The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2010

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The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2010

64TH EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONJURES UP THE ILLUSIONIST FOR OPENING GALA

Edinburgh, Scotland.  The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) announced today that Sylvain Chomet’s magical animated feature film THE ILLUSIONIST will be the Opening Gala at this year’s Festival, which runs from 16 – 27 June 2010.

Released in the UK by Warner Bros. Pictures UK on behalf of Pathe, THE ILLUSIONIST is directed, adapted and designed by Academy Award® nominee Sylvain Chomet (THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE / BELLEVILLE RENDEZVOