Welcome to Edinburgh’s first and only annual Documentary Film Festival!
Close:Up Edinburgh Docufest launched for the first time in 2018 bringing documentary and non-fiction storytelling to the heart of Edinburgh. With the vision to be more than a film festival, Edinburgh Docufest takes place in local venues of historical significance that can serve as a connecting platform between the audience and filmmakers.
Covering a wide range of observational and experimental documentaries, fresh student films and shorts addressing social and environmental issues, we hope that Close:Up Edinburgh Docufest will open new worlds and give new perspectives.
Drawing our energy from Edinburgh’s bustling atmosphere and long history in arts, our film Festival comes as a fresh addition to steer independent cinema and give voice to all.
The Close:Up Edinburgh Docufest is organised by HFP, a pioneer organisation that runs Film Festivals and other events showcasing and championing ideas of diversity. Through our global series of film Festivals that spread over 13 countries, we open the path to voices with a compelling story to share. Our main mission is to honour independent cinema and establish a network of artists eager to join forces and spread their work across all nations. HFP runs 25 film Festivals worldwide.
The festival programmers will carefully select the films to be nominated for the following awards and will create a selection of nominated films to be screened in front of a live audience at the Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh. The winners will be announced at the event, on our website, and on social media.
To submit your work, choose at least one of the Main Categories. For increased value, we encourage filmmakers to add an Add-on Critique.
Awards will include Certificates, Treats, and exclusive online Distribution deals, and will be given in the following categories:
Best Feature-Length Documentary (> 40 min)
Best Short Documentary (< 40 min)
Best Experimental Documentary (non-fiction storytelling that challenges form and re-defines the genre)
Best Student Documentary
Best Scottish Production (discounted submission fees for films produced in Scotland)
In addition to the above-listed categories, we also offer the option of a Film Critique (as an add-on). Criticism may not always be agreeable but it is always necessary. Filmmakers require constructive feedback at every stage of their development, whether they're just starting out or they've been making films for decades. We offer you the opportunity to get your film project critiqued by one of the qualified film critics we collaborate with on our festivals. Regardless of whether your film is selected for screening, through this add-on, you receive an in-depth review (1-3 pages). The critique can be more or less general, or focus on particular elements - you choose.
