An "accessible" Edinburgh International Film Festival has launched its 2015 programme, featuring Pixar, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ewan McGregor in a new movie portraying both Jesus and the Devil.

The new Pixar animation Inside Out and Last Days in the Desert with the Trainspotting star, as well as 24 world premieres will be among the highlights of the festival (EIFF) in its first year under director Mark Adams.

The EIFF, which runs from June 17 to 28, also features Asif Kapadia's already acclaimed documentary about the late singer Amy Winehouse, Amy.

Inside Out is a 3D animation, premiered at the Cannes film festival, starring Amy Poehler which is set in the mind of a young girl, where five emotions - joy, anger, disgust, fear and sadness - run her life.

Schwarzenegger's movie Maggie, in which he plays the father of a zombie, is also in the line up alongside McGregor, whose Last Days in the Desert is featured.

In Last Days in the Desert, which has been described as "austere and beautiful", McGregor portrays both Jesus and the Devil.

The film, directed by Rodrigo Garcia, addresses Jesus's 40 days of fasting in the desert and McGregor will attend the film festival in person for the event.

Overall, this year's festival showcases 164 features including 24 World Premieres, eight International Premieres, 16 European Premieres, 84 UK Premieres and two Scottish Premieres.

Adams, a film journalist as well as programmer, said: "It's true there are big stars this year, but they are not big films - Arnie's film is almost more of an art film, about a man looking after his daughter, it is a subtle film and he is very good in it.

"What we're trying to do is find a way of balancing the programme, so that you have experimental films, shorts, you have controversial documentaries, but people have to find their way into your programme - it's a big wodge of films and if you can find ways in, maybe it will work for audiences who have not tried it before."

Scots stars Karen Gillan, James Cosmo and Peter Mullan are to join music business maverick Bill Drummond as key figures in this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival programme.

Gillan, the actress best known for portraying Amy Pond in Doctor Who, is to present her directorial debut.

The film festival is opening and closing with two Scottish films: The Legend of Barney Thomson, directed by Robert Carlyle, and Iona, made by Scott Graham.

"You always want to have a strong Scottish section but you cannot always guarantee it, and even up until quite late we weren't sure if Robert Carlyle was going to be available," Adams said.

"It turned out the timing was perfect, and Ewan's film is not a Scottish film, but it turned out he had the time to come here, which is the luck of the draw because he is so busy - and it just so happened there were so many new films, dramas and documentaries in which Scottish talent were involved.

"I'd love to be able to say it was my grand idea but you are only as good as what is available and it worked out perfectly."

Adams signalled that the festival, which used to be held in August, will stay in its current June slot for the foreseeble future.