New festival programme offers frights and delights

A FILM premiere in a graveyard, a guided tour of Edinburgh's radical past and an introduction to the world of John Rebus will be among the highlights of next month's People's Festival.

The annual festival - designed to reach parts of the city other festivals don't - is now in its ninth year.

It opens on August 7 with the premiere of Morticia, a film about a little girl who wants to be a vampire. Shot entirely on location in Edinburgh and featuring local actors, the film by Nabil Shaban will be shown in the cemetery of St Cuthbert's Church, off Lothian Road.

Local historian Allan Armstrong will conduct a free tour of important landmarks in the radical tradition of Scotland's capital on August 8.

There is also a chance to investigate John Rebus's Edinburgh by visiting locations made famous by Ian Rankin's fictional detective with actor and writer Colin Brown on August 9.

The festival's finale on Saturday, August 14 features eight short pieces of drama from Dalkeith playwright Cecilia Grainger, set in the surroundings of the 18th century Inch House.

For tickets and further details of this year's festival visit www.edinburghpeoplesfestival.org.