18/04/2012 - William Friedkin’s thriller will be opening gala

William Friedkin’s comic noir thriller Killer Joe will open the 66th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF, June 20-July 1). The film features Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gershon and Thomas Haden Church.

Chris Fujiwara, EIFF Artistic Director, said, “We’re delighted to be opening this year’s Festival with Killer Joe. For my first year as Artistic Director, I intend to deliver a diverse programme that will spotlight filmmaking of real artistic distinction. William Friedkin’s exhilarating, intense, and brilliantly crafted film is absolutely in keeping with this ambition.” Friedkin and cast will be in attendance, and Entertainment One will release the film nationwide on June 29.

Friedkin said, "Killer Joe is about the Good and Evil in everyone, the struggle for our better angels to triumph over our demons. Often lost. The thin line between the policeman and the criminal. It’s also a riff on the Cinderella story, wherein she finds her prince, but he turns out to be a hired killer. I would also like to thank the Edinburgh International Film Festival for honouring our film with this screening, uncut. Of a film the Motion Picture Association of America has expressed a desire to censor.”

EIFF’s closing gala will be Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman’s animated film Brave.