Dr Pasquale Iannone (Lecturer in Film Studies) is joined by staff and students from across the University of Edinburgh as well as guests from the world of film and TV to discuss all aspects of screen media.
EFP 89: John Boorman's Excalibur with Dr Ralph Moffat and Douglas Wilson Garry
Host Dr Pasquale Iannone marks 45 years since the release of Excalibur, John Boorman’s epic re-telling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Released in 1981, the film was shot in Ireland and features Nigel Terry as King Arthur, Nicol Williamson as Merlin as well as several future Hollywood stars such as Helen Mirren, Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson.
Joining Pasquale to discuss Excalibur and its approach to Arthurian lore are two specialists in both history and film. Dr Ralph Moffat is Curator of European Arms and Armour at Glasgow Museums. He is responsible for the care, research and dissemination of information about the collection. He is the author of a three-volume sourcebook for the study of medieval arms and armour and recently curated the redisplay of arms and armour at Glasgow’s Burrell Collection.
Douglas Wilson Garry recently completed his MSc in Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a poet and performer. Throughout his work, both academic and creative, he explores folklore, representations of nature and history.
In the discussion, Ralph, Douglas and Pasquale discuss the background to the film and its approach to the legend of King Arthur. They place the film in the context of director Boorman’s career, explore its starry cast, its cinematography, use of locations and its distinctive use of music.
16 Sept 2026
EFP 88: IberoDocs 2026 with Luna Carmona
Host Dr Pasquale Iannone discusses the upcoming Iberodocs Film Festival which opens this week across various venues in Scotland.
IberoDocs is an annual showcase of the most exciting and innovative documentaries from Spain, Portugal and Latin America. This year, the festival runs between 16th and 26th September and it will open with the Scottish premiere of Argentinian filmmaker Lucrecia Martel’s Nuestra Tierra (Landmarks)(2025).
Joining Pasquale to explore some highlights from IberoDocs 2026 is Marketing Manager Luna Carmona. Films discussed include feature documentaries Flamingos: Life After the Meteorite (Lorenzo Hagerman, 2025), Flowers for Antonio (Elena Molina and Isaki Lacuesta, 2025), Ritas (Oswaldo Santana, 2025), Remember My Name (Elena Molina, 2023) as well as shorts Aqueronte (Manuel Muñoz Rivas, 2023) and Waiting to Sea (Jorge Peña Martín, 2026).
IberoDocs 2026 runs between 16th and 26th September at various venues around Scotland. For more information, go to iberodocs.org.
1 Sept 2026
EFP 87: Writer-director Louis Paxton on The Incomer
Host Dr Pasquale Iannone is joined on this episode by Edinburgh filmmaker Louis Paxton to discuss his feature debut, folk comedy The Incomer (2026).
The film tells of thirty-something brother and sister Sandy and Isla who live on a remote Scottish island. The pair live cut off from society in a state of arrested development. One day, the local authorities decide to send one of their workers to the island to serve notice of eviction. But the siblings won’t give up their home without a fight.
Starring Domhall Gleeson as council worker Daniel, Grant O’Rourke as Sandy and Gayle Rankin as Isla, The Incomer was the Opening Night Film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival after having its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
While this is Louis’ feature debut, he has been making eye-catching films for many years. He grew up in Edinburgh and his older sister Ruth is also an acclaimed writer-director.
In their wide-ranging discussion, Louis tells Pasquale how he and Ruth first got into films - it turns out the three of them all used to rent movies from the same Marchmont video shops.
They discuss his short films and work in TV before moving on to The Incomer. Louis tells Pasquale about his use of locations, the idea behind the distinctive look of the film and his approach to music.
The film will be released in the UK on Friday 4th September and in the US later in the month.
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