Cars 3 to have UK premiere in Capital

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has secured the UK premiere of the latest Disney Pixar movie for its 70th anniversary programme.

Owen Wilson, voice of Lightning McQueen in "Cars 3" poses with Lightning McQueen. Picture; Getty

The Festival Theatre will be playing host to a gala screening of Cars 3 on 25 June ahead of its release the following month.

The film’s story supervisor, Scott Morse, is due to attend the premiere and will host two further special screenings for school groups as part of the festival.

The EIFF is also running a nationwide drawing competition for youngsters to win tickets to the Sunday matinee premiere.

Mark Adams, Artistic Director at the Filmhouse this morning. Picture; Jon Savage

Cars 3 is the latest high-profile animated feature to get the gala treatment at the festival, following Wall-E, Brave, Toy Story 3, Inside Out and Finding Dory in recent years.

Mark Adams, artistic director of the EIFF, said: “Pixar Animation Studios is responsible for some of the greatest animated movies of our time and we’re thrilled to be ­continuing our relationship with the studio and providing such a treat for our younger audiences and their families in our 70th anniversary year with Cars 3.”

Earlier this month the film festival unveiled a digital treasure trove to recall some of the biggest names to grace the red carpet over the last ­seven decades – including Gene ­Kelly, Clint Eastwood and Sigourney Weaver.