EIFF announces that Alien: Romulus will launch new Midnight Madness strand

The relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced that the UK Premiere of Fede Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus will open the Festival’s brand new Midnight Madness strand. The full EIFF programme will launch on Wednesday 10 July at 5pm, with tickets going on sale on Thursday 11 July at 12 noon.

A truly terrifying cinematic experience from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede

Alvarez (Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead), Alien: Romulus takes the phenomenally successful Alien franchise back to its roots. While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonisers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Starring Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), David Jonsson (Rye Lane) and Spike Fern (Aftersun), Alien: Romulus will screen at EIFF on August 15 and will be released by 20th Century Studios in the UK and Ireland on August 16.

EIFF’s brand new Midnight Madness strand will run throughout the Festival in August. EIFF recently announced the closing night Midnight Madness film as Coralie Fargeat’s dark body horror The Substance on August 20. The Festival will also host a special Midnight Madness preview screening of Chris Nash’s audacious arthouse slasher, In A Violent Nature, on Thursday 11 July at the Cameo Cinema.

EIFF has recently announced that its early-evening 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). 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: ‘We are absolutely ecstatic to be the UK premiere host for this viciously entertaining new vision for the ALIEN franchise from one of the most exciting horror filmmakers currently working. Fede Alvarez brings a sense of tradition and legacy, as well as gory originality and swagger to the table, and we can think of no better way to open our Midnight Madness programme than with this showstopping new film. Plus knowing that Ridley Scott’s seminal original ALIEN also played a midnight UK premiere at the Festival back in 1979 is the icing on a spectacular, albeit very gnarly, cake. Bring it on.’

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.