Director Max Ophuels is the recipient of this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival retrospective, an extensive showcase of a film-maker's oeuvre that was dedicated to France's Robert Bresson last year.

The German film-maker began his career as a stage actor and director in the roaring 20s before fleeing the country when the Nazi party took power in 1933. Working in France, the Netherlands, Italy and the US, he filmed such classics as 1948's Letter From An Unknown Woman; 1950's La Ronde; 1953's The Earrings Of Madame De'; and 1955's Lola Montes.

Other sections at the festival, which runs August 13-27, include gala screenings; the Rosebud strand for first and second features; and the director's focus for more established film-makers. Additionally, the event will encompass a documentary section; the Mirrorball side-bar for music videos and films; and the NBX section, which presents new British cinema to the industry.