Cinetopia show host Amanda Rogers, Cinetopia co-founder, is joined by Emma Jamieson and Clara Strachan for a special edition of the Cinetopia Radio Show, reflecting on highlights from the 78th Edinburgh International Film Festival (August 14–20, 2025). In this episode, the team looks back on the festival’s standout films and shares exclusive conversations with some of the filmmakers and talent behind them.
The team discusses four of the most talked-about titles from EIFF 2025, all of which will be ones to watch as they reach cinemas and streaming:
Sorry, Baby: Opening this year’s festival, Eva Victor’s acclaimed comedy-drama follows Agnes (played by Victor herself) as she navigates friendship, creativity, and recovery after trauma. A Sundance favorite making its UK premiere, the film captures the subtleties of resilience with Victor’s signature blend of wit and sensitivity.
Bulk: The latest from Ben Wheatley, a mysterious, late-night thrill ride that world premiered at the festival. A quintessential midnight madness movie that is unsettling, mischievous, and full of Wheatley’s signature energy.
Two Neighbors: From the Edinburgh Fringe comes Ondine Viñao’s visually stunning, punkish, and remarkably assured debut. A modern retelling of an Aesop fable with a viral-meme twist, it stars Anya Chalotra and Chloe Cherry as a struggling writer and a wealthy socialite whose lives collide over one chaotic night at a debauched party. With bold visuals and fearless humor, Two Neighbors is a wild ride that firmly establishes Viñao as a filmmaker to watch.
Islands: A stylish neo-noir mystery from Jan-Ole Gerster, starring Sam Riley, Stacy Martin, and Jack Farthing. Set against the haunting beauty of Fuerteventura, it follows Tom, a washed-up tennis pro turned resort coach, numbing his emptiness with alcohol and fleeting affairs until a chance encounter with a mysterious family offers him a dangerous escape.
Interview - Julie Pacino: On her debut feature I Live Here Now, Pacino discusses using horror to explore personal trauma, her decision to shoot on film, and inspirations from David Lynch to Jane Schoenbrun.
Interview - Zlatko Burić, Ella Rumpf and Harry Lagoussis: The cast and director of Novak share the film’s unusual inspiration, including the myth of Atlantis, and their collaborative process.
Interview - Constantine Costi: Director of The Golden Spurtle talks about discovering this charming documentary subject, working with Charlie Miller, and capturing both the quirky porridge competition and the warmth of a Highland community.
Whether you missed the festival or are curious about what is next on the cinematic horizon, this episode is your insider’s guide to the films of EIFF 2025 and the ones you will want to look out for soon.
