Kenneth Branagh, Ewan McGregor, Christine Vachon Headline Edinburgh Film Festival Industry Program
The festival's expanded industry program will also feature an inaugural UK Film Conference and sessions with Bruce Dern and Ken Burns.
“We could not be prouder of this year’s Industry Programme at EIFF which offers up a diverse and starry range of guests, talks, lively discussions and networking opportunities for Scottish, UK and international folk looking to make connections and hear from some leading experts in their fields, all more accessible than ever before,”
The Edinburgh International Film Festival has announced a starry lineup for its expanded 2026 industry program, featuring Kenneth Branagh, Ewan McGregor, and producer Christine Vachon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Branagh will receive the festival’s inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award and participate in an on-stage conversation. McGregor will take part in a separate in-conversation event in partnership with BAFTA Scotland.
What is the focus of the industry program?
The five-day program is designed as a hub for networking and discussion around independent cinema. Acclaimed indie producer Christine Vachon, known for films like Carol and Past Lives, will headline multiple talks. One session is titled “Would This Get Made?” with executives from Film4, BBC Film, and distributor Altitude.
The schedule also includes the inaugural UK Film Conference on August 15. It is billed as a state-of-the-nation assessment of independent British filmmaking. It will open with a keynote from British Film Institute CEO Ben Roberts.
Who else is participating?
Additional participants include filmmaker Ken Burns and actor Bruce Dern, who will take part in one-on-one Q&As. The genre-focused “New Nightmares” session will feature filmmaker Max Minghella and directors Prano Bailey-Bond, Chee Keong Cheung, and Joby Stephens.
Other programming covers adapting literature for cinema and a talk titled “Unmaking the Colonial Gaze in Cinema.” The industry events run from August 13 to 19 and include daily networking brunches and drinks with partners like the BFI and Women in Film and Television.
“We could not be prouder of this year’s Industry Programme at EIFF which offers up a diverse and starry range of guests, talks, lively discussions and networking opportunities for Scottish, UK and international folk looking to make connections and hear from some leading experts in their fields, all more accessible than ever before,” said EIFF CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Edinburgh Film Festival industry program take place?
The industry events are scheduled to run for five days from August 13 to 19, 2026.
What is the UK Film Conference?
It is an inaugural event launching on August 15, 2026, described as a state-of-the-nation assessment of the future of independent British filmmaking. It will open with a keynote from BFI CEO Ben Roberts.
What kind of sessions will Christine Vachon be involved in?
The producer will headline multiple industry talks. One session is called “Would This Get Made?” where she will join executives from Film4, BBC Film, and Altitude to discuss which projects from past decades would get greenlit today.
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