Chronicles in film

We’re very close to the start of the 2025 Edinburgh International Film Festival, it’s about time we check out what are the must see films at this year’s fest.

After Glasgow Film Festival, Edinburgh is The Peoples Movies next local film festival. After a few troubled years, the festival is getting back to the size of  the old days. Most of all, this year marked the re-opening of the city’s iconic Edinburgh Filmhouse!

This year’s festival is the 78th edition running from 14th until 20th August and promises to shine bright in dark places. Exploring the fragile ties that bind communities new and old, thrilling and revelatory journeys inward and outward.

Here is our choices of  the ‘Must See’ Films at festival. This is only a selection of what’s on offer, check out the festival official website for the full details.

Young Mothers 15th/18th/19th/20th August

When it comes to making something truly poetic, humanistic and natural, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne films deliver. Capturing the struggles of every day lives of working class people the brothers do it so well. Young Mothers follows the lives of five young mothers housed in a Belgian shelter. The film won best screenplay at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, don’t expect an easy watch from these masters of social realist cinema. [Book]

Redux Redux 16th/17th August

The multiverse in film and Marvel Cinematic Universe especially is a big thing. If you re looking for something in a multiverse thats refreshingly different The McManus Brothers Redux Redux offers that potential. A sci-fi genre bending film might be the breakthrough film for the brothers, it offers a grieving mother a world her daughter is still alive.  A woman filled with anger and vengeance to kill the man who killed her daughter trapped in the loop to fulfil her  vengeance. A cathartic wild ride from the duo who gave us The Block Island Sound, read our Overlook Fest review [Book].

Hysteria 18th – 20th August

You can’t beat a whodunnit thriller that throws a psychological curveball. Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay‘s Hysteria is set in Germany on the set of a struggling film that kicks off when a religious book is set on fire on the set. Leaving those involved in the production questioning the intentions triggering paranoia. Hitchcockian with doze of Haneke with relevant topics of politics plus religion and lashings of dark humour. [Book].

Misper 19th – 20th August

What is a Misper? It’s a police short term for missing person. It’s also the name of the debut feature for Harry Sherriff which is making it’s world premiere at the festival. Described as a darkly comic tale set in a fading seaside hotel. When a staff member goes missing the other staff are hit with dread rather trying to find their missing colleague. Deadpan absurdity assured, possibly Aki Kaurismaki  style? [Book]

Islands 15th-17th August

Jan-Ole Gerster’s English language debut starring Sam Riley. He’s a tennis coach who works at luxury holiday resort in Fuerteventura. Bored with his life at the resort , he meets a young mother and comes embroiled in a web of mystery of her missing husband. noir-esque thriller in the vein of Patricia Highsmith. [Book]

Case 137 (Dossier 137) 15th/16th/19th/20th August]

Dominik Moll has been known to make a tense, suspenseful thriller and his latest Case 137 promises this. Also known as Dossier 137 dives head first into the murky morals of police corruption. We find ourselves in Paris and during the “gilets jaunes” the yellow vest protests. A procedural questions the police brutality during the protests and the accountability of the actions. [Book

One to avoid – Bulk 14th/15th August

Expect the unexpected is what we can say about Ben Wheatley‘s next feature which will make it’s world premiere at the festival. When it comes to one of his films, expect a slice of every genre, references, the weird and even weirder. Bulk was filmed in secret, with very little known about it and even after the recent release of the trailer we still don’t have a clue! We loved Ben Wheatley’s earlier work Kill List, Sightseers, High Rise, his recent films not so much. We love  this one to showcase his early distinctive style, and be more developed plus stronger storytelling.  [Book]

*Please note some films below may now be sold out.

Did you go to Edinburgh Film Festival this year? If you did, did I get my choices right? Originally posted at The Peoples Movies | 8th August 2025.