Film Fest in the City in St Andrew Square Gardens returns as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival programme on the festival’s opening weekend from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th August. The free non-ticketed outdoor screening programme of new and classic cinematic favourites reflect the wider EIFF 2022 themes, including a celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. 

The programme is delivered in partnership with Essential Edinburgh and supported by Innis & Gunn, EIFF’s Official Beer Partner, travel partner LNER and supported by EventScotland as part of the Year of Stories 2022 and reflects EIFF’s return to August embracing other cultural festivals around it. EIFF is working closely with local travel partner Lothian Buses to encourage sustainable travel to Edinburgh's city centre, plan your journey at lothianbuses.co.uk or download the Lothian buses app. 

On Friday 12th August, EIFF tips its hat to the Edinburgh International Book Festival with a day of films that all started in the twinkle of an author’s eye. The day will also feature a selection of short films with a Scottish connection, screened before feature films and presented in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 as Scotland’s Stories on Screen.   

On Saturday 13th August, also celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen, Film Fest in the City programme will fill the square with homegrown storytellers and some family fun, including a special live musical performance by multi-instrumentalist David Allison, to accompany the anniversary screening of the 1922 classic Rob Roy and more short films with a Scottish connection. All this alongside the family favourite contemporary classic WALL-E, followed by the recent blockbuster, Free Guy.  

Sunday 14th August sees EIFF Youth Programmers from Edinburgh and Aberdeen take over the square with a selection of big screen favourites including Twilight, Big, Shrek and Whip It to celebrate big screen favourites all directed their favourite female directors. 

As a nod to EIFF’s closing night film, After Yang, the Film Fest in the City screen explore the idea of Artificial Intelligence on screen. For sci-fi purists out there there’s Stanley Kubrick classic, 2001 A Space Odyssey. If you like you’re A.I all singing, all dancing, don’t miss everybody’s favourite Pixar robot Wall-E or maybe you just want to spend Saturday night with Ryan Reynolds (who doesn’t?!) then don’t miss Free Guy. 

This special open-air series of screenings coincides with the main programme of full in-person cinema screenings as part of the 75th anniversary of the city’s International Film Festival, giving the Film Festival an East-to-West city centre presence and making cinema accessible to both film buffs and Edinburgh residents of all ages. Attending audiences can look out for lots of special surprises at each screening too. 

These events are free. Film times and details of accompanying activities can be found by visiting www.edfilmfest.org.uk/strands/film-fest-in-the-city

 

Audiences will enjoy the outdoor screenings with an amazing range of food and drink produce available to purchase on site, including EIFF Official Beer Partner Innis & Gunn. Heritage gastropub The Voyage of Buck will be have a bar on site which will be focusing on Lind and Lime Gin cocktails including collins and spritzes featuring summer flavours with London essence tonics and sodas. 

Bring your favourite cinema snacks and picnic blankets or sit yourself down on one of the famous St Andrew Square deck chairs to enjoy the following:  

 

Friday, 12 August 

11.00 | Paddington (2014 / dir. Paul King) 

Everyone’s favourite bear in his first big screen adventure as he travels from deepest darkest Peru to London to try and find himself a new home. 

13.00 | Fantastic Mr Fox (2009 / dir. Wes Anderson) 

Filmmaker Wes Anderson guides an A-list cast in this stop-motion take on Roald Dahl’s classic book. 

14.45 | SHORT FILM: What Makes Soup, Soup? (dirs. Conor Reilly, Tommy Reilly, Malcolm Cumming) 

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen.

15.00 | Christopher Robin (2018 / dir. Marc Forster) 

Ewan McGregor stars as a now-grown-up Christopher Robin who is visited by Winnie the Pooh to help find his lost friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. 

17.00 | SHORT FILM: Neville is Dead (dir. Louis Paxton) 

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen.

17.30 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000 / dir. Ang Lee) 

Join us for high-flying spectacle in filmmaker Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece

19.40 | SHORT FILM: Flit (dir. Jack Allen)  

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen. 

20.00 | 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968 / dir. Stanley Kubrick) 

One of the greatest cinematic experiences of all time. Stanley Kubrick’s journey into space is designed for the big screen.  

 

Saturday, 13 August 

11:00 | Brave (2012 / dirs. Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews), in celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen 

Follow Princess Merida as she forges her own path in Disney and Pixar’s journey into the mythical Scottish kingdom of DunBroch. Pre-screening family entertainment, including face-painting. 

12.50 | SHORT FILM: Fear of Flying (dir. Conor Finnegan) 

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen. 

13:00 | The Illusionist (2010 / dir. Sylvain Chomet), in celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen 

Based on the story by Jacques Tati, this beautifully animated tale tells of a French illusionist who travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman where their exciting adventures together change both their lives forever. Pre-screening family entertainment.

14.49 | SHORT FILM: Widdershins (dir. Simon Biggs) 

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen. 

15:30 | Rob Roy (1922 / dir. W. P. Kellino), in celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen 

Join us for a special live musical performance by multi-instrumentalist David Allison to accompany this impressive 1922 classic film. 

17.20 | SHORT FILM: Betty (Will Anderson)  

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen. 

18:00 | Wall-E (2008 / dir. Andrew Stanton) 

An all singing, all dancing modern classic from Pixar. 

20.00 | SHORT FILM: Don Vs Lighting (dir. Big Red Button) 

In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen. 

20:15 | Free Guy (2021 / dir. Shawn Levy) 

Affable bank clerk Ryan Reynolds discovers he is a computer game character in this recent action comedy.

 

Sunday, 14 August

11:00 | Shrek (2001 / dirs. Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson) 

Join a whole host of fairy tale characters in this animated, tuneful and funny animated adventure.

13:00 | Big (1989 / dir. Penny Marshall) 

Tom Hanks reconnects with his youth in this 80s family classic.

15:15 | Whip It (2009 / dir. Drew Barrymore) 

Get your skates on and join Babe Ruthless and the roller-derby team in this funny and quirky drama. 

17:30 | The Farewell (2021 / dir. Lulu Wang) 

A funny and uplifting tale of a family reconnecting with their past 

19:45 | Twilight (2008 / dir Catherine Hardwicke) 

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart star in this everlasting teenage vampire romance.

Also screening later in the festival in celebration of the Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 will be Yoyo & The Little Auk (2022 / dir. Dougie Irvine) screening on 20th August. Please check EIFF website for venue details. Introduce young children to the magic of classical music with a new and inspiring Scottish animated adventure from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Perfect for Nursery to P2 children (age 3-6).