Another year, another fresh start for Edinburgh International Film Festival with a new look and new team at the helm in 2024. In the safe hands of director Paul Ridd and producer Emma Boa, the 77th edition will be woven into the festival fabric of the city throughout August, will include an exciting new Midnight Madness strand, and will have 10 world premieres compete for The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence. I previewed the programme during the July episode of the Cinetopia Radio Show which is now available as a podcast, but have also picked out five films to keep an eye on…
The Outrun
Since premiering at Sundance at the beginning of the year, the latest drama from German director Nora Fingscheidt has been wowing audiences on the festival circuit. It’s based on Amy Liptrot’s 2016 memoir of the same name and follows Rona (Saoirse Ronan) as she escapes London to return to her remote hometown of Orkney after a stint in rebab for alcoholism.
Alien: Romulus
The seventh instalment of the iconic science fiction franchise, Alien: Romulus will launch the aforementioned Midnight Madness strand with its UK premiere at The Cameo Cinema. Produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Fede Álvarez, the latest chapter has an impressive young cast including Cailee Spaeny [Priscilla, Civil War], Archie Renaux [Shadow & Bone] and David Jonsson [Rye Lane, Industry]
Armand
Norweigan writer-director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel won the Caméra d’Or prize at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year which celebrates the best first feature. The intimate drama stars Renate Reinsve who had a breakthrough performance in 2021 with her role in indie hit The Worst Person in the World.
Timestalker
Actor, writer, and comedian Alice Lowe has a great history with Edinburgh after winning the coveted Perrier Award at the Fringe in 2001 with Gareth Marengi: Netherhead before appearing in films such as Black Mountain Poets, Adult Life Skills, and Wild Honey Pie which all screened at EIFF. Straddling genres between historical fiction, romantic comedy, and science fiction, Timestalker marks her sophomore outing in the director’s chair.
Sing Sing
It seems a long way off right now, but A24-distributed drama Sing Sing appears to be an early contender in the Oscars race for next year. It’s directed by Greg Kwedar and is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at a maximum security prison in New York.
Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 15th-21st August and tickets are available now! Check out the full programme at the official festival website.
Cinema Perspective 