The Road Dance wins Audience Award at EIFF

Scots island melodrama proves favourite

by Amber Wilkinson

Hermione Corfield as Kirsty Macleod in EIFF Audience Award winner The Road Dance
Hermione Corfield as Kirsty Macleod in EIFF Audience Award winner The Road Dance Photo: Courtesy of EIFF

The 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival has announced that its Audience Award has been won by Richie Adams' The Road Dance.

The Scottish island melodrama, which is set against the backdrop of the start of the first World War had its world premiere at the festival, which screened 86 in person films to a total audience of 12,000.

Richie Adams, director of The Road Dance said: “When I first learned of our acceptance to the festival, I was ecstatic. EIFF is such a prestigious festival, and where better to launch a Scottish film than Edinburgh. It was wonderful to be with some of our cast and crew at the world premiere and getting the chance to see everyone’s hard work pay off on the big screen. It’s a huge honour to win the audience award - I’m over the moon. As filmmakers, we make movies for audiences, so what better award could we receive.”

EIFF chief executive Ken Hay added: “We are absolutely delighted that audiences came together with us in cinemas across Scotland, outdoors and online to enjoy an exciting, diverse and accessible Edinburgh International Film Festival this year.

“Huge thanks to everyone who made this year’s festival possible, and in particular, Nick Varley and our team of guest programmers, the filmmakers, sales agents and distributors for allowing us to screen their films, the funders, sponsors and donors, and of course, the audiences for making it a festival to remember.”

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

Is This Thing On? Nouvelle Vague Primate Rabbit Trap
News

Home truths Marijana Janković on Balkan representation, and the immigrant question of belonging

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

It Was Just An Accident screenwriter arrested in Iran Jafar Panahi speaks out

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Critics' Circle Awards One Battle After Another wins fight

Oscars Sinners dominates the nominations