Sir Sean, Tilda and 23 world premieres for Edinburgh film festival

Published on Wednesday 6 May 2009 14:32

THE programme for this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) boasts 23 world premieres and 16 international premieres, it was announced today.

As well as the previously reported Opening Night Gala screening of Sam Mendes' Away We Go, the festival - which runs from 17 – 28 June - will also welcome back three of its four patrons, Sir Sean Connery, Tilda Swinton and the recently appointed Seamus McGarvey.

The Closing Night Gala will be the international premiere of Adam, a romantic drama by Max Mayer starring Hugh Dancy (Confessions of a Shopaholic), Rose Byrne (Knowing), and Peter Gallagher (The O.C).

EIFF will showcase 135 films from 33 countries, including seven European premieres and 60 UK premieres. Highlights include Adam Elliot's feature animation Mary and Max, David Mackenzie's Spread, Claire Denis' 35 Shots of Rum and Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience.

The films competing for the festival's prestiguous Michael Powell award, which recognises Best British feature, will be Duncan Ward's Boogie Woogie, Brian Percival's A Boy Called Dad, The Calling by Jan Dunn, Justin Molotnikov's Crying With Laughter, Lindy Heymann's Kicks, Mad, Sad and Bad by Avie Luthra, and Dale Corlett's Running In Traffic.

Now in its 63rd year, EIFF also includes dedicated strands for documentaries (Document), first and second time directors (Rosebud), late night screenings (Night Moves) and lesser known releases (Under the Radar).

The full programme is now available at www.edfilmfest.org.uk and the box office will open at noon on Friday.

Launching the line-up at a press conference in Edinburgh's Filmhouse cinema today, EIFF artistic director Hannah McGill said she was "thrilled" with the programme:

"We've been really privileged to see a tremendous range of very varied work from all over the world this year, and the programming team have done incredible work in selecting the best and most innovative films."

Ms McGill added: "The British section is especially diverse, and it's also great in the year of Homecoming to be celebrating Scottish talent with both our McDougall/Mackenzie focus and our new Scottish feature films. Of course as well as the screenings, we'll be rounding out the Festival experience with our live music events, discussion panels, workshops and interviews."

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