Celebrities Flock to Edinburgh as the International Film Festival Begins
Preparations are underway in the city for the annual Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), which runs from June 20th to July 1st, 2018. The festival welcomes celebrities from across the globe, and past attendees include Jennifer Lawrence, Clint Eastwood, and Sir Sean Connery.
Inaugurated in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is the world’s longest continually-running film festival. The film festival champions British talent, and it has presented world premieres of films by renowned directors such as Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) and Bill Forsyth (Gregory’s Girl). Just like Edinburgh itself, the festival is a mix of tradition and innovation. Artistic Director Mark Adams explains that EIFF combines ‘carefully structured retrospectives’ in conjunction with ‘shining a light on new and emerging filmmakers’. It is this blend that ensures the event’s continual triumph.
An event of this scale is impossible without financial backing, and the Scottish Government, the City of Edinburgh Council, and Event Scotland have all contributed to its success. Netflix and Mackays have signed on as this year’s sponsors, and jam enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that Mackays is handing out complimentary Dundee Marmalade sandwiches at all of the Paddington screenings.
Celebrities slated to attend this year’s film festival include Welsh comedian Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey), George Mackay (Sunshine on Leith), and Oscar-winning actress Anna Paquin (X-Men, The Piano). Film buffs will be excited to learn that the 2018 line-up includes 21 world premieres. The anticipated debut of Calibre – a thriller about a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands that goes wrong – starring Jack Lowden (Dunkirk) has already sold out.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival will be held in various locations across the city, including the Filmhouse, Cineworld, Festival Theatre, and the iconic Summerhall. You can read more about the festival in the official EIFF brochure here.
Total film buff? Book your flights to Toronto now for the Toronto International Film Festival this September. Prices start at £142.*
* prices based on cheapest quotes made in Skyscanner.net throughout 2018
Photo courtesy of Jakob Owens