As the dust settles, the 71st Edinburgh International Film Festival just reported a sixth successive year of increased audience numbers, reaching more than 53,000 festival-goers during the 12-day period.
Helped by sunny weather, the EIFF said there was also an additional 20,000 people at Film Fest in the City, the EIFF’s weekend of free, outdoor screenings that took place in St Andrew Square earlier in July.
The EIFF added that the ‘ed film fest memories’ photography exhibition reached over 300,000 people between 31 May and 2 July. The exhibition marking Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, and the Festival’s 70th Anniversary Year, featured a selection of rarely seen images from the Festival’s archives, at Festival Square, St Andrew Square and the Old College Quad.
Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director said: "It has been another amazing EIFF and it has been satisfying and often humbling to receive such a great response from filmmakers, guests and the audience. The city always makes EIFF guests feel welcome and this year there was a real buzz and sense of enthusiasm and appreciation around the Festival. Roll on 2018!"
Ken Hay, CEO Edinburgh International Film Festival, added: “EIFF is unashamedly international and outward-looking in its programming and its reach, with 59 countries represented through the programme, our filmmaker and industry guests, and our truly multi-national team delivering the event. We’re delighted that audiences and guests have responded so positively to the programme and the broader Festival experience, and are thrilled to see a further increase in admissions.”
This year’s film festival showcased 151 features from 46 countries. Of those, 17 were World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, 9 European Premieres and 69 UK Premieres. More than 400 filmmakers were in attendance this year to support their films, with more than 200 accredited press and almost 600 industry delegates also present.