Nicola Sturgeon
Today’s Front List at the Book Festival includes a well trailed event at the McEwan Hall at which Nicola Sturgeon will appear to talk about her book, Frankly – a memoir of her time as Scotland’s first woman First Minister. It is widely known that the book is in fact already published despite the embargo, available from Waterstones in Scotland and presumably all over the UK. Whether or not it will be a best seller or not remains to be seen, and whether or not Ms Sturgeon agrees to face the posse of photographers after her book launch event remains to be seen.
Yesterday at the Book Festival we ran into Mark Kermode, Brian Cox, Kate Dickie and Michelle Gomez who were about to go to their event Mark Kermode Live in 3D. Sadly that event was only available to see in person. But we photographed the participants. The eagle eyed among you will spot that Mr Kermode is wearing a fabulous T-shirt which is a nod to Local Hero – where the new print was shown for the first time in June 2025.
Edinburgh International Film Festival begins today
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025 begins today with the Opening Night film, the UK Premiere of Sorry Baby.
There are many films and events for which tickets are still available. the 78th Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025, under leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, and will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry and local, national and international media.
This year’s Festival programme explores the fragile ties that bind communities new and old, thrilling and revelatory journeys inward and outward andlight shone in the darkest of places. It showcases new work from filmmakers from Scotland, UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Croatia, France, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Japan and beyond.
EIFF is pleased to be working with venue partners including the newly reopened Filmhouse alongside Cameo Cinema, Vue Omni, Monkey Barrel Comedy and a new pop-up screen at the National Gallery of Scotland’s Hawthornden Theatre placing the Festival at the heart of the city and August’s unparalleled Festival landscape.
Tollcross Central Hall will serve as the Festival Hub, open throughout the Festival to industry and press delegates for industry panels and networking events, alongside informal meeting and working spaces. Tollcross Central Hall will also host the major In Conversation events open to the public.
Catch James Bond on the big screen with a special strand of the six original Bond films starring Sean Connery. Sacred Bonds includes 4K restorations of DR. NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and all introduced by a series of soon to be announced special guests.
And there is a retrospective strand with six Special Retrospective Screenings which are Mikhail Kalatozov’s hugely influential Palme D’Or winner THE CRANES ARE FLYING (1957) introduced by Festival guest Kevin Macdonald; Doug Liman’s kinetic black comedy GO (1999) introduced by Festival guest Nia Da Costa; Alexander Mackendrick’s classic Ealing comedy THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT (1951); a 40th anniversary screening of Michael Hoffman’s much loved RESTLESS NATIVES, presented in collaboration with Local Cinema Network; Festival guest Andrea Arnold introduces her tense, Glasgow set RED ROAD (2006); Honouring the life and legacy of producer Paddy Higson, who passed away earlier this year, the Festival hosts a 35th anniversary screening of David Hayman’s searing underground Scottish classic SILENT SCREAM, the film which won the inaugural Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature at the 1990 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
One day only performance
On Friday 15 August there is a once only performance of the story of the Ukrainian journey in Scotland. It is an evocative and emotional story told through music and dance; performed entirely by children and adults who were resettled as part of the Warm Scots Welcome programme. Written by Oksana Saiapina and presented by Mission of Innocents, it is the heartfelt work of the Ukrainian choirs and dance groups that have been part of the Scottish/Ukrainian community since the invasion of Ukraine.
A powerful 60-minute performance created and performed by Ukrainian children and adults who resettled in Scotland in 2022 will take to the stage for one night only at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, hosted at Pleasance EICC.
This music and dance performance tells the deeply moving story of Ukrainian people who fled their home after the start of the war. At the heart of the performance is a suitcase. Simple, yet deeply symbolic. Children and adults share their experiences of leaving home, saying goodbye, and beginning again in a new country. Inside every suitcase is a life.
The piece offers audiences a window into the emotional world of displaced Ukrainians, told in their own voices and shaped by their courage and imagination. They express themes of love, loss, and the promise of tomorrow, demonstrating how creativity helps them process change and find joy amid uncertainty.
Presented by Mission of Innocents. Creative direction by Oksana Saiapina. With support from the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (Edinburgh). Special thanks to Anthony Alderson and Pleasance Theatre Trust for making this special event possible.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/life-in-one-suitcase
Get your dog micro-chipped
Check the Chip Day is on 15 August. Dogs Trust West Calder is using the day to encourage local dog owners to recognise the importance of making sure their information is kept up to date. Since 2016, microchipping has been a legal requirement for all dogs. However, many owners forget to update the details on their dogs’ chips when they move house or change telephone numbers, making it much harder for dogs to be reunited with their owners.
Where local authorities are unable to reunite owners and their dogs, they are often handed over to rehoming organisations, including Dogs Trust West Calder, to be rehomed. Three-year-old Lurcher Roxy is one of the many stray dogs in Dogs Trust care.
Roxy came into the charity’s care in August 2023 whilst pregnant. All her puppies have been adopted, but sadly, Roxy is still searching for her special someone. Roxy enjoys walking with doggy friends at the centre and the affectionate girl will nudge her canine carers for fuss when she thinks she isn’t getting enough. Roxy is a clever girl who responds very well to training. She would like to be the only pet in an adult only home and would love a garden to play in.
Zoe James, Assistant Manager Admin at Dogs Trust West Calder, said: “Sadly, as our survey shows, thousands of dogs are found as strays each year. If the worst does happen, and you lose your dog, up to date details on their microchip will give you the best chance of being reunited with them.
“When a dog goes missing, it is a stressful time for the dog, their owners, and their families, so we encourage all dog owners to check and update the details on their dog’s microchip. It is easy to do either online, by telephone, or post. It’s a simple and effective step every dog owner can take to protect their beloved pets.”
For more information on how to check and update your dog’s microchip information, please visit the Dogs Trust website: www.dogstrust.org.uk/microchipping
At St Cecilia’s Hall during the festival
This is a university-owned special place situated on Cowgate where a variety of Fringe shows are being held.
One of the shows is a guided tour of the space which is Scotland’s oldest concert hall and the home of the university’s Musical Instrument Collection. You can listen to the historic sounds of some very old musical instruments. Tours will be led by the curators and volunteers of the Hall.
Children are welcome.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
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