Bridesmaids Helmer Paul Feig to Deliver Address at Edinburgh TV Fest

Paul Feig, Bridesmaids director and creator of Freaks and Geeks, is slated to deliver the Worldview Address at this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival.

In his address, Feig will talk about his work on comedy series Arrested Development, Weeds and Nurse Jackie and directing roles on Mad Men, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation. He’ll also discuss his many films, including The Heat, Spy, Ghostbusters and last year’s A Simple Favor.

Notably, Feig has recently put his support behind Dr. Stacy L. Smith’s 4% Challenge, which urges filmmakers to make a commitment to work with a female director within 18 months. He is also an ambassador for Women in Film’s ReFrame program; has launched Powderkeg, a digital media company with the mission of creating directing opportunities for women, people of color and the LGBTQ community; and, through Powderkeg, helped create the emerging voices writers’ program Break the Room with writer-producer Sameer Gardezi.

Feig 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 U.K. television and so this is truly an honor for me.”

Edinburgh TV Festival Executive Chair Graham Stuart added: “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 humor to this year’s delegates. They will be highly entertained and almost certainly converted.”