND but somehow his ambition, honesty and desire to communicate pushed it to be a much bigger film. I Am Breathing, like the blog is about creating community around this horrendous disease –reminding us of a humanity in the midst of such suffering. This community grows with every screening – just as Neil planned.”

Farah Nazeer, Director of External Affairs for MNDA, said: “We know that raising awareness of MND is incredibly important to our members. I Am Breathing gives us a unique opportunity to reach out and educate people with no previous knowledge of the disease.”

Sonja Henrici, Producer of I Am Breathing said: "We love exploring new partnerships with festivals, organisations, venues and audiences. MNDA has believed in our film from the start, and through them we initiated the Global Screening Day to coincide with the MND/ALS Global Awareness Day. We are excited that Edinburgh, where Neil and Louise met, will be the hub of our Global Screening Day in partnership with Edinburgh International Film Festival. These collaborations are essential for experimenting with such a multi-platform release. We are keen to hear from other people and organisations who want to participate and expand the vision of this release.”

Chris Fujiwara, Artistic Director of EIFF, said, “We’re proud to host the premiere of this shattering film. I Am Breathing is a documentary that says a great deal, with great eloquence and heart, about the ability of humanity to sustain and express itself under the most terrible limitations.”
 

You can download the full press release here.

The NETWORK participants are:
• Screenwriter Neil Hepburn, director Ben Soper and producers Katie Crook and Olivia Gifford with their thriller NIGHT FALLS
• Producer Tessa Inkelaar and writer/director Christopher Andrews with their contemporary British Western SCUTTLER
• Writer/director Chamoun Issa with a love story set against the backdrop of a modern war, BULLETPROOF
• Producer Christine Cheung with her slate including drama FALLING LEAVES
• Writer/director Jessica Townsend with an alternative road movie SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEE
• Screenwriter Lucy Campbell with her thriller PIG CHILD

Kate Leys commented: “We’re thrilled to be working with such a brilliant line-up of talent and such a wide range of great stories. These are filmmakers who will hit the ground running.”

Ken Hay, CEO of EIFF, said: “EIFF is committed to supporting the development of the next generation of filmmaking talent. NETWORK is a key element of that support. We’re delighted with the selection of such a strong cohort of fantastic talent and are looking forward to welcoming all of the participants to Edinburgh in June.”

NETWORK is supported by the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future 2 and Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures Programme. NETWORK is designed to join the dots in a fragmented industry and to connect filmmaking teams with the industry as they develop feature projects.

Dan Simmons, Head of Film at Creative Skillset said: This is a fantastic pool of emerging talent who will really profit from the industry connections and bespoke mentoring that Network facilitates; addressing the needs of each project and the team behind it. We look forward to following the journey of each talent team over the coming year.

Scott Donaldson, Portfolio Manager, Special Projects – Development at Creative Scotland, said: “It’s vital to the future success of filmmaking in Scotland and throughout the UK that new creative talent is given opportunities to develop their skills and careers, through realising projects, making new contacts and learning from their peers. Creative Scotland is pleased to be supporting NETWORK to work with this exciting group of creatives and help them take the next important steps in their journey as professional filmmakers.”

NETWORK is aimed at screenwriters, directors and producers, working individually and in teams, and runs across ten months during which teams will work closely with mentors, develop their films and take them out into the industry. Participants come from across the UK and have backgrounds in all areas of filmmaking. NETWORK will connect them with each other and with industry professionals so that with guidance, feedback and pooled skills they can move through the development process and towards finance and production.

Mentors in 2012 were producer Ivana MacKinnon, writer/producer Peter Ettedgui, producer Mia Bays and writer/director Clio Barnard. Guest mentors included writer/director Josh Appignanesi, producer Allon Reich and screenwriter Olivia Hetreed.

NETWORK will run until November 2013. All participants will attend the EIFF between the 19 June and 30 June. The teams will meet again at the London Film Festival just before NETWORK finishes at the end of the year.

You can download the full press release here.
 

If you are still trying to submit your film remember you can use our partner website www.withoutabox.com or post it to us using the EIFF submissions form.

You can download the full press release here.

 

THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 19 - 30 JUNE 2013.

The EIFF 2013 programme is launched on 29 May 2013.

EIFF Box Office opens on 3 June to the public and on 30 May to Filmhouse Members, to become a Filmhouse Member visit www.filmhousecinema.com/support/membership.

