The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has unveiled the full lineup of its 2025 industry program, assembling a heavyweight slate of prestigious U.K. and international filmmakers, producers and executives — from Andrea Arnold and Nia DaCosta to Jeremy Thomas, David Hinojosa and Ken Loach.
Running throughout the Festival, with a concentrated program over Aug. 15–20 at the Festival Hub (Tollcross Central Hall), the industry strand looks to consolidate EIFF’s expanding ambitions under Festival Director and CEO Paul Ridd, offering a mix of case study panels, networking events, and its flagship EIFF In Conversation sessions.
This year’s edition leans into cross-sector dialogue and talent development while strengthening links between Scotland’s creative ecosystem and global industry players. Unified, the producing banner founded by Amy Jackson and Lauren Dark, curates a dedicated strand within the programme – a series of one-on-one talks with senior decision-makers and creatives.
Guests in the Unified Series include Rose Garnett, former head of Film4 and BBC Film; Eva Yates, director of BBC Film; Film4’s Farhana Bhula; and Hinojosa, the Oscar-nominated producer of “Past Lives” and “After This Death,” which bows in the U.K. at EIFF.
Kicking off Friday, Aug. 15, Garnett opens the Unified slate, followed by a conversation with director Ben Wheatley (“High Rise”) and producer Andy Starke. Later that day, producing royalty and the always entertaining Jeremy Thomas will join filmmaker Mark Cousins for a wide-ranging dialogue, while a panel on access in filmmaking presented with Code Collaboration and Oska Bright underscores EIFF’s commitment to inclusion.
Saturday spotlights “Sorry, Baby” — the festival’s opening film — with writer-director-star Eva Victor and producer Adele Romanski (“Moonlight,” “Aftersun”) in conversation. BBC Film’s Yates takes the stage later that day, followed by a behind-the-scenes panel on “The Outrun,” the Saoirse Ronan-starrer adapted from Amy Liptrot’s memoir.
Sunday sees Romanski return for a solo session, followed by a keynote with siblings Kevin and Andrew Macdonald. In the evening, attention turns to Scotland’s animation sector, in a panel presented with Animated Women UK and Animation Scotland, ahead of a Unified session with Hinojosa.
On Monday, Bhula steps into the Unified spotlight, while DaCosta (“Candyman,” “The Marvels”) joins “EIFF In Conversation.” That afternoon’s programming dives into survival horror, with a panel on crafting fear in film and games, hosted with “Silent Hill: Downfall” creators No Code Studio.
Tuesday brings a Unified panel on international co-productions, followed by Andrea Arnold in conversation and a screenwriting session presented in collaboration with the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.
Closing out the programme on Wednesday, long-time collaborators Ken Loach, Paul Laverty and Rebecca O’Brien reflect on their shared and highly influential body of politically committed work.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome so many major Scottish, UK and international guests from the world of film to take part in our industry programme in August,” said Ridd. “We are passionately committed to connecting Scottish and UK talent with the international film community and we are especially thrilled to have worked so closely with Unified and so many other supportive organisations and individuals to access their formidable networks and to build something truly special.”
EIFF’s industry programme is supported by EXPO funding from Creative Scotland, and also backed by Screen Scotland, the BFI Audience Projects Fund and EventScotland.
