Irvine Welsh, the author of world-renowned novels such as "Trainspotting" and "Filth", is the most recent confirmation for FEST's 2021 Industry Program that 

FEST's Industry program will take place between the 5th and the 10th of October, in Espinho Portugal, online passes also available.

The scottish novelist will present a masterclass about his career, his outlook on his film adaptations and his experience in the industry during FEST, for accredited participants. Welsh is known for his gritty characters, challenging prose, and realistic portrayal of Scotland's criminal underbelly.

His works have been adapted for the screen numerous times, to widespread success. His book Trainspotting (1993) — a worldwide phenomenon that focuses on the darker side of human nature and drug use — was adapted by Danny Boyle in 1996, starring then-rising actors Ewan McGregor and Kelly Macdonald. The film has since cemented itself in cinema cult canon.

Joining Welsh as guest experts at the 17th edition of FEST, are screenwriter Tony Grisoni, and filmmaker Isabel Coixet, who will also be the focus of an extensive retrospective of her oeuvre. Grisoni is best known for his collaborations with Terry Gilliam, starting with "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998), up until this day, with the polarizing "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" (2018).

More names will be announced soon.

FEST will take place in Espinho, Portugal, to showcase a week-full of masterclasses, industry meetings, and other networking activities with some of the biggest creative minds in the film industry, plus 200+ short and feature films.

In previous years, names like Asghar Farhadi, Béla Tarr, Melissa Leo, Roman Coppola, Joe Walker, Ed Lachman, Tom Stern, Peter Webber, - among other influential experts - have shared their experiences at FEST with other film professionals. In 2019 alone, we hosted more than 800 film professionals from more than 35 countries in the atlantic seaside town of Espinho.

Join us at FEST 2021, October 4 — 11, in Espinho, Portugal.

Get a PRO Badge, and take part in 6 days of masterclasses, industry meetings, film screenings, and more!