To keep up with with the latest EIFF news and get exclusive offers become an EIFF Web Member, sign up for free at www.edfilmfest.org.uk/register

EIFF’s McLaren Award for Best British Animation is the longest serving award that recognises the best UK Animation Talent, having presented its first Award to Sue Loughlin for her NFTS Graduate Film GRAND NATIONAL in 1990. Other recipients include Tim Webb, Phil Molloy, Peter Peake, Neville Astley, Ruth Lingford, Suzie Templeton, Run Wrake and Will Anderson. The 25th McLaren Award will be presented in 2014, a year which also marks the Centenary of the Scottish born film maker Norman McLaren, after whom the Award is named.
 

Commenting on this announcement, EIFF's Animation Programmer Iain Gardner said: "Since 1990 the McLaren Award at EIFF has showcased the very best of British Animation to both UK and international visitors. This partnership with the British Council will mean that a selection of recent films from the EIFF programme will now represent Britain internationally via the British Council, which will allow people in other countries to see the breadth and depth of Animation talent that the UK possesses."
 

The McLaren Award package is one of several touring programmes that British Council has developed with partners (including BAFTA, the Grierson Awards, First Light, Film Club, Channel 4) to profile the innovation, diversity, creativity and excellence of British films around the world.
 

Briony Hanson, British Council’s Director of Film said, "The UK has an international reputation for the creativity and skill of its animators, and this package provides the strongest evidence of this. We’re delighted to make this programme available to new international audiences worldwide and to further cement our relationship with EIFF."

For information on how to submit your film to EIFF, please visit: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/submissions

More about the British Council:

British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. It is a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. It has 7000 staff in over 100 countries working with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes. Its Film department – part of a wider Arts Group - is the link between UK films and filmmakers and new international audiences working to profile the innovation, diversity, creativity and excellence of British films around the world, and finding opportunities for creative exchange between UK filmmakers and international counterparts.

For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org/film
 

The project is a partnership between Screen Education Edinburgh, EIFF and City of Edinburgh Council Children and Families Department. In 2012 over 150 films were entered by 38 city schools, which included Primary, Secondary, Special Schools and one Nursery. The ten Young Jurors selected the final 40 films which were shown during EIFF, with awards given to sixteen of these.

You can download the full press release here.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE EIFF 2013 POSITIONS 

Being a part of the Festival team is a great opporunity to enjoy the EIFF from behind the scenes and gain invaluable experience across a variety of areas. 

Get your applications in as soon as possible and keep up with all the EIFF news for any futher roles and to find out what films are coming to Edinburgh this summer!

Sign up for our e-newsetter here, like us on Facebook here and follow us on Twitter here. 

To keep up to date with EIFF follow us on twitter @edfilmfest or on facebook: edfilmfest or sign up to become a web member.

Network is a development and mentoring project run by the EIFF in association with Kate Leys, supported by the Creative Scotland Creative Futures fund and by the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future 2.

Between March and October 2013 we will be working with the teams behind several feature film projects to guide their script and project development. Participants will have some experience in the film industry and will be developing a strong, original feature project. Their project can be at any stage of development. Screenwriters, directors and producers can apply individually or in any combination. Detailed application guidelines and forms are available at www.edfilmfest.org.uk/talentdevelopment

Kate Leys said:
“Last year we worked with a total of 16 filmmakers across 9 projects and we moved all of them, and their films, forwards and out into the industry. It’s brilliant that Creative Skillset and Creative Scotland have given us the chance to run it again. You might want to keep an eye on our participants: sooner or later they’ll be coming to a cinema near you”.

Dan Simmons, Head of Film at Creative Skillset said:
“Network has proven itself to be an effective online training method for talent where distance is no longer a barrier. The tailored industry-mentoring approach means that teams can develop quickly and new connections and introductions are made which can give life to each project. We are pleased to be able to continue our support for this innovative programme, as well as for several other EIFF talent initiatives both at the festival and throughout the year”.

Network is based in a dedicated website and uses tools such as Skype, twitter and online messaging to connect its participants. Participants and mentors will meet together at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June and at the London Film Festival in October; aside from those events, Network connects filmmakers without moving them all over the country. This means that it’s easier to work around professional commitments, and allows access to participants who would not usually be able to take part in this sort of project.

