The 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) 2026 delivers a vibrant, re-energized programme that proudly celebrates local Scottish talent alongside bold international cinema. A fierce competitive showcase of global world premieres vying for the prestigious Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence forms the beating heart of the festival.

OPENING FILMS

The Incomer

Two oddball siblings living on an isolated Scottish island clash with a nervy council official from the mainland in Louis Paxton’s delightfully strange, distinctively dark comedy debut, starring Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke.

Director: Louis Paxton. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, Grant O’Rourke, Emun Elliott, Michelle Gomez, John Hannah.

United Kingdom. 2025. 1hr 42min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

Bad Day at the Office

Waking up in a strange hotel room with a dead body in the bathtub and no memory of the night before, Karl (Hannah) is about to have a very bad day indeed in this anarchic, ultra-violent and relentless cinematic rollercoaster packed with wit, style and pure,
unapologetic carnage. The ultimate Midnight Madness experience.

Director: Chee Keong Cheung. Narrative Feature.
Cast: John Hannah, Radha Mitchell, Tamer Hassan, Lana Parrilla, Victor Gardener, Tim Fellingham.

United Kingdom. 2026. 1hr 46min. English. Unclassified: 18+

COMPETITION MOVIES

Capsized

A houseboat holiday is thrown into disarray and a family must face chaos and an uncertain future in this witty, warm and poignant comedy debut from director Lindsey Ryan, featuring Rhys Ifans and Lily Rabe.

Director: Lindsey Ryan. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Sarah Catherine Hook, Griffin Gluck, Lily Rabe, Rhys Ifans.

United States. 2026. 1hr 45min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

First Zone

Torn from her home by a violent storm, a woman embarks on a singular odyssey across a flooded and desolate post-apocalyptic landscape in this haunting and entirely gripping thriller and debut feature from director Thom Lunshof.

Director: Thom Lunshof. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Violet Braeckman, Hadewych Minis.

Netherlands. 2026. 1hr 24min. Dutch with English subtitles. Unclassified: 15+.

The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman

A vivid, immersive and visually striking portrait of a key contributor to the satirical Mad magazine and the publication’s far-reaching influence on culture. Rich in history, art, politics and thoughtful reflections from contributors including Terry Gilliam, the late Stan Lee and Robert Crumb, this is a compelling, insightful exploration of counterculture, commerce and creative compromise.

Director: Bart Simpson. Documentary Feature.

Canada, United Kingdom. 2026. 1hr 32min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

Mission

A disillusioned young man embarks on a week of carnage in Paul Wright’s immersive and gripping psychological portrait of existential angst and directionless fury, featuring a vivid visual language and a standout performance from George MacKay.

Director: Paul Wright. Narrative Feature.
Cast: George MacKay, Rosy McEwen.

Untited Kingdom. 2026. 1hr 27min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

Out There

In this hilarious 1999-set debut from director Simon Ryninks and featuring Michael Sheen, a teenaged astronomer enlists a gang of misfits to help uncover the truth about a UFO hovering over her sleepy Welsh hometown.

Director: Simon Ryninks. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Michael Sheen, Iwan Rheon, Nerys Amber Stocks, Aneurin Barnard, Tom Moya, Alice Lowe,
Remy Beasley, Matthew Aubrey, Olivia Southgate.

United Kingdom. 2026. 1hr 20min. English. Unclassified: 12+.

Pretty Babies

Drawn by the seductive promise of Hollywood, two young girls embark on a road trip that takes them into increasingly dark territory in Tyler Marie-Evans’ debut feature, an edgy, stylish and jagged portrait of naivety, vulnerability and lost innocence.

Director: Tyler-Marie Evans. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Sadie Stanley, Emily Alyn Lind, Madelaine Petsch, Ashley Benson.

United States. 2026. 1hr 32min. English. Unclassified: 18+.

