Edinburgh Film and TV Festivals Plot Major 2026 Changes

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 Industry Programme, scheduled for 13–19 August at the Festival Hub in Central Hall. The week‑long event will address challenges facing independent cinema, covering financing, low‑budget production, career development and shifts in the UK film market. Highlights include the inaugural UK Film Conference on 15 August, opened by BFI chief executive Ben Roberts, and sessions featuring industry figures such as producer Christine Vachon, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, actor Ewan McGregor and director Kenneth Branagh.

Meanwhile, the long‑running Edinburgh TV Festival is set to relocate to Greater Manchester after 51 years, prompting Screen Scotland to explore launching a new Scottish TV festival in Edinburgh. Former Edinburgh TV Festival creative chief Rowan Woods has prepared recommendations after a round‑table with roughly 20 local TV‑industry leaders. Screen Scotland may announce the new festival in the coming weeks, potentially aligning it with August events such as the Edinburgh Fringe. The proposed festival aims to keep Scotland‑based production businesses connected with key TV decision‑makers despite the TV Festival’s departure.