Film programme: A retrospective of George Harrison’s HandMade Films and sci-fi classics are among those featured in a retrospective announced as part of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The main programme will be unveiled next month but EIFF have provided a taste of what’s to come.
‘The Future is History’ is conceived and curated by senior programmer Niall Greig Fulton and will consist of three themes, Great Britain, The Western World of the Future, and Scotland.
Fulton said: “The Future is History turns the clock back to the 1970s and 1980s to explore the vital question of identity in a world undergoing seismic political and cultural change.
“Great Britain will be represented by a selection of titles from ex-renowned recording artist Matt Johnson, alias THE THE, and his brother, director Gerard Johnson; along with a collection of rare satirical animations with a British theme.
“The Western World of the Future will include a look back at classic early 80s science-fiction cinema and a focus on cult French animator René Laloux.”
The ‘Great Britain’ section will showcase some of the brilliant back catalogue of the late Beatle George Harrison’s HandMade Films.
Harrison often championed independent efforts in the 1980s and the selection reflects the diversity of HandMade Film’s output.
Iconic titles to be screened will include The Long Good Friday starring Bob Hoskins and directed by John Mackenzie, Terry Gilliam’s feature Time Bandits, Mai Zetterling’s Scrubbers, Malcolm Mowbray’s A Private Function Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa and the cult student classic Withnail & I by Bruce Robinson.
In the ‘Western World of the Future’ the programme runs the gamut of classic sci-fi. Significant science fiction films will provide a big screen treat for buffs and include Escape from New York by John Carpenter, Repo Man directed by Alex Cox and The Terminator directed by self-proclaimed “king of the world” James Cameron. Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame gets another look in with Brazil.
Scottish playwright, poet and jazz musician, Tom McGrath, will have his work interpreted by some of Scotland’s most celebrated talents, including actress Kate Dickie (Prometheus, Game of Thrones), actor Tam Dean Burn (War Horse, Fortitude), and Edinburgh born jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
The Queens Hall event will feature the music of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Freddie Redd and other jazz greats.
There will be two additional live stage readings of McGrath’s ground breaking plays, including The Hard Man and some of his sixties work.
Also showing is a special screening of the original Scottish language version of John Mackenzie’s classic A Sense of Freedom (1979) which depicts Jimmy Boyle’s incarceration.
The festival will premiere Johanna St Michaels’ documentary The Inertia Variations focusing on THE THE front man Matt Johnson’s life and work.
Iconic French director René Laloux, will be remembered with two screenings of his cult animated feature films La Planète Sauvage and Gandahar.
EIFF will host a series of free lectures by leading academics from Edinburgh University and Stirling University.
Deputy artistic director Diane Henderson commented: “This year’s special retrospective programme celebrates the 70th Anniversary of Edinburgh’s world famous festivals, and presents a clear look at, and contribution to, the evolving identity of EIFF and its provenance.
“It will provide a truly exciting journey of screen, stage and music and allow audiences to experience a selection of the featured era’s most important art.”
The main programme will be announced by EIFF artistic director, Mark Adams, at the Edinburgh Filmhouse at the end of May.
The Future Is History: Handmade in Britain: https://youtu.be/A08Bpjmpp7k
The Future Is History: New Directions in Science Fiction 1980-1985: https://youtu.be/oHaSGsFAsfM
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