Sacred Creatures

Three estranged siblings reunite at a rural retreat in Italy after the middle sister’s release from psychiatric treatment in this unpredictable, black-humoured and beautifully shot thriller exploring idolatry, mysticism and non-conformity.

Director: Frieda Luk. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Olivia Luccardi, Romina D’Ugo, Antonoio De Matteo, James Cusati-Moyer, Pia Engleberth.

Canada, Italy. 2026. 1hr 45min. English, Italian with English subtitles. Unclassified: 15+

Skintown

Best friends Vinny and Jonty party, cut deals and plan to escape small town life in Northern Ireland during the 1994 ceasefire in this humorous, poignant and terrifically acted period piece with a killer 90s soundtrack.

Director: Kieron J. Walsh. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Jack Rowan, Chris Walley.

Ireland, United Kingdom. 2026. 1hr 39min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

Snapshot

Newly surfaced pinhole camera footage reveals the disturbing fate of an all-ladies ghost-hunting society in late 19th century London in this provocative and unnerving film from director Joseph Archer. PR

Director: Joseph Archer. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Tom Stourton, Cathy Wippell, Nadia Lamin, Hazel Rogers, Rosie-Bella Johnson, Lydia Helen. United Kingdom. 2026.

1hr 26min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

The State of Us

Boisterous tearaway Frankie (Bottomley) breaks his best friend Taylor (Howells) out of hospice care for one final night of fun in this uplifting and deeply humane tragicomedy from debut co-directors Ollie Gardner and Jake Harvey. PR

Director: Ollie Gardner, Jake Harvey.
Narrative Feature. Cast: Samuel Bottomley, Callum Scott Howells, Safia Oakley-Green, Frances Barber, Seamus O’Hara, Sunetra Sarker.

United Kingdom. 2026. 1h 30min. English. Unclassified: 15+.

CLOSING FILMS

Bel

Louise Lockwood’s sensitive and deeply moving portrait of Kenyan-Scottish musician, singer and songwriter Beldina Odenyo is a raw, emotionally intelligent and beautifully composed tribute to an unsung, powerful talent.

Director: Louise Lockwood. Documentary Feature.

United Kingdom. 2026. 1hr 32min. English with English subtitles. Unclassified: 15+

Faces of Death

In this ferociously inventive and wildly entertaining reboot, a website content moderator becomes obsessed with a series of disturbing videos that seem to recreate scenes from the iconic Faces of Death film series.

Director: Daniel Goldhaber. Narrative Feature.
Cast: Barbie Ferreira, Dacre Montgomery, Josie Totah, Charli xcx.

United States. 2026. 1hr 37min. English. Unclassified: 18+.

Beyond the Competition: Gems, Shorts, and Late-Night Thrills

While the competition draws intense focus, EIFF 2026’s non-competition and specialized strands offer an expansive snapshot of contemporary global cinema:

• Out of Competition Highlights: This vibrant sidebar features major international titles, most notably the exclusive UK screening of Na Hong-jin’s highly acclaimed Cannes sci-fi epic Hope, boasting a star-studded cast including Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, alongside new works from global auteurs like Hirokazu Kore-eda and Gregg Araki.

• Shorts & Special Prizes: Showcasing the next generation of talent, the festival features curated short film programmes competing for The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence.

• Midnight Madness: Dedicated to uncompromising genre cinema, this cult-favourite strand delivers adrenaline-pumping late-night screenings, bookended by explosive world premieres like the POV action-thriller Bad Day at the Office.

• Retrospectives & Milestones: Celebrating cinematic history, the festival hosts special back-catalogue restorations and major anniversary milestones—including a landmark 30th-anniversary screening of Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting featuring live cast commentary and a special DJ set.

• Industry Events: Running parallel to the screenings, the EIFF industry programme fosters vital networking, masterclasses, and “In Conversation” panels with iconic filmmaking talent, anchoring Edinburgh as a dynamic hub for independent cinema.