EIFF and Girls On Film announce closing night film as Since Yesterday: The Untold Story Of Scotland’s Girl Bands

The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and acclaimed podcast Girls On Film have announced a partnership on the Closing Night film for this year’s Festival, which will be the World Premiere of Carla J. Easton and Blair Young’s new music documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story Of Scotland’s Girl Bands.

The revealing, funny and enraging documentary tracks the history of Scottish girl bands from the 1960s to the present. This scrapbook panorama view of Scottish pop music explores bands, cliques and movements that emerged in the country across the decades, exposing the challenges faced in a male dominated world.

Co-directed by musician Carla J. Easton (shortlisted for Scottish Album of the Year and member of all girl band TeenCanteen) and prominent Scottish director Blair Young; the film is produced by producer/filmmaker Miranda Stern (Scottish Documentary Institute’s New Voices 2020) and the award-winning production company Forest of Black.

Girls On Film will co-present the World Premiere of the film which will screen at EIFF on 21 August at the Cameo Cinema. The full EIFF programme will launch on Wednesday 10 July at 5pm, with tickets going on sale on Thursday 11 July at 12 noon.

EIFF has announced that its Opening Night film will be Nora Fingscheidt’s (System Crasher) adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir, The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird, Brooklyn) as well as screenings of director Greg Kwedar’s acclaimed film Sing Sing and the UK Premieres of Fede Alverez’s terrifying Alien: Romulus and Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance as opening and closing films respectively of the new Midnight Madness programme. Alongside this, EIFF has announced the name of its short film competition as The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence. Thelma Schoonmaker, who will be in attendance at the Festival, is celebrated for her iconic work as an editor on landmark moments in cinema history, collaborating on such films as Killers of the Flower Moon and Goodfellas.

This year’s 77th edition of the Festival honours the film festival’s history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking in a format rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. EIFF encourages general audiences, film fans and industry professionals to make the trip this summer to Edinburgh.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd has said “Since the moment we saw this spiky, fun and eye-opening film we knew it had to be a major part of our festival. Here is a fantastically fresh and engaging documentary about Scottish artists, Scottish art and the challenges faced by Scottish women in a male-dominated industry and sexist world. Collaborating with Anna and the good people at Girls On Film on Closing Night is an honour, knowing all the great work they do to promote work by women and about women, and we were so moved by their response to the film. We’ll truly be closing the Festival in style.”

Co-founder and host of Girls On Film, Anna Smith has said: “At Girls On Film, we believe that documenting women’s contributions to history can change the future. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the wonderful EIFF on Since Yesterday: The Untold Story Of Scotland’s Girl Bands. It’s an entertaining, enlightening film that celebrates sisterhood and collaboration while pushing for progress – right up our street! I can’t wait to share this with the audience on Closing Night.”

From August 15 to August 21 2024, the 77th edition of EIFF will take place at unique venues in Edinburgh, including Summerhall and the historic Cameo cinema, allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF.

Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by an expanding Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Amy Jackson, producer of last year’s BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun. EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland.

The EIFF programme launches on Wednesday 10 July at 5pm, with tickets on sale at 12 noon on Thursday 11 July.