On this week’s episode of The Screen Podcast, we round up the key industry talking points from the late summer film festivals.

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First host Wendy Mitchell talks to Ben Dalton, senior UK and international reporter, about their time at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). The duo discuss how the event interacts with the Fringe, Claire Binns’ “interrogation” of BFI CEO Ben Roberts and why the festival’s Trainspotting  event was a certified hit.

“Other festivals could be looking at this,” says Dalton of the Trainspotting club night. ”This will absolutely not work with all films. It needs a film that has a local connection, a particular meaning to wherever you’re doing it. But also I think it’s something that can really draw in punters.”

Mitchell is then joined by Europe editor Tim Dams to get the lowdown on this year’s Locarno Film Festival, from how attendees coped in the heatwave to why it was another buzzy industry programme. 

“There was a good chat with Marco Perego, who is Zoe Saldana’s husband, and an artist who’s investing and producing a lot of films at the moment,” Dams explains. “He had four films at Cannes this year. It’s pretty rare, these angel investors in art house films, so people were keen to hear from him.”

Finally, Mitchell speaks to Screen’s senior UK and Ireland reporter Mona Tabbara from the ground in Sarajevo. She reveals some of the films impressing festivalgoers, and why Woody Harrelson was drinking Irish whiskey and singing Elvis on stage.

The Screen Podcast is produced by Ellie Calnan, with Wendy Mitchell serving as editorial director. New episodes every Thursday.

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