International film festival will be closed by Morrissey movie

A movie about musical icon Morrissey will bring down the curtain on this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) as it marks its 70th anniversary.

Organisers unveiled part of the 2017 programme, which features a selection of Scottish movies, filmmakers and acting talent.

This year’s opening and closing shows will focus on life in northern England, with romantic drama God’s Own Country and England is Mine, which is about the former frontman of The Smiths.

A number of items on the programme were filmed and set in Scotland, such as Waterboys, Edie and The Dark Mile.

An 80th anniversary screening of The Edge of the World, Michael Powell’s first major feature, will be shown in Edinburgh University’s FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility wave tank.

During the event, the tank will mimic the seascapes shown in the tale about an evacuation of a remote island community off the Scottish coast.

EIFF artistic director Mark Adams said: “Scottish talent has always been at the heart of the festival and I am thrilled to once again illuminate the great work that currently exists within the country.

“The quality, variety and breadth of this year’s programme is a true testament to the high level of craftsmanship in past and present Scottish film.”

The main programme will be announced at Edinburgh Filmhouse on May 31.