WHERE can you focus on Finland while finding Dory and dancing to Grease? At the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), of course. The world’s oldest continually running film festival hits the capital’s screens this week. Now in its 70th year, the EIFF will show 161 features from 46 countries, including 22 world premieres.
First up at the opening gala will be Jason Connery’s golf drama (just checking my notes; yup, that’s what it says) Tommy’s Honour, in which Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden play the father and son who pioneered the controversial game.
The festival will close with another Scottish affair, Gillies Mackinnon’s remake of Whisky Galore!, starring Iain Robertson, Gregor Fisher, Eddie Izzard, and James Cosmo. While these two films bookend the festival, artistic director Mark Adams has noted: “We’re also really excited about the things in the middle, from the Highlander 30th anniversary screening to the sequel of Finding Nemo.”
The piscatorial Pixar character getting lost this time is Dory. And, on the subject of anniversaries, Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting also gets an airing 20 years on. Somebody mentioned Finland earlier, and a special festival focus will showcase the country’s fine work, including Mikko Kuparinen’s 2 Nights Till Morning and Teppo Airaksinen’s Lapland Odyssey 2.
Another country getting a look-in is yonder France. Celebrating the Cinema Du Look, EIFF will highlight the work of Jean-Jacques Beineix, Luc Besson and Leos Carax, whose stylish sense of visual wonder entranced film-lovers throughout the 1980s.
I should say that the festival will also feature actual people in the flesh. Dundee diamond Brian Cox, star of Janos Edelenyi’s poignant comedy-drama The Carer, will be there, as will Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall and cult director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Red State). French actor Dominique Pinon (Outlander, Amelie) will also attend, to celebrate the aforementioned Cinema Du Look.
As for Grease, mentioned in our opening credits, it’s one of a number of free St Andrew Square Garden screenings, including The Muppets and Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Only Grease is billed as “dance-along”. I suspect you’d better be good.
For full details of times and venues at the EIFF, which runs from June 15 to 26, wallop edfilmfest.org.uk onto your computer’s screen.
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