The World Premiere of Reality is Not Enough – a new immersive documentary about author Irvine Welsh has been announced as the closing film of the 2025 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The film, directed by Edinburgh-based Paul Sng, looks at mortality and success through the eyes of the Transporting author, who takes a. wild journey that explores the boundaries of consciousness.
Combining intimate observational footage, rare archive film clips and readings from his novels narrated by Liam Neeson, Maxine Peake, musician Nick Cave, Ruth Negga and Stephen Graham it is a captivating and unconventional piece of documentary film making.
Filmmaker Paul Sng, said: “I’m completely delighted that Reality is Not Enough has been chosen to close this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. When I read Trainspotting as a teenager in London back in the nineties, I had no idea I would one day live in the city where the book is set, let alone make a film with its author, Irvine Welsh. Having our World Premiere in our home city is a huge honour and we’re looking forward immensely to sharing the film with the EIFF audience.”
Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF, said “We were so impressed by this brilliantly immersive and fascinating documentary about iconic Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. Director Paul Sng’s refreshingly unusual and highly cinematic approach perfectly fits his subject, a man who has spent an entire career refusing to be pinned down, always surprising us with works of profound impact, rawness and grace. We could not think of a better way to round off our Festival than with this terrific film”.
Executive producer Sarah Drummond said: “I grew up in North Edinburgh during the era that shaped so much of Irvine’s writing, so helping bring this intimate portrait of the man behind the books to the screen has been something truly special. Reality Is Not Enough is raw and unexpectedly tender—and it’s been a privilege to make it here, in the city that connects us both.”
The Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from August 14 – 25. Full programme details will be announced on July 2.
