THE Edinburgh International Film Festival, which launches its 2011 programme tonight, could stage events again in August.
The Herald understands that organisers are exploring the potential of staging events in the traditional festival month to tap into the audiences and atmosphere created by the Fringe, the International Festival and the Book Festival.
Currently firmly at the ‘idea’ stage, film festival organisers are considering staging small or limited events in August that may tie in with other festivals or artists appearing in them.
The festival, led by chief executive Gavin Miller, is stating it is committed to remaining in June for the near future and there is no plan to perform a major U-turn on the decision made three years ago to stage the festival earlier in the summer.
However, ticket sales were 10% down last year and last week The Herald revealed the Glasgow Film Festival, which unlike Edinburgh has little film ‘industry’ element, attracts more film fans through its doors.
Edinburgh’s film festival last year attracted 5525 attendees, according to the Edinburgh Festivals Impact Study, published by BOP Consulting.
This compares to the 9474 “unique visitors” recorded by the Glasgow Film Festival’s consultant EKOS for this year’s February event.
Staging events in August, perhaps marketed at a ‘fringe’ to the main Edinburgh International Film Festival, would attract industry figures who have expressed the opinion that they miss the buzz of the main festival season now the film event is in June.
Mr Miller declined to elaborate on the idea.
However, a source said: “The film festival has always intended to have a presence in August; there have been several events at the book festival, for instance, that tie in with the film festival.
“But the film festival is not fully staffed after June, and the other festivals programme at different times of year, making it hard to budget and plan for August events.
“A limited budget should arguably be applied to the film festival’s main activities. However, it is a worthwhile goal to pursue.”
It is understood festival organisers are reasonably pleased with the level of ticket sales of the festival so far.
This year’s event, which opens with the UK premiere of The Guard at the Festival Theatre, sees the beginning of a radical new programme, with fewer premieres and no traditional ‘gala’ openings and red carpet events.
A little “stardust” will be felt on Saturday when Ewan McGregor attends the UK premiere of Perfect Sense, the new film by David MacKenzie, and Bill Nighy attends the opening of Page Eight.
James Mullighan, this year’s artistic director, said that of all the things he was worrying about, ticket sales were not on the list.
Of his own future -- his contract runs to July -- he said: “I would love to do another one, but right now I am not setting any plans or thinking of what shape that is going to be.
“I am now just looking forward to the train leaving the station and the festival beginning.
“I have a list of things I have worried about and ticket sales are not on it, although of course I am always concerned.
“I am just looking forward to meeting all the people who are coming.”
This year’s film festival has 62 premieres, against 106 last year.
As well as McGregor attending Perfect Sense, Kim Cattrall will be promoting her movie Meet Monica Velour.
The band Kings Of Leon will also attend the festival to talk about Talihina Sky, a documentary about their rise to fame. The event is expected to sell out.
Other premieres will include Albatross, with Julia Ormond, The Bang Bang Club, starring Ryan Phillippe, and Jack Goes Boating, which is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut.
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