In addition over 12,000 attend Film In The City outdoor screenings

The 68^th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) drew to a close on Sunday having screened 121 new features over the 12 day Festival.  More than 46,000 admissions represents a four per cent increase on 2013.

The Festival sold tickets for its venues across the city, which included the EIFF’s home at Filmhouse, its venue partner at Cineworld Fountain Park, and at Festival Theatre Edinburgh, Traverse Theatre, Dominion Cinema, Odeon Lothian Road, Cameo, Royal Lyceum Theatre and Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen.

Ken Hay, CEO Edinburgh International Film Festival, commented; “We are delighted to see that audiences have again supported the Festival this year despite football fever and the glorious June sunshine!  An increase in our admissions is a testament to the strength and depth of the programme.”

This year, the Festival also collaborated with This is Edinburgh and Essential Edinburgh on Film in the City; a series of outdoor screenings and events across the city.  Over 12,000 people enjoyed the delights of “dance along” screenings of musical favourites such as GREASE and STRICTLY BALLROOM in the Grassmarket and JAWS, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and JUNO amongst the cinematic gems in St. Andrew Square.  Festival Square also hosted a series of movie inspired workshops, Q&A’s and animation sessions.

Winning films this year included the world premiere of Joanna Coates’s HIDE AND SEEK, which picked up The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film. The Award for Best Film in the International Competition was presented to Midi Z’s ICE POISON and The Audience Award went to TONY BENN: WILL & TESTAMENT, which also received its world premiere at the Festival.

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For further information, please contact:

EIFF Press Team, Organic Publicity: EIFFPRteam@organic-publicity.co.uk / 020 3372 0970

To download publicity materials, please visit: www.edfilmfest.org.uk/press

About Edinburgh International Film Festival:

Established in 1947, Edinburgh International Film Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. 

Notable films premiered in recent years have included: FRANCES HA, WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, THE IMPOSTER, BRAVE, TABU, THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, FISH TANK, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, MAN ON WIRE, CONTROL, KNOCKED UP, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, TSOTSI and BILLY ELLIOT.

EIFF is supported by Creative Scotland, the BFI, the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, and EventScotland.

The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) was founded in 2010 with a mission to be at the forefront of the development of film and the moving image in Scotland.  The CMI currently comprises EIFF, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen. 

The Edinburgh International Film Festival Limited is a company registered in Scotland No: SC132453.  It is a subsidiary of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) which is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status with Scottish Charity No. SC006793.