Andrew Macdonald to lead Edinburgh International Film Festival from 2024

Trainspotting and Sunshine on Leith producer Andrew Macdonald has been appointed chair of Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) from 2024.

The move comes following the festival’s parent charity, The Centre for the Moving Image, calling in administrators in October 2022 due to rising costs and reduced trade due to the COVID pandemic. In December, Screen Scotland purchased the EIFF’s intellectual property and the festival is set to return from Friday 18 until Wednesday 23 August 2023 with support from the Edinburgh International Festival.

Macdonald will lead the formation of a new organisation that will deliver EIFF from 2024. “Edinburgh International Film Festival played a huge part in my own early producing career; it’s held dear by film makers and audiences and admired by so many around the world,” he said. “Working together with fellow film makers, funders and festival experts on a proposition for the future of EIFF from 2024 has been altogether compelling and in this new role, I’m looking forward to helping to build long-term success for EIFF in the years to come.”

“That Andrew has agreed to be the Chair of the new Edinburgh International Film Festival is a clear indication of the ambition we all share for the festival’s future,” added Isabel Davis, Screen Scotland’s executive director. “He was one of the first to offer support when the previous organisation collapsed and with his customary vigour, Andrew has already been instrumental in bringing people together to build an exciting new vision for what Edinburgh International Film Festival can become.”

Born and raised in Scotland, Macdonald has led successful production company DNA Films since 1997. He is also a governor of the National Film and Television School and a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.