THE REEL DEAL

10 essential events at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Puzzle June 20 & 23

For many sport fans, the beginning of Wimbledon each year signifies the arrival of summer.

But for movie aficionados, it’s the announcement of the Edinburgh Film Festival programme that indicates summertime is here.

Regardless of whether the sun is shining, film fans head indoors from June 20 to July 1 as the 72nd edition of the EIFF, the world’s longest continually-running film festival, offers up a varied schedule of events.

As well as a series of UK premieres and a smattering of world ones, there will be guest appearances from actors and directors, and lots of educational events. This year’s retrospective reflects the changing face of America in Times Of The Signs, which is divided into three strands, focusing on work of female directors in the 80s, representation of the media in mainstream American cinema from 1975-90, and the golden age of American horror in the first half of the 80s.

Films to be shown in the threepronged retrospective include A Nightmare On Elm St, Network and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Mark Adams, Artistic Director at EIFF, said: “As one of the world’s most venerable and acclaimed film festivals, we may be getting on in years, but the joy of film is that new and exciting projects are always emerging, continually reflecting the changing face of our world.

“We have the opportunity to look back at classic films from yesteryear, celebrating filmmakers and seeing how film holds a mirror to culture and politics.” There is also a focus on Canadian movies, a documentary strand that features new films about Whitney Houston and George Michael, short films and animation – this year’s Family Gala is the new Pixar release, Incredibles 2.

Film Fest In The City returns, where St Andrew Square is turned into a huge outdoor cinema over the weekend of June 15-17 as a precursor to the full festival programme.

All screenings are free and viewers can just turn up and enjoy newer releases like The Greatest Showman and Paddington 2 or classics like Casablanca, Jason And The Argonauts and Big Trouble In Little China.

The main festival kicks off with Puzzle, a film about a woman who achieves her potential after a lifetime of looking after others rather than herself.

The film’s star, Kelly Macdonald, will attend the red-carpet premiere.