Edinburgh International Film Festival 2024 grants: FOI release

Information requested

1. How much was awarded towards the 2024 Edinburgh International Film Festival? Please can you itemise this if possible, and date when the grant/money was awarded?

2. Please provide a copy of supporting application documents for the grants.

3. Finally, can you provide whatever written justification was made in why the grant money was awarded?

Response

In relation to Question One: 

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) received funding through the EXPO and Place funds.

The EIFF did not receive any other funding from the Scottish Government. All EXPO and Place funding awards for 2024, including the EIFF are available on Creative Scotland’s website. To view these awards, go to Festivals Expo Fund: £1.7 million Awarded to Cultural Festivals Enabling International Opportunities for Artists and Creatives | Creative Scotland and Platforms for Creative Excellence Edinburgh festivals receive £633,396 | Creative Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information on when the grant money was awarded to the EIFF, as it is for Creative Scotland to release funds to organisations. The Scottish Government provided Creative Scotland with £1.8 million Expo funding on 5 April 2024. You may wish to contact Creative Scotland in relation to when money was released by them to the EIFF.

In relation to Question Two:

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the companies with whom we engage to promote festivals and major events across Scotland. Disclosing this information could give their competitors a commercial advantage.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies with which we engage to ensure their competitors do not gain an advantage in future tendering or application processes.

In relation to Question Three:

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the companies with whom we engage to promote festivals and major events across Scotland. Disclosing this information could give their competitors a commercial advantage.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies with which we engage to ensure their competitors do not gain an advantage in future tendering or application processes.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.