By Ruth Hudson and Zoe Turner
Edinburgh International Film Festival returns from the 15th-26th June, as one of the world’s first international film festivals. This year, Agyness Deyn (Electricity), Robert Sheehan (Misfits), and Meg Ryan (Sleepless in Seattle) have graced the red carpet.
If you’ve got an appetite for film, keep your eyes peeled for the EIFF highlights and film reviews presented to you by Humanity Hallows.
EIFF Highlights
Jet Trash
With a star appearance from Misfits’ Robert Sheehan at the world premiere of this lusty, youthful thriller, Charles Henri Belleville presents his second narrative feature; it’s a picture set to throw its audience into the hands of a creeping past, belonging to the two partying protagonists who naively thought they’d left their plights behind once having left London for Goa.
Scottish Shorts
Presenting seven fresh, short films, commissioned by the new talent programme of Scottish Film Talent Network, there’s bound to be a short for everyone in this collection, none running for longer than eighteen minutes and ranging from realist portrayal of dark truths of surviving in rural Scotland, to a lonely zombie boy just searching for friends.
Away
This dramatic feature stars favorites Timothy Spall and Juno Temple. Both hauling around hopeless present situations, their characters find the potential in each other, in the unexpected setting of Blackpool, for a brighter future. This film is set to pull heartstrings, with light at the end of unlikely tunnels.
Spa Night
Andrew Ahn’s debut film explores the sexual and cultural identity of a Korean-American son, trying his best to uphold his status in the family whilst also coming to terms with his somewhat unconventional desires; in his situation, working in a spa poses certain issues to be overcome.
Introducing: Upcoming Reviews
25th- Seat in Shadow
The world premiere of Henry Coombes’ enticing feature follows the story of eccentric artist come psychotherapist, who’s counselling with his friend’s son leads to discoveries of both the boys deepest emotions.
Patch of Fog
This intriguing thriller set in Belfast becomes increasingly tense as literary celebrity, Sandy Duffy, runs into security guard/ stalker, Robert, (Stephen Graham). This feature debut by Michael Lennox will undoubtedly give you the creeps.
A PATCH OF FOG – Trailer from The Fyzz Facility on Vimeo.
Shadow World
Remember the illegal war Tony Blair declared with Iraq? Well, this eye-opening documentary reveals the crippling reality behind the global weapons trade. Based on, The Shadow World, journalist and renowned global arms expert, Andrew Feinstein, spills the beans on the proliferation of profit generated by war.
Aloys
Another UK Premiere, this time from Tobias Nolle, offers its audience a stunning piece of European arthouse; a lonely P.I. receives a mysterious phone call from a woman who claims she will return his missing equipment if he plays her game with her. This presumably sparks one of those off-beat relationships, saving each individual from seclusion.
Ithaca
In an adaptation of William Saroyan’s novel, The Human Comedy, Meg Ryan’s directional debut tells a heart-wrenching tale of a teenager delivering telegrams in World War II. The fibers of his innocence unravel when it is bad news he has to deliver. Tom Hanks also makes a cameo appearance in this coming-of-age story.
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