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New Chair at Edinburgh International Film Festival

Producer in DNA Films Andrew Macdonald has been named chair of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, leading from 2024 onwards. By: Talia

Andrew Macdonald, who will be forming a new board and executive team to lead the festival, will begin his time from September this year. More information about the new EIFF chaired by Macdonald will be revealed after the festival this year.

Screen Scotland declared its intention to appoint a chair to lead the revival of the festival in May this year, initially on a voluntary basis. This decision came after a period of uncertainty about the festival's future, following the closure of its parent charity, the Centre for the Moving Image, in October 2022.

A native of Scotland, he has deep connection with Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). In 1992, while working at EIFF, he created a video diary while raising funds for his debut feature film, Danny Boyle's Shallow Grave, written by John Hodge. The film premiered at EIFF in 1994 and went on to receive a Bafta award. Over the years, Macdonald has collaborated with the same creative team on various successful films, such as Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, and T2 Trainspotting.

Since 1997, Macdonald has co-headed DNA Films in London with Allon Reich producing and financing acclaimed films like Beautiful Creatures, The Last King of Scotland, Notes On A Scandal, 28 Days Later, and Ex Machina. He has also been involved in recent projects like Men and Civil War, both written and directed by Alex Garland for A24. Additionally, he serves as a governor at the UK's National Film and Television School (NFTS).

The upcoming festival will be a streamlined edition scheduled from 18 to 23 August, held as part of the Edinburgh International Festival and guided by programme director Kate Taylor.

Executive chair of Screen Scotland Isabel Davis said, “That Andrew has agreed to be the chair of the new Edinburgh International Film Festival is a clear indication of the ambition we all share for the festival’s future. He was one of the first to offer support when the previous organisation collapsed and with his customary vigour, Andrew has already been instrumental in bringing people together to build an exciting new vision for what Edinburgh International Film Festival can become”.

“Andrew’s internationally-acclaimed body of work speaks for itself, and his long-standing relationship with Edinburgh and EIFF, his entrepreneurial mindset and producer’s can-do attitude makes him ideal for this role. We’re grateful that he’s prepared to give his time and energy to this exciting, if huge, project, and look forward to working with him as he builds the team that will take on the direct running of the festival for 2024 onwards”, she added.

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