Kevin Spacey heads to Edinburgh TV Festival

Kevin Spacey Oscar-winning actor and artistic director of the Old Vic, Kevin Spacey, will deliver this year’s MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival, which takes place from 22–24 August. The lecture marks Spacey’s first visit to the festival.


“I’m excited to share my thoughts and meet players from across the media industry. I’m also an Edinburgh TV Festival virgin so have no idea what I am letting myself in for!” said the American Beauty actor.

The James MacTaggart lectures are famed for their often controversial and agenda-setting speeches. Previous speakers include Peter Fincham, Dennis Potter and Greg Dyke. Last year, Elisabeth Murdoch delivered the speech, during the time when the News of the World was at the centre of phone-hacking accusations.

As well as starring in, Spacey exec produced House of Cards - a pioneering series for premiering its entire 13-episode run on Netflix. 

Spacey added: “As a newcomer to the TV industry I am honoured to be invited to give the MacTaggart Lecture. Clearly this has been an exciting period for me personally but also I believe this is a time of huge opportunity, innovation and creativity for all of us who live to tell stories and engage audiences.

Karl Warner, advisory chair of the festival said: “Kevin Spacey sums up everything we want this year’s International Television Festival to be; creative, inspiring, and about story-telling in all forms, across all platforms. He’s a genuine artist and visionary, and I’m thrilled he’ll be at the centre of the festival, delivering an unmissable MacTaggart lecture.”

For further details about Edinburgh TV Festival, click here

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