Edinburgh Film Festival has announced its 2009 programme of films. The festival, which takes place in the Scottish city from 17th to 28th June, is in its 63rd year and will show 135 features to public audiences. Amongst the 33 world premieres and 16 international premieres, Sam Mendes’ Away We Go will open the festival, while Adam, directed by Max Mayer and starring Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne and Peter Gallagher will close.
Rotten Tomatoes will once again partner with the festival to present the Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus Award. The award is presented to a film in the Directors’ Showcase section. Last year we gave the prize to Swedish Vampire tale Let the Right One In and started an avalanche of awards and praise for the film which was brought full circle when the film earned its Certified Fresh award on RT with 98% on the Tomatometer.
Films in that section this year include Superbad director Greg Mottola’s Adventureland, Katherine Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker and Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience. We’ll announce our shortlist of 5 films, drawn from the 21-film-strong strand, on 1st June. A panel of top critics will gather to screen the nominees and pick their winner before we announce the winner at the festival’s awards ceremony on 28th June.
After the huge success of Hallam Foe at the festival two years ago, David Mackenzie returns with Spread, starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche. Dario Argento will present the world premiere of his new film Giallo starring Adrien Brody. British Galas include Boogie Woogie by Duncan Ward, with an international cast including Danny Huston, Heather Graham and Gillian Anderson. Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank will journey from Cannes, and Duncan Jones’ sci-fi drama Moon will screen.
But it’s not just films playing at the festival. Leading UK film critic Mark Kermode will join his Radio 5 Live presenter Simon Mayo to broadcast an episode of their show in front of an invited audience. In Person live interviews will welcome to the Edinburgh stage Brenda Blethyn, Darren Aronofsky, Sam Mendes and cult icon Roger Corman to talk about their careers.
RT will be covering the festival with regular updates on the ground and we’ll be talking a closer look at the programme to pick out films worth checking out. Until then, head over to the official Edinburgh website to browse through the full listings. You’ll be able to book tickets from tomorrow at noon, either through the website or over the phone on 0131 623 8030.
