Fresh Format for EIFF's 65th Birthday
What should you do on your 65th birthday? For the Edinburgh International Film Festival, it was a chance to regroup, re-explore and reinvent the cutting edge and innovative explosion of film that takes Edinburgh by storm each summer.
Festival director James Mulligan had the following to say about the programme: ‘ In a short space of time we have developed some genuinely innovative content for the 2011 programme, building on the strong heritage and reputation of Edinburgh as one of the original pioneers of the global film festival. In our 65th year, rather than ease into senior citizenship, the EIFF team has instead taken the bold and essential step of looking to the future and reinventing the festival for modern audiences.”
The exciting programme includes an eclectic mix of big names and new features, experimental shorts and world class documentaries, as well as a range of discussions, debates and live performances.
World premieres include David Hare’s star-studded spy drama Page Eight, starring Bill Nighy and Rachel Weisz; and Niall MacCormick’s coming of age drama Albatross. Other premieres include Angels Crest (starring Thomas Dekker, Jeremy Piven and Miro Sorvino) and Perfect Sense, a love story/thriller starring Ewan MacGregor and Eva Green. Other notable films include Meet Monica Velour (starring Kim Catrall), The Bang Bang Club (starring Ryan Phillipe) and Norwegian mock documentary The Troll Hunter.
In addition to the customary big names, there are also a range of exciting experimental projects to keep people on their toes including Project: New Cinephilia, an exploration of film discourse and appreciation which will stir the mind for film critics, bloggers and film enthusiasts alike. The Nokia Shorts Weekender will also bring Scotland’s biggest celebration of short film including events, screenings and masterclasses. A range of top achievers in the world of film, performance and art have also curated guest selections of films including an experimental performance event staged by The Street’s Mike Skinner, a retrospective of Derek Jarman’s cinematic work and a selection of Hungarian film classics curated by Berlinale award winning director Bela Tarr.
Edinburgh’s unique buildings and architecture will provide a perfect backdrop for the Festival, and will be used to their full potential, with the iconic Teviot, the world’s oldest custom built student union, acting as the hub and headquarters of the Film Festival.
We encourage you to free your mind and start exploring the brave new world of ‘All that Heaven Allows’!
