Edinburgh's 67th International Film Festival has launched in understated fashion, but with healthy ticket sales, according to its artistic director.
Chris Fujiwara chose Breathe In, starring Guy Pearce and UK actress Felicity Jones – who appeared on the red carpet last night – to open the festival's programme last night with its European premiere.
"The reaction has been very, very positive, we have been very pleased by the response from audiences, and ticket sales, I cannot go into specifics, but they are making me happy at this point," Fujiwara said.
"I have the sense this year it is like doing a normal festival, where there is a really strong tradition of imaginative programming that we are trying to continue."
Jones is known for her TV role in The Worst Witch as well as Emma Carter on The Archers, and an acclaimed role in Breathe In director Drake Doremus' film Like Crazy.
She said of the festival, which runs until June 30: "It is really highly regarded – it is one of the festivals where European films, as well as US films, get a great showcase, so I'm very happy to be here."
The public did not line the red carpet as much as in previous years and the subtle dramatic movie appeared to be a low key opening to the festival.
Fujiwara said Breathe In was a "wonderfully subtle mood piece" and "sets the tone" for the rest of the festival, which features 146 feature films from 53 countries.
Doremus said Edinburgh was one of his favourite cities and he had got to play golf in Scotland, which was an "awesome experience".
He added: "This is a very storied festival and it has been around for such a long time, its incredible to be in that history."
Edinburgh's film festival is making a cautious critical and public recovery from a disastrous year two years ago, and this year's festival is the second programmed by Fujiwara.
The closing gala is Not Another Happy Ending, which stars Karen Gillan.
Overall there are nine 'Scottish' films, or films with at least some Scottish public funding, via Creative Scotland.
Fujiwara said: "Scotland's film making culture is very strong, we are happy to programme them, and it happens there were a lot of really strong Scottish films this year and that to me is a very good sign."
These include Breathing Earth, Matt Hulse's Dummy Jim, Anthony Wonke's Fire In The Night, and Paul Wright's For Those in Peril, which played at the Cannes film festival and received £300,000 of Creative Scotland funding.
Other Scottish backed films include The Great Hip Hop Hoax, I am Breathing, Kiss the Water and horror movie Outpost 3.
Not Another Happy Ending, directed by John McKay, received £306,600 from Creative Scotland.
The festival, part of the Centre of Moving Image in Edinburgh, itself is given £750,000 in Foundation Funding from the Scottish cultural funding agency.
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