Bridesmaids director and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig to deliver address at Edinburgh TV Festival

Paul Feig, who directed Bridesmaids and a series of hit US comedies, will deliver this year’s Worldview Address at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Feig, creator of cult US show Freaks and Geeks, will bring his unique perspective on the global television and film landscape to the festival address.

The 56-year-old will also discuss his work on a number of comedies, including Arrested Development, Weeds and Nurse Jackie as well as directing roles on Mad Men, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation.

Feig, whose film credits include The Heat, Spy, Ghostbusters: ATC and last year’s A Simple Favour, said: “My wife and I first came to the Edinburgh Festival almost 30 years ago and it quickly became my goal to one day be a part of it.

“And so to be delivering the Worldview Address for the festival that is at the heart of the British TV industry is quite a dream come true. I’ve had a lifelong love of UK television and so this is truly an honour for me.”

Feig has recently put his support behind the 4% Challenge, which urges filmmakers to make a commitment to work with a female director within 18 months.

He has also backed and launched a number of projects that help provide opportunities in film for women, people of colour and members of the LGBTQ community.

Graham Stuart, the festival’s executive chair, said of Feig’s Worldview Address: “Edinburgh 2019 will be graced by an extraordinary man… blazing a trail for gender equality on and off screen.

“Paul Feig will bring a remarkable Hollywood resume and brilliant wit and humour to this year’s delegates. They will be highly entertained and almost certainly converted.”

Last year’s Worldview Address was given by Paul Telegdy, president of NBC Entertainment’s Alternative Programming.

The festival has featured a host of heavyweight Hollywood creators and executives in the past including South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, writer Aaron Sorkin, The Wire creator David Simon and Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan.

It has also included British talents Michaela Coel, who gave the prestigious James MacTaggart Lecture in 2018, Joanna Lumley, Vicky McClure and Michael Palin.

As a festival and a charity, the Edinburgh Television Festival is committed to helping young people from all backgrounds gain access into the TV industry.

It runs two young talent schemes, Ones to Watch and The Network. Both schemes aim to ensure that the people working in television are as diverse as the audience watching it.