The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has made incredible strides across the past few years, even more remarkable when it looked as if it would be too cash-strapped to operate at all three years ago. When administrators knocked on the door of The Centre For The Moving Image (CMI), its liquidation brought the demise of the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen, Edinburgh’s Filmhouse and EIFF in a matter of 24 hours. Despite its return in a shortened form in 2023 when new investors stepped in, the fear that this regeneration for the Festival was temporary still lingered.

Fast forward to 2025, and this feels like the first programme from Paul Ridd and Emma Boa (who spearhead the festival) that doesn't have to prove itself. It’s strong, balances niche programming with populous tentpoles, and contains a diverse offering of In Conversation events. 

What’s more, one piece of the puzzle is back in place: the return of Filmhouse, which has always acted as a lynchpin for the festival’s independent spirit. Chin up, cinephiles, this city has a sustainable film culture again. 

So, with the release of this year’s EIFF programme, this week’s Road is a bit of a celluloid special, digging deeper into the festival's selection and highlighting a few screenings to get excited about. 

Classic Bond leads retrospective season…

… with early morning screenings of the first six espionage adventures from the enduring franchise. These are the Bond films that establish the tonal mish-mash that the series vacillates between for every 007 actor, starting with the reasonably serious outings of Dr No and From Russia With Love before heading into the campy territory of Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. They’ll be fully restored and screened in 4k, so you can witness Connery making wildly chauvinistic passes at women in the crispest resolution imaginable. 

Connery’s star power has become intrinsic to the festival since its revival, with its main prize named after him and the Sean Connery Talent lab (which trains the next generation of filmmakers) hosting its first short film showcase there this year. 

One of Michael Madsen’s final roles to screen…

… in the form of Concessions, which follows slacker employees at an indie cinema on the night before it closes its doors. Best known as a key member of Quentin Tarantino’s regular repertory of actors, Madsen passed away at the age of 67 from heart failure, leaving a number of unfinished projects in his wake. 

In this Clerks-style indie, he’ll play a character called Rex Fuel alongside Steven Ogg (Grand Theft Auto V), Josh Hamilton (Eighth Grade), Ivory Aquino (When They See Us) and Lana Rockwell (Sweet Thing). Madsen's filmography is patchy at best, but this shaggy dog comedy looks like a fitting swansong. 

Cult British indie directors given the spotlight…

… in a programme that feels like a celebration of Britain’s most undervalued directors. The first of these is Simon Rumley, whose best work has mined emotional turmoil and formal experimentation to examine fractured psychological states. His The Living And The Dead remains one of the most emotionally bracing films made in the UK during the 2000s. His new feature Crushed is an ‘unflinching meditation on faith, grief, and vengeance’ and features indie stalwart Steve Oram as a pastor dragged into a nightmarish search for his daughter. 

Then there’s Andrew Kötting, known for experimental and eccentric pieces like Swadown, The Whalebone Box and Lek And The Dogs. He’ll be bringing The Memory Blocks to Edinburgh, which ‘sees his daughter Eden, dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz, accompanied by three workers who together explore the process of manufacturing memory’ in a bid to see the world through her eyes. 

Finally, Scotland’s own John McPhail will screen Grow, a family film about a young girl with supernatural talents who wants to win a pumpkin-growing contest. It looks set to continue the knack for whimsy he exhibited in Anna And The Apocalypse. 

Andrea Arnold leads In Conversation pack…

… in another celebration of British cinema talent. Arnold’s career has spanned the UK and US, with notable films including American Honey, Cow, Bird and Fish Tank. Her debut Red Road (a bleak Glasgow-set star vehicle for Kate Dickie) will be screened as well. 

There are plenty of other In Conversations happening throughout EIFF. Read our full news article on the Festival for more. 

90 minutes or less podcast hits Monkey Barrel… 

… in what is the first time EIFF has partnered with the comedy venue. The podcast is a novel premise for film buffs; each episode asks celebrity guests to select a film that’s 90 minutes or less, giving insight into the film itself and some fun chat about the guest’s life and career. It’s attracted big names, including Sean Baker, Tuppence Middleton, Jesse Eisenberg and Emily V Gordon. 

You’ll be able to see a live recording of the podcast at Monkey Barrel 3 on Sunday 17 August. 

Edinburgh International Film Festival, various venues, Thursday 14–Wednesday 20 August; main picture: Kat Gollock.