2welcomeEdinburgh International Film Festival 2012Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the warmest welcome to the 66th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the world's longest continually running film festival. And in this Year of Creative Scotland, we're back with a bang. Our new Artistic Director, Chris Fujiwara, has hit the ground running and programmed a stunning array of films from across the world: films from 53 countries that will inspire, challenge, enlighten, anger and entertain audiences and filmmakers alike. But the best film festivals are about much more than just the films; it's where audiences and filmmakers can come together and share a passion, develop an understanding and make connections. And whether it's at the screenings or over a drink in the Filmhouse Café Bar, that's exactly what happens at Edinburgh.EIFF also has an essential role in developing the UK film industry - through providing a platform for new talent, new voices and new stories, through its extensive programme for industry delegates (now based in its new home at the Traverse), through a range of education activities, and through its year-round talent development programmes. The Festival is hugely grateful to all its partners for making this year's event possible - so thanks to: our venue partners - Filmhouse, Cineworld, the Festival Theatre Edinburgh and the Cameo; all the distributors, filmmakers and other industry professionals who give their time, expertise and films to Edinburgh and make it so special; our public partners who have backed our ambition for this year's Festival with significant financial support: Creative Scotland, the British Film Institute, the Scottish Government through the Edinburgh Festivals' Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, Event Scotland, Visit Scotland and the British Council; and all our commercial sponsors for realising that there are few better ways of engaging successfully with audiences and customers.Last, but by no means least, my sincere thanks to the board of trustees and the amazingly loyal, committed and hard working staff team. The EIFF is what you make of it - so take chances, be challenged, and above all, have fun!Ken HayChief Executivevisitupdates, blogging... and to become a free web memeber for exclusive ticket offersto buy tickets and for the latest news, features,

3welcome20 June - 1 JulyEIFF 2012 is the result of a months-long quest for the best of world cinema. The diversity of films in our programme reflects a no less wide range of personal visions - since good films are made by artists, not corporations or committees.Across this diversity, we've highlighted some common threads in our Pathways, which EIFF is introducing for the first time this year. I hope these Pathways enable you to make some enjoyable discoveries at EIFF 2012.Every strand of our programme says something about the commitments of EIFF. Our festival seeks to bring an entire world of film to Edinburgh. Our International Competition, which includes (as do our other strands this year) documentaries alongside narrative films, is exceptionally strong and adventurous. In our Directors' Showcase and New Perspectives strands, we present a view of contemporary world cinema that is both deep and broad. This year we also celebrate the energy and passion of new independent filmmaking in the Philippines, exemplary achievements in new Danish documentary, and, in our Looking South strand, the cinematic renaissance under way in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.EIFF seeks to encourage British filmmaking that is personal, creative and formally daring. I'm delighted to present some remarkable new work from the UK in our Michael Powell Award Competition and our British Scenes strand.EIFF is committed to shining a new light on the cinema of the past. This year we're showing the first complete retrospective outside Japan of Shinji Somai, a director who is deeply sympathetic to the longings and problems of young people and whose astonishing visual designs evoke a world in constant flux. Our other retrospective this year showcases the work of Gregory La Cava, a great innovator of American film comedy.EIFF is committed to experimental and avant-garde cinema, as this year's robust Black Box programme demonstrates. (You'll find more experimental films via the "Pushing Boundaries" Pathway.) We're also committed to the art of animation and to the infinite possibilities of the format of the short film.I hope you'll find in EIFF 2012 the chance to explore the art of film and gain a deeper understanding of what it can bring to our lives.Chris FujiwaraArtistic Directorfor the ultimate eiff live feed get connectedon facebook & twitter@