In its big year of change, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is launching an ‘early bird’ pass option for industry attendees, as well as new day passes.

From now through May 13, early bird rates are available for the full festival delegate pass (£150, rising to £180 later) and for day passes (£48), with film and media student passes costing £108 and £36 respectively. Details on passes can be found here. An industry pass offers, for example, entry to press and industry screenings, industry events, delegate centre access and videotheque access.

The festival said it expects more than 700 delegates to attend the 2011 edition (June 15-26) which marks the 65th anniversary of EIFF.

James Mullighan, director of the EIFF, said: “I am thrilled to invite our industry peers to apply for our 2011 delegate passes at these excellent early rates. Their involvement and support is highly appreciated by the Festival team. EIFF has always offered delegates an inspiring array of film and this year will not disappoint. Our programme will be both exciting and challenging and we will be staging several new industry events which should not be missed.”

This year, the festival is undergoing radical change, with the EIFF now fully under the umbrella of Scotland’s new Centre for the Moving Image. After Hannah McGill’s departure last year, the festival no longer has a full-time artistic director, instead hiring James Mullighan as ‘producer’ of the event, later changing that title to ‘director’ of EIFF.

Curating contributions from a group of artistic advisors including Mark Cousins, Tilda Swinton and Lynda Myles. They have recruited eight curators to help with the 2011 festival, with the theme All That Heaven Allows. The curators announced so far are: Isabella Rossellini, Gus Van Sant, Sara Driver and Jim Jarmusch, Alan Warner, Mike Skinner, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Clint Mansell and Greil Marcus.

EIFF hasn’t yet revealed the size of this year’s programme, but a festival spokeswoman noted that the official launch will take place on May 17.

EIFF also notes on its website that a special conference will be organised for June 17 about the future of the film industry, with details on that forthcoming.

Topics