08/05/2008

A brace of British films will open and close the 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF, June 18-29). John Maybury’s The Edge of Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] will be the opening gala as announced earlier, while the closing night gala will be the world premiere of Vito Rocco’s comedy Faintheart.

In all, EIFF will showcase 142 features from 29 countries, including 15 world premieres, 14 international premieres, 6 European premieres and 72 UK premieres.

Shane Meadows’ Somers Town [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Duane Hopkins’ Better Things [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] will feature in the British Gala section while other galas include Ian Fitzgibbon’s A Film With Me In It (Ireland) and Spanish director Isabel Coixet’s Elegy.

In addition, Oliver Blackburn’s Donkey Punch [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Charles Martin Smith’s Stone of Destiny, Kenny Glenaan’s Summer, Christine Malloy and Joe Lawlor’s Helen and Matthew Thompson’s Dummy will compete for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature.

The Mirrorball section will feature the Gorillaz documentary Bananaz and four other music documentaries.

The EIFF’s In Person events will focus on cinematography this year with British cinematographers Brian Tufano (Trainspotting), Roger Deakins (No Country for Old Men) and Seamus McGarvey (Atonement [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) taking the stage.

EIFF Artistic Director Hannah McGill said, “We have a terrifically exciting programme this year, which is the happy result of a very enthusiastic response from distributors and filmmakers. From powerful artistic and political statements to works of pure, escapist entertainment, I think this is a festival that reflects an active, vibrant world film culture - and suits the diverse and daring tastes of our audience.”