Edinburgh International Film Festival Announces Talent Lab Connects Programme To Move Online And Confirms 2020 Participants

Edinburgh International Film Festival is pleased to announce the six projects selected for the upcoming edition of its Talent Lab Connects programme and has confirmed that the 2020 version will be delivered online in the wake of the postponement of the Festival in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EIFF’s TALENT LAB CONNECTS (TLC) is a development programme supporting filmmaking teams take forward their projects, with professional script editing and mentoring support. TLC is an initiative open to EIFF Talent Lab alumni and their collaborators to develop a feature film or serial drama project.

EIFF, along with story editor Kate Leys and industry mentors, will guide the selected teams towards achieving a series of specific goals for their projects. The programme will run from April to December 2020 with all workshops and mentoring taking place online.

The selected projects and teams for this year’s TALENT LAB CONNECTS are:

• CARLA (Feature Film) Writer/Director: Catriona MacInnes; Producers: Rebecca Mark-Lawson & Garry Paton
• DAD JOKE (Series) Writer: Joshua Robertson; Writer/Director: David Abramsky; Producer: Alexandra Blue
• DENIAL (Series) Writer: Elaine Gracie; Producer: Alexandra Blue
• MOSCOW MOLLY (Feature Film) Writer: Nicole Paglia; Producer: Jessie Mangum
• THE TULIP TOUCH (Feature Film) Writer: Jenna Jovi; Producers: Jen Corcoran, Jessie Mangum & Sophie Reynolds
• VALERIE & ME (Feature Film) Writers: Bex Harvey & Christian Azzola; Director: Jane Gull; Producer: Georgina French

Holly Daniel, EIFF’s Head of Industry & Talent Development said “EIFF is committed to supporting new and emerging talent and by adapting TLC to be delivered digitally we will ensure that filmmakers don’t miss out on this bespoke opportunity. This year’s cohort comprises of a fantastic mix of talent, projects and experience and we look forward to working with them to reach their individual goals. Talent development is a priority for EIFF and we will continue to identify ways that we can support talent throughout this challenging time.”

Launched in 2019 and funded through the PLACE programme, TLC supports a strong pool of upcoming talent who have participated in the EIFF Talent Lab since it began in 2011. The PLACE Programme is a partnership between the Scottish Government, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.

For more information on the 2020 Festival visit online.

About Edinburgh International Film Festival
Established in 1947, Edinburgh International Film Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. Notable films premiered in recent years have included: Bait, The Souvenir, Cold War, Calibre, God’s Own Country, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Amy, Inside Out, 45 Years, A Most Wanted Man, Cold in July, The Imposter, Brave, Tabu, The Hurt Locker, Moon, Fish Tank, Let the Right One In, Man on Wire, Control, Knocked Up, Ratatouille, Little Miss Sunshine and Billy Elliot.

EIFF is supported by Screen Scotland, the PLACE Programme (a partnership between the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals), the BFI (awarding funds from the National Lottery), the Scottish Government through the Festivals Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, and EventScotland.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival Limited is a company registered in Scotland No: SC132453. It is a subsidiary of the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) which is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status with Scottish Charity No. SC006793. The Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) was established in 2010 with a mission to be at the forefront of the development of a vibrant and successful film and moving image industry and culture across Scotland and beyond. The CMI currently comprises EIFF, Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen.