Movie News

Edinburgh Film Festival release this year's line up

Thu 08 May 11:20 AM

Patrons Sean Connery and Tilda Swinton are to attend this year's Edinburgh Film Festival, which once again has announced a diverse line-up.

Big budget spectaculars like Wall.E will mix with indie dramas like Shane Meadow's latest Somers Town at the celebrated film festival, which is in its 62nd year. It runs from June 18-29, and will show 142 films including Transsiberian, Elegy, Of Time And City, Man On Wire and controversial Iraq documentary Standard Operating Procedure.

Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller's period drama The Edge Of Love will open the festival, while Brit comedy Faintheart - which stars Ewan Bremner, Jessica Hynes and Eddie Marsan - will close proceedings.

There will also be talks by Shane Meadows, Errol Morris (Fog Of War), actor Brian Cox and special effects genius Ray Harryhausen.

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. I think this is a festival that reflects an active, vibrant world film culture - and suits the diverse and daring tastes of our audience."

Scottish culture minister Linda Fabiani added, "Scotland's diverse and vibrant cultural life is one of our defining features.

"As the world's longest continuously-running film festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival holds a very special place in the hearts of film enthusiasts and professionals. It undoubtedly deserves its excellent reputation and I am sure they will build on this with the 2008 programme."