Edinburgh International Film Festival will run a five-day industry programme from 14 to 18 August, bringing together figures including Ewan McGregor, Kenneth Branagh, Christine Vachon, Ken Burns and Bruce Dern. Its centrepiece is the first U.K. Film Conference, intended to assess the outlook for British independent cinema as producers face tighter budgets, more complex financing and pressure to prove audience interest earlier.

The conference opens with BFI chief executive Ben Roberts discussing the sector’s future, while panels will cover low-budget production, investment, literary adaptation, genre film and financing second features. Other sessions will ask whether landmark films such as *Trainspotting* and *Four Weddings and a Funeral* could be made today; McGregor’s appearance coincides with the 30th anniversary of *Trainspotting*, and Branagh will receive EIFF’s inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award.