Our History

The St Andrews Film Festival is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation based in St Andrews, Scotland. It exists to support independent film, filmmaking education, and cultural exchange, while creating a space where Scottish cinema and international storytelling can be experienced side by side.

Founded out of the Filmmakers’ Society of St Andrews in 2017, the Festival grew from a student-led effort to build a stronger filmmaking community in the town and at the University of St Andrews. With support from the University of St Andrews and Dundee Contemporary Arts, SAFF launched its first edition in April 2018 and quickly established itself as a new platform for filmmakers, audiences, and creative dialogue in Scotland.

From the beginning, SAFF has been about more than screenings. It brings people together through film, conversation, education, and exchange. The Festival showcases independent work that might not otherwise be seen locally, while also creating opportunities for filmmaker Q&As, talks, and wider public engagement. Early editions welcomed guests including filmmaker Walid Salhab and Laura Walde of Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, helping set the tone for a festival rooted in both local ambition and international outlook.

Since its debut, the Festival has continued to grow. In 2019 it expanded to a UK-wide competition and attracted support from organisations including DCA, NFTS, London Film School, and Raindance Film Festival. By late 2020, SAFF had evolved into a charitable organisation with a deeper commitment to independent film production and filmmaking education in Scotland, while also broadening its programme to include acclaimed international cinema.

Today, the St Andrews Film Festival continues to celebrate the new wave of Scottish filmmaking while welcoming bold and distinctive voices from around the world. Its mission is to use cinema as a means of self-expression, learning, and connection — bringing together students, filmmakers, local audiences, and industry guests in one of Scotland’s most historic towns. This combination of Scottish cultural identity, emerging talent, and global perspective is at the heart of SAFF.

The Festival is led by Boris Bosilkov as Festival Director, with Mina Radovic as Chief Curator, Ash Joahnn as programme curator, and Alice Dong as Marketing and Social Media Support.