EIFF 2016 is over – time for thanks
With the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival now almost over, organisers have paid
tribute to the funders, partners and supporters who have made this year’s milestone edition possible.
Ken Hay, CEO of Edinburgh International Film Festival, said:
“EIFF continues to thrive: building on our international reputation for the quality of the programme, the quality of our guests and the quality of the welcome to the world’s leading festival city. But, all of this is only possible with the support of our funders, partners and supporters. Without them, there would be no Festival, and we are immensely grateful for their support.”
Mark Adams, Artistic Director of Edinburgh International Film Festival said:
“The generous support we receive allows us to get on with the business of producing and delivering a world class festival for both audiences and industry. The Festival this year has been better than ever, and we couldn’t do it without all of our supporters. Thank you.”
The Festival receives significant funding from Creative Scotland, the British Film Institute, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund (supporting EIFF Talent Lab, Distribution Rewired and the Short Film Challenge), as well as EventScotland (supporting a range of Festival activity including the Opening Night Gala).
EIFF’s major donors also play a big part in bringing the Festival to life: James and Morag Anderson for their generous ongoing support of the Festival, and Sir Ewan and Lady Brown for their support of the screening of ET, The Extra Terrestrial with score performed live by the RSNO.
The Festival’s extensive programme of industry events and talent development activity is also supported by the Wellcome Trust, Creative Skillset and the British Council (who also support the McLaren Award for Best British Animation).
Official partners include car partner Volvo Cars, transporting filmmakers and stars in comfort between airports, hotels and venues; ice cream partner Graham’s the Family Dairy, Scotland’s leading dairy brand, serving up ice cream to audiences at the Opening and Closing Galas, as well as the Festival’s youngest audiences at the UK premiere of Pixar’s Finding Dory; and venue partners Cineworld Fountain Park and Filmhouse.
Film Fest in the City is supported by Essential Edinburgh and Summerhall.
Additional support comes from American Airlines, Apex Hotels; Fountain Court Apartments; George Hotel, the iconic Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian on Princes Street, Belmont Filmhouse, Exterion Media, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, GMP, The Lane Agency, Moving Cinema through Creative Europe MEDIA, National Museums Scotland, Odeon, Park Circus, RSNO, Traverse Theatre, The University of Edinburgh, The Edinburgh College of Art, and Media Partners The List, Sunday Herald, and Forth 1, and Lifestyle Partner i-on magazine.
Event sponsors include Heineken, who served as official Beer Sponsor of the EIFF Opening Party, with caterers Clerkenwell Green, event experts All Event Hire, wine and spirit merchants Inverarity Morton, and LookLook providing their GIFGIF animated photobooth for party-goers. Heineken also sponsored the EIFF Industry Ceilidh, with a Scottish menu from award winning caterers Appetite Direct.
The Closing Night Gala on 26th June features the World Premiere of WHISKY GALORE!, with EIFF guests enjoying a dram of Spey whisky from bespoke crystal Glencairn glasses engraved with Whisky Galore and EIFF 70th Edition logos at a special whisky tasting after the film.