[2] The festival schedule consists of over 150 films of various genres, ranging from short to feature-length, domestic to foreign, studio to independent, and from dramatic work to documentary.

Since its creation, EIFF has welcomed veteran and emerging filmmakers, actors, writers, and producers alike, hosting such talent as Jon Cryer, Thom Fitzgerald, Paul Gross, Werner Herzog, Norman Jewison, Naomi Klein, Jørgen Leth, Avi Lewis, Neil Mandt, Luke Matheny, Albert Maysles, Bruce McDonald, Don McKellar, Deepa Mehta, Molly Parker, Patrick Warburton, John Waters, Shea Whigham, among others.

[1] For the 2010 festival, organizers planned on 55 feature-length and 100 short films, all shown at the Empire Theatres in the Edmonton City Centre.

From October 1 to 10, EIFF was also hosted at Edmonton City Centre's Landmark Cinemas (at 25% capacity), where 22 short films and all 30 features were projected.

[2] In 2020, the two winners of the Grand Jury Award for Short Film were The Bear and the Beekeeper (live action) and If Anything Happens I Love You (animated).