Edinburgh International Film Festival 2021 Pigs, Musicals And Storytellers

There’s nothing better than sitting in a cinema and experiencing a new film on the big screen. In August after a 2 year wait the old film festival in the world, the Edinburgh International Film Festival will celebrate it’s 74th edition in a cinema. Keeping with new ways it will be enjoyed online too with a line up of pigs, Cannes musical, and renowned and storytellers.

Today the festival announced an fantastic programme of features and short films celebrating the long-awaited return to cinema. Including 31 new features and 73 shorts,18 marking their world and 3 international premieres at the Festival and with at least half the films coming from a female director or co-director.

Once again the festival returns to it’s traditional August time with the iconic Filmhouse the main venue for the festival. The base for the opening and closing galas with the European Premiere of Michael Sarnoski’s Pig with Nicolas Cage as a reclusive truffle hunter and closes with the UK Premiere of Here Today from the comedy legend Billy Crystal, also featuring Tiffany Haddish.

Reflecting the diversity of stories and storytellers from across the world, this year’s programme includes two hugely anticipated musicals from Cannes with the UK premiere of Leos Carax’s Annette starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, (co-written by experimental pop icons Sparks). There’s also a Special Preview screening of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Festival Theatre with a starry cast including Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant, and newcomer Max Harwood in the title role.

Some of the highlights will focus on determination in the face of adversity and addressing the social issues permeating societies around the world. Including the UK premiere of Haider Rashid’s Europa, Ben Hania’s The Man Who Sold His Skin and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Ballad of a White Cow.

Other highlights include the best of horror from  David Bruckner’s The Night House starring Rebecca Hall  and Martyrs Lane from Ruth Platt reinventing the classic ghost story. The quirky French feature comedy Mandibles sees two friends trying to train a giant fly to make money off of it and Norway’s Ninjababy beautifully blends animation and live action to tell the story of a young cartoonist and her unexpected pregnancy.

The festival isn’t about watching wonderful and intriguing new films, it’s also about a chance to see a classic on the big screen. The festival will bring you a selection of restored classics getting a rare opportunity to shine again in cinemas. Leo Penn‘s gripping 1966  A Man Called Adam starring the legendary Sammy Davis Jr. Joseph Losey’s The Servant (1963) and Federico Fellini’s La Strada (1954) will play at the festival.

Festival goers will have a chance to vote for their favourite film which will receive the 2021 Audience Award. For more information and a full schedule of all the  screenings please head to www.edfilmfest.org.uk.

Tickets go on sale at 12noon on Wednesday 28th July for Filmhouse , and then on general sale at 12noon on Thursday 29th July.