The Edinburgh International University Film Festival (EIUFF) 2025 took place between the 31st of May and the 2nd of June. EIUFF is a student film festival. Find them @edi.iuff on Instagram.
Drawn In – dir. Johanna Denke – ★★★★☆
Drawn In is a bizarre, comedic, contemporary fantasy. The film centres on a disillusioned marketing executive, Wanda, who possesses the magical ability to bring the objects she draws to life. When her boss discovers her powers after a doodle of a wizard accidentally materialises, she is forced to escape her office environment and embrace her hidden powers. The film has a dry and surreal sense of humour that got quite a few laughs from the audience. Openly embracing artificiality, it has an aesthetic that could only be described as camp. From the store-bought wizard costumes to the strings that suspend Wanda’s creations in mid-air, the movie maintains a tongue-in-cheek attitude throughout and refuses to take itself too seriously. However, this is not to say that it is shallow. The theme of the corporate world versus creative pursuits runs throughout. This is emphasised in the opening scene in which a boardroom meeting is filled with intentionally meaningless corporate lingo and posters with twisted “positivity” messages (memorably, a framed poster of the words “I am God’s Favourite”). It is at times reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s films, with its intentionally stilted dialogue, soft colour palette, and choice of shot framing. There are some solid performances, with Matt McBrier shining as Fitzgerald, the evil boss. Leonie Hilbig and Laith Cameron-Hunwick are jointly commendable as Wanda and The Wizard respectively. Brimming with imagination and moving at breakneck pace, it takes the audience from one joke, scene or set piece to the next. This production is not likely to be to everyone’s tastes, due to its intensity within a short runtime. However, if you let Drawn In put you under its spell, it will take you on a witty, quirky and memorable ride.
Elsie – dir. Ayo Michael Adesanya –★★★★☆
Elsie presents a grounded family drama set in Edinburgh, weaving a complete and compelling narrative through its roughly 12-minute runtime. The film focuses on a dancer attempting to pursue a career in ballet after the loss of her mother. Her father, still grieving the loss of his wife, attempts to pressure his daughter into pursuing a more “practical” profession. The film was excellently shot, deeply rooted in its Edinburgh setting. Anyone who has lived in the city for any length of time will recognise certain locations as well as the look and feel of the houses and apartments. The picture provides well fleshed out characters and handles its weighty subject matter admirably. These roles are filled by an impressive cast. Lucy Garvin is a standout as the titular character. James Matheson, Jo Cameron Brown, and Lenka Mikšovská provide convincing performances and make up a laudable supporting cast. At the post-screening Q&A, Adesanya commented how the film was inspired by a conversation he had during Covid: how the arts were a “useless” pursuit for younger people. This attitude is reflected by Elsie’s father, yet the film does not demonise him as one would expect. Instead, it understands his position and shows how the reactions to his daughter’s choices come from a place of care, even if misguided. Elsie is an absorbing and relatable family drama that doesn’t miss a step.
Too Far to Call You – dir. Zak Lang – ★★★★☆
Too Far to Call You is a rockumentary that focuses on a local Edinburgh band and shines a light on the reality of being in an independent group. The film centres on the group Tandale which is made up of three brothers, Innes, Corri and Cailean, as they prepare for their first show in a year at Whistlebinkies, Cowgate. In contrast to the usual genre format of focusing on a major touring band – more sex and drugs and less rock and roll – the film centres on a small band and is primarily about the music. As someone who is in a band, I found this documentary totally relatable. From the reality of practice sessions to the actual performances themselves, the film provides a short and sweet insight into the local music scene in Edinburgh. Within its short 10-minute stretch, it captures many of the realities of band life: needing to postpone practice due to sickness and the necessity of dampeners on drums when practicing in a household setting, all of which bring a sense of authenticity to the piece. The group’s performance at the end is a standout moment. Impressively shot using multiple cameras both on and off stage, it effectively captures the essence of live music. This is a must see for fans of independent music and rockumentaries as a whole.
Image provided by the Edinburgh International University Film Festival.