Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the podcast Girls On Film have announced a partnership to premiere music documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story Of Scotland’s Girl Bands as the festival’s closing film. 

Screening on Wednesday 21 August, the documentary tracks the ‘funny and enraging’ history of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s to the present day, exploring the bands, cliques and subcultures that emerged and the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated world. 

Co-directed by Carla J Easton (a SAY-award shortlisted songwriter who’s been a part of the bands TeenCanteen, Poster Paints and The Vaselines, and has helmed her own successful solo career) and prominent Scottish director Blair Young, the film is produced by Miranda Stern and the award-winning production company Forest Of Black. 

EIFF Director Paul Ridd said, ‘Since the moment we saw this spiky, fun and eye-opening film we knew it had to be a major part of our festival. Here is a fantastically fresh and engaging documentary about Scottish artists, Scottish art and the challenges faced by Scottish women in a male-dominated industry and sexist world. Collaborating with Anna and the good people at Girls On Film on closing night is an honour, knowing all the great work they do to promote work by women and about women, and we were so moved by their response to the film. We’ll truly be closing the Festival in style.’

Co-founder and host of Girls On Film Anna Smith said, ‘At Girls On Film, we believe that documenting women’s contributions to history can change the future. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the wonderful EIFF on Since Yesterday: The Untold Story Of Scotland’s Girl Bands. It’s an entertaining, enlightening film that celebrates sisterhood and collaboration while pushing for progress – right up our street! I can’t wait to share this with the audience on closing night.’

The film is a welcome addition to the EIFF programme, which will be unveiled in full on Wednesday 10 July. Already announced for the Festival, running from Thursday 15–Wednesday 21 August, are UK premieres of Nora Fingscheidt's The Outrun, Fede Alverez’s Alien: Romulus and Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, alongside a screening of Greg Kwedar’s acclaimed film Sing Sing. 

Main Picture: Euan Robertson.