SCOTLAND CELEBRATED AT 72ND EDINBURGH FILM FESTIVAL

In its 72^nd year, Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has unveiled a rich selection of Scottish films, filmmakers, acting talent and films shot in Scotland as part of its 2018 Festival programme. Opening with a spellbinding performance by acclaimed Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald in the highly regarded drama PUZZLE, this year’s programme is set to showcase some of the very best features, shorts, documentaries, animations, exclusive events and talent from across the country. 

EIFF Artistic Director Mark Adams said: “Edinburgh International Film Festival is renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema and Scottish talent has always been at the heart of that. The Festival’s programme always helps shine the light on to Scottish themes, performances and filmmakers, and I am thrilled that once again we can celebrate this high-level of craftsmanship in past and present Scottish work in our 72^nd year.”

Scott Donaldson, Acting Director of Screen at Creative Scotland said: “We are incredibly proud of the strength and depth of Scottish talent showcased in this year’s EIFF Programme. As ever the dedicated team at EIFF have pulled together a dynamic and exciting selection of Scottish titles across many different genres, from feature films and documentaries to animation and artists film. We look forward to Scottish audiences getting a chance to enjoy, be inspired by and celebrate these films.”

The Festival programme will showcase a host of features filmed and set in Scotland, such as much-anticipated cult comedic horror/musical ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, which was largely shot in and around Glasgow. The thriller CALIBRE, set against the backdrop of Beecraigs Country Park acting as the beautiful Scottish Highlands, stars Scottish actor Jack Lowden (England is Mine, Dunkirk) and is director Matt Palmer’s debut feature. The film is also in the running for this year’s prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film.

EIFF audiences can look forward to Scottish produced pop-art drama MAKE ME UP by Glasgow-based video artist Rachel Maclean, the much-anticipated documentary WHITNEY, directed by Kevin Macdonald and ALMOST FASHIONABLE: A FILM ABOUT TRAVIS, a documentary directed by the front man of Scottish band Travis, Fran Healy. Fran and the other band members will be in attendance for the film’s World Premiere. Scottish director and former Michael Powell Award winner Kenny Glenaan’s DIRT ROAD TO LAFAYETTE, written by James Kelman, which follows a father and son’s journey from Scotland to North Alabama to visit their American/Scots relatives will also receive its World Premiere at the Festival.

Also in the programme are a number of documentaries by Scottish filmmakers, including BECOMING ANIMAL (one of the latest features from the Scottish Documentary Institute). Ece Ger’s MEETING JIM about Jim Haynes, the man who co-founded the Traverse Theatre and was fundamental to the growth of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will also have its World Premiere in Edinburgh in June. Meanwhile, Edinburgh-based documentarian and EIFF Honorary Patron Mark Cousins, will be on hand to introduce two of his latest projects THE EYES OF ORSON WELLES and STORM IN MY HEART.

Scottish talent Shauna Macdonald can be seen on screen in horror, thriller WHITE CHAMBER, directed by Paul Raschid. Meanwhile, the work of Scottish actors Tommy Flanagan and EIFF Honorary Patron James Cosmo will be showcased, with Flanagan appearing in crime drama PAPILLON, produced by Joey McFarland, David Koplan, Ram Bergman and Roger Corbi, and Cosmo in Anthony Byrne’s IN DARKNESS alongside Natalie Dormer and Emily Ratajkowski.

Audiences can again look forward to a preview of the hit Gaelic TV show BANNAN, filmed on the beautiful island of Skye. The BBC Alba show follows a young woman returning to the island she had left when she was 18, and gently blends tones of soap opera, family drama and murder mystery. The Festival will allow audiences to catch the first three episodes of the fifth series, followed by a Q&A.

Taking a step back in time, EIFF will screen LONG SHOT by Maurice Hatton, which was filmed during the 1977 edition of the Festival and special event Behind the Curtain: Women & EIFF will be hosted by former EIFF Director Lynda Myles, who was the first female director of a film festival anywhere in the world, and Rachel Hosker, Archives Manager and Deputy Head of Special Collections at the University of Edinburgh.

A selection of Scottish-linked animations are confirmed for this year’s programme including Dorte Bengtson’s family film VITELLO, written by Kim Fupz Aakeson and produced by Anders Berthelsen and former EIFF chair Bob Last, who also produced the 2010 Oscar-Nominated animation THE ILLUSIONIST, featuring Doon Mackichan in the role of Mother. A sneak preview of Red Kite’s animated feature PRINCESS EMMY, co-produced by the award winning Scottish animation studio and voiced by a host of Scottish actors, including John Hannah, will also screen. Animator Elizabeth Hobbs will be in Edinburgh to present a screening of her short animations. A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Hobbs has a long history with EIFF and will present Elizabeth Hobbs: A Retrospective of Animated Work.

Local cycling legend David Millar will be on hand to present Finlay Pretsell’s, TIME TRIAL, followed by an extended Q&A with Millar and TV presenter Ned Boulting. Scottish director, Bill Forsyth will also introduce a screening of his classic film, LOCAL HERO, and participate in an extended Q&A with Royal Lyceum Theatre Artistic Director David Greig.

The full programme of the 72^nd Edinburgh International Film Festival will be announced by EIFF Artistic Director, Mark Adams, on Wednesday 23 May. Tickets go on sale to Filmhouse Members on Wednesday 23 May at 12noon and on sale to the public on Friday 25 May at 10am.  

For more information on this year’s Festival visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk.