Let's talk some more about August Festivals 2023
The start of August saw the launch of 3 of our 6 August festivals, and they are now joined by 3 more - Art, Book and Film Festivals - making Edinburgh the world's cultural melting pot, full of extraordinary experiences for artists and audience alike. As with our earlier article where we spoke to the initial 3 festivals, we met up with some of the key organisers of these next 3 festivals to hear some more about theirt thoughts and plans.
Edinburgh Art Festival [11 to 27 August]
The UK’s largest annual festival of visual arts was founded in 2004. Working with local and international partners to present an ambitious and meaningful programme of exhibitions, events and projects across the city, most of the festival is free to attend. Each year, Edinburgh Art Festival features leading international and UK artists alongside the best emerging talent, major survey exhibitions of historic figures, and a special programme of events with voices from across the festival. We caught up with Festival Director, Kim McAleese to hear about the past, present and future of the Edinburgh Art Festival in her first year as Director.
Edinburgh International Book Festival [12 to 28 August]
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a distinctive international showcase celebrating the written word, literature and ideas. It brings leading and emerging international, British and Scottish authors and thinkers together to inspire each other and audiences in an extensive programme of public events. Discussion, performance and interactive events have become prominent features of the Festival, complementing the more traditional interview-style conversations and readings, and contributing to the Book Festival’s reputation as a powerful forum for the public to exchange views with writers and experts on a wide range of issues: social, ethical and political as well as literary and cultural. We caught up with Director, Nick Barley to hear about the past, present and future of the Edinburgh International Book Festival in this, their 40th year!
Edinburgh International Film Festival [12 to 28 August]
Established in 1947, the 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, Focusing on artistic quality and excellence, the festival explores new ideas in cinema, inviting local and international audiences to engage with a dynamic programme of features, documentaries, shorts and experimental cinema. EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. We caught up with Programme Director, Kate Taylor to hear about the past, present and future of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. This year's special edition promises a hand-picked selection of cinematic goodness, to keep the flame of independent cinema in the city burning bright.