Ahead of the 79th edition of EIFF, our CEO and Festival Director @PaulRidd spoke with @Variety about this year’s festival vision and EIFF’s mission to build a 'Home for Independent Cinema.'
You can read the full interview over on https://t.co/CvlNLQb5Kb - https://t.co/qBRyGA2e2N
We are thrilled to announce Louis Paxton’s #TheIncomer as the Opening Night film of #EIFF2026!
After premiering at #Sundance The Incomer is coming back home to Scotland for its UK Premiere at EIFF in August!
Starring #DomhnallGleeson & #GayleRankin
EIFF2026 runs 13 - 19 Aug
The 2026 Edinburgh International Film Festival will open with 'The Incomer,' the debut feature from Edinburgh-born filmmaker Louis Paxton https://t.co/xHwxj49mgl
As submissions for the 79th Edition of EIFF have come to a close, we are grateful for all the films entrusted to us for consideration.
We are honoured to witness such a breadth of talent from across the globe.
Thank you for helping shape the future of cinema.
#EIFF2026
Previous recipients include Abdolreza Kahani (Mortician, 2025) and Jack King (The Ceremony, 2024).
Tomorrow is the last day to submit your work to Edinburgh International Film Festival!
Launched in 2024, The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence comes with a £50,000 cash prize, with the winner decided by an audience vote.
#EIFF2026#FinalCall
Three more days to submit your work to Edinburgh International Film Festival!
With millions of people visiting Edinburgh over festival season, including some of the finest cinematic talent on the planet, screening at EIFF is an opportunity like no other.
#EIFF2026#FinalCall
CEO & Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa represented Edinburgh International Film Festival at @picturehouses Create in London this weekend, taking part in a networking brunch, a festival panel and a pitching session with emerging filmmakers.
We’ve been thrilled by the incredible response and the high volume of submissions from filmmakers around the world. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to share their work, we’ve decided to extend our submissions deadline for one more week.
Filmmakers can now send us their films until 24 April 2026 through FilmFreeway. Make sure to review all submission requirements carefully before submitting your film. We’re excited to discover and celebrate these new projects and can’t wait to see the stories you’ve created.
We’ve been thrilled by the incredible response and the high volume of submissions from filmmakers around the world. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to share their work, we’ve decided to extend our submissions deadline for one more week.
Kahani’s ‘Mortician’ won the Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence in 2025. Last day to submit your film! Be part of EIFF 2026, and discover the world’s best emerging filmmaking talent.
#EIFF2026#FinalCall
“A place to discover new ideas. The best audience, in my opinion”
We can’t wait to welcome you all to the 2026 Edinburgh International Film Festival, where innovative voices like Abdolreza Kahani can showcase their work.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of EIFF, the home of independent cinema in the heart of the world’s leading festival city. Submit your film before the deadline.
Last few days to submit your film.
Your story deserves the spotlight! With just a few days left to submit, now is the moment to join the legacy of filmmakers who have shaped Edinburgh International Film Festival.
#EIFF2026
World Premiere films will be eligible for potential selection to compete for the Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence worth £50,000 Both awards are decided by audience vote, putting the power directly in the hands of film lovers.
Trevor Neuhoff was the winner of The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence in 2024 which this year will award £15,000 to the winner.