EIFF 2019: preview
Movie goers are being offered no fewer than 18 world premieres when the Edinburgh International Film Festival begins its 12-day run next week.
Among this year’s highlights is the highly anticipated Toy Story 4 as well as the anarchic Scottish comedy and Festival opener Boyz In The Wood. Others include family-oriented animated musical Uglydolls starring Kelly Clarkson, and Balance, Not Symmetry which is a cinematic tribute to art, music and Scotland itself.
All six episodes of the hit TV series Good Omens (starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant) will play back to back at a special screening on the 29 June.
The various dedicated sections this year include Best of British, which showcases a section of talent from around the UK. Featured actors include Tilda Swinton, Maxine Peake, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lily James. Carmilla (inspired by the classic gothic tale by Sheridan Le Fanu) is a youthful and mysterious love story that looks set to stand out.
American Dreams, an array of the best new films America has to offer, includes Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die, the Helen Hunt mystery I See You, and the impressively-staged indie film Justine directed by Stephanie Turner, who is just one of many notable female directors featured this year.
European Perspectives celebrates the cultural impact and perspective of European cinema through films such as quirky Finnish comedy Aurora, Danish radicalisation drama Sons Of Denmark, Shirley Jackson adaptation We Have Always Lived In The Castle, and unconventional Swedish art-piece X&Y.
The Once Upon a Time in Spain retrospective takes a comprehensive look back on the career of acclaimed director Iciar Bollain, who will be in attendance at an event alongside producer Rebecca O’Brien.
The festival’s Focus On Spain revisits classic Spanish cult cinema and features a selection of new films by some of the country’s up and coming directors. Titles include The Hidden City, Love Beats, and fantasy/reality fusion Cages directed by Nicolas Pacheco, who will be in attendance.
Other expected stars include Danny Boyle, who will accompany the premiere of his musical Yesterday, a comedic fantasy about a world where The Beatles never existed. Composer David Arnold, actor Richard Dreyfuss, and actor Timothy Spall will attend the premiere of Mrs Lowry & Son on the closing night.
Artistic director Mark Adams said: “The chance for our audiences who come along to Festival screenings and get to see and sometimes meet some of the film talent involved is always a highpoint of the EIFF experience. We love to have guests at our screenings and to involve them in post-screening Q&A sessions and I think the guests themselves also get a kick out of the experience.”
Other notable events include a special BAFTA Scotland Screen Audition Workshop as well as a Q&A with costume designer Nina Ayres, which is part of an inspired programme for 15-25 year olds. Young people can attend expert masterclasses, hands-on workshops and exciting career advice seminars.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 19-30 June
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