Nearly 43 percent features and shorts screening at the 2019 Edinburgh International Film Festival are directed or co-directed by a woman, the BBC reports. Slated to take place June 19-30, this year’s program includes a tribute to late French filmmaker Agnès Varda.
Among the titles competing for Best British Feature Film are Ruth Platt’s “The Black Forest,” a black comedy about two British families who go on holiday to Germany together, and Emily Harris’ “Carmilla,” a coming-of-age story inspired by the vampire novel of the same name.
The Americas’ strand features “Go Back to China,” Emily Ting’s comedy about a spoiled rich woman who is forced to move back to China and work for the family toy business, and “Them That Follow,” Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage’s Appalachia-set snake handler drama.
International Premieres include Mary McGuckian’s “A Girl from Mogadishu,” a narrative feature inspired by Somalian refugee and activist Ifrah Ahmed, and Alexandra McGuinness’ “She’s Missing,” a drama about a woman traveling across the desert in search of her missing best friend.
“We are also delighted to be able to present a series of striking new films from women directors and filmmaking teams from around the world,” said Mark Adams, the fest’s artistic director. “In particular this year we have an amazing selection of genre films from women film-makers, ranging from Gothic romance and Western chills through to science fiction and old-fashioned horror.”
For more information about the Edinburgh International Film Festival and this year’s lineup head over to the fest’s website.
