{spotlight} feature reports

Friday 25 – Sunday 27 August 2006

Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival

Catherine Murtagh, Marketing Manager, Film City Glasgow

Report for Glasgow Film Office

Introduction

The Edinburgh International Television Festival is the annual conference for everyone working in television in the UK and further afield. Shaping the future of the industry by debating the key issues of the day, the Festival opens doors to learn from the best in the business and build relationships within the TV community. Engaging, vibrant and fun, EITF is an informative and sociable experience that celebrates success and is committed to the development of new talent.

Founded in 1976 and now in its 31st year the Festival is held annually over the August bank holiday weekend (25-27 August 2006) at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Featuring prominent industry voices the Festival is packed with over 50 individual sessions covering the most pertinent issues facing the industry from policy to programme making.

The wide ranging programme involves keynote lectures, preview screenings, master classes, interviews and networking parties which make for a stimulating Festival weekend.

Who Attends

Edinburgh is the leading TV industry event and as such it is a Festival for everyone from senior TV executives to television newcomers.

My Experience of the Festival

At first the Festival seemed a little daunting with everyone in groups chatting meeting up and lots of media executives doing deals on their mobiles!

My first impression through was how well run, professional and friendly the front desk staff were and registration was a very easy and pleasant experience. The Edinburgh Conference centre is an excellent venue, with good catering facilities, and even a quiet are offering busy executives head massage!

The seminars, master classes, and screenings are invaluable for information gathering and networking, my personal highlight of the weekend was the audience with Sir David Attenborough. He is so full of knowledge of the TV industry and the changes over the last 50 years. He has just made a new series of Planet Earth at 80! It was a privilege to be in the audience with such an icon of the broadcasting industry, who is still so refreshingly modest about his huge talent.

Some of the sessions are great fun too, especially the spoof ‘Apprentice’ on the first day of the festival with eight TV executives pitted against each other to become Sir Alan Sugar’s apprentice. It was a true test of endurance and no one wanted to hear the dreaded words ‘your fired’

The social part of the festival is not for the fainthearted, with a glittering opening reception at the National Museums of Scotland, and a very enjoyable comedy night at the George Hotel later the same evening.

On the Saturday night there was a very prestigious reception in town, which I was happily invited to by the Editor of the Guardian. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet journalists, presenters and programme makers. Then it was back to the George for a final night of socialising and star spotting.

On Sunday morning former American Vice President Al Gore dropped in for the Alternative McTaggart lecture and there was other sessions including the pertinent ‘A Question of Kids’ which pitted kids against TV Execs to find out who knows more about 21 st Century kid’s tastes, interests and viewing habits – the question was should really decide what happens next?

After recovering from the hectic pace of the Festival I got out all the business cards collected over the weekend and invited everyone for a tour of Film City Glasgow. I am delighted to say some of them have been in already and want to give us their business.

Altogether a great learning curve for next year and definitely a successful experience.

Thanks to GFO for the generous funding towards my delegate pass.

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