The films and their teams will all be at different stages of development. Network doesn’t try to bring them all into line with each other; we work to move them forwards from whatever stage they start at. The process is the same as professional development of any slate and mirrors industry practice as a way of helping participants start to understand and take part in the industry. Last year one team went from being a lone producer with an idea to a producer with an optioned book, a contracted screenwriter, an outline, an exec producer and Media development finance; another went from being a screenwriter with a story that wasn’t written down in any form to one with a detailed outline, an overseas shoot and a promo; another went from being a filmmaker with a two page outline to being a filmmaker with a detailed proposal, a producer, and £10k of development finance.
The closing date for applications is Friday 18 January 2013.

For more information visit www.eiffnetwork.com or follow us on Twitter @eiffnetwork

EIFF is also pleased to confirm that Creative Scotland's Creative Futures fund will be supporting our partnership with the Rotterdam Lab at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January; the Composers Lab and the Sound Lab both of which run during the Festival to support the career development and progression of emerging Composers and Sound Designers. Established film composers, games composers, sound designers, music supervisor and orchestrators are invited to share their experiences and advice with the group. The Sound Lab is run in partnership with Savalas Studios in Glasgow.

Last has an extensive track record in film production, digital animation and the music industry. THE ILLUSIONIST opened the 2010 edition of the EIFF at The Festival Theatre.

Commenting on his new role, Bob Last said: “I am excited and honoured to take on this role. The EIFF and Filmhouse have seeded and sustained a lifelong delight in film ever since my teenage outings in the 1970s. The Centre for the Moving Image and the festival in particular have had a challenging few years and I am grateful to the outgoing Chair, Leslie Hills, for navigating the organisation back on track, under the artistic direction of Chris Fujiwara (EIFF) and Rod White (Filmhouse). I look forward to doing everything I can to help the whole CMI team in their quest to see Filmhouse build its role in the life of our city and the EIFF build its international significance, continuing to facilitate discovery of cinema's rich culture and inspire the next generation of filmmakers and audiences.”

Chair of the Appointment Panel, Vice Chair of the CMI, Brandon Malone said: “We are delighted that Bob has agreed to be the new Chair of the CMI. He brings with him a hugely impressive track record in film and creative production, as well as a clear passion in seeing the EIFF and Filmhouse thrive in the future.

Download the full press release here

We are pleased to announce that submissions for the 2013 Edinburgh International Film Festival are now open. The longest continually-running film festival in the world, EIFF is now preparing its 67th edition. Over the years the Festival has continued to bring UK audiences the most innovative and exciting films from around the world. EIFF's successul 2012 edition reaffirmed the Festival's commitment to artistic exploration in narrative, documentary, experimental and animated film.

EIFF seeks to represent the most innovative and adventurous developments in world cinema, to bring worthy filmmakers to local and worldwide attention, and to provide a forum for appreciative and informed discussion of their work. EIFF is especially interested in films by emerging filmmakers whose work manifests stylistic boldness, strength of form, and the ambition to use the medium in a way that resists cliché.

Filmmakers are invited to submit their films in two ways - online via our partner website Withoutabox.com or by downloading the EIFF postal form. There are three deadlines each with their own related fees.

Earlybird Deadline – Monday 17 December 2012
SHORT - £20.00 / FEATURE - £75.00

Regular Deadline – Monday 4 February 2013
SHORT - £30.00 / FEATURE - £85.00

Late Deadline – Monday 18 February 2013
SHORT - £35.00 / FEATURE - £90.00

Please read the full rules and regulations before submitting your film. If you have any questions regarding submissions please email submissons@edfilmfest.org.uk

HOW TO SUBMIT

EIFF is a partner of Withoutabox. The direct link to the EIFF Withoutabox submissions page is:

 https://www.withoutabox.com/03film/03t_fin/03t_fin_fest_01over.php?festival_id=1360

Log onto the website, set up an account and submit your film to EIFF directly from the website. Your fee will also be taken over the internet.
Then all you need to do is send in the DVD of your film. Please clearly mark your WAB tracking number on both the DVD and the outer envelope and packaging.

EIFF Submissions Form.
If you do not have a Withoutabox account, you can submit your film by using our postal which can be downloaded here.
Complete this by hand and send it along with your DVD and payment method.

AWARDS

A full list of awards to be presented at the 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival can be found on our awards page - www.edfilmfest.org.uk/submissions/awards-2013.

The 67th Edinburgh International Film Festival will take place from 19 – 30 June 2013.