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<\/a><\/p>\nWhile the other cities often secure the premieres and exclusives, the Edinburgh leg remains the heart of the experience for local fans. I have attended since the very beginning and stuck with the festival through the Covid years and the closure of the Filmhouse.<\/p>\n
Significantly, 2025 marked a symbolic return. While the majority of screenings took place at the festival\u2019s current home, The Cameo, we were treated to a single screening back at the newly reopened Filmhouse. The venue was brought back to life through crowdfunding, so it felt like a homecoming.<\/p>\n
The Numbers<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of the festival, Andrew Partridge of Anime Limited revealed that attendance figures were approaching 6,000. While I doubt all 6,000 were squeezed into the Edinburgh screenings, that total figure is likely accounting for Glasgow and London as well. It is an impressive testament to the festival\u2019s enduring popularity.<\/p>\n
The Line-up: A Deep Dive<\/p>\n
The week was a blend of retrospective action titles and fresh releases competing for accolades. The selection was so vast that our sister site, Geek Native, covered the entire slate.<\/p>\n
The Classics<\/p>\n
The \u2018retro\u2019 selection offered a fascinating window into the cinematography and storytelling of the past, ranging from the iconic to the obscure.<\/p>\n
We had Project A-Ko<\/a>, a historic action title that felt rather dated upon rewatching, particularly regarding its handling of female characters. Similarly, Golgo 13: The Professional<\/a> served up a visual feast as a James Bond assassin pastiche but struggled with similar dated tropes.<\/p>\n However, other classics fared better. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust<\/a> remains a gothic triumph of style, while You\u2019re Under Arrest: The Movie<\/a> was a genuine standout, delivering a police thriller adventure that is still fantastic on the big screen.<\/p>\n For those seeking pure visual spectacle, the schedule included the high-octane racer Redline<\/a> and the visually impressive, if convoluted, Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz<\/a>. At the quieter, more artistic end of the spectrum, the festival challenged audiences with the enduring enigma of Angel\u2019s Egg<\/a>.<\/p>\n The New Wave<\/p>\n The contemporary selection brought variety, which ranged from stop-motion to time loops.<\/p>\n The Triple Crown Winner: The Last Blossom<\/p>\n Edinburgh Reviews\u2019 sister site ran a poll to determine the fan favourite, and that honour went to The Last Blossom<\/a>. This sweep was mirrored by the festival itself.<\/p>\n The Last Blossom secured a rare \u2018triple crown\u2019 by winning the Geek Native unofficial poll, the Official Audience Award<\/strong>, and the Official Jury Award<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The film follows a Yakuza member in prison reflecting on the life that led him to incarceration. The narrative core is his protection of a single mother and her child, whom he took in and helped raise, all whilst refusing to abandon his life of crime. It is a powerful piece of cinema that evidently resonated with everyone who saw it.<\/p>\n Logistics and Booking Glitches<\/p>\n It would be remiss not to mention the logistical hiccups this year. There was a significant error regarding ticket allocation between the festival website and the Picturehouse system.<\/p>\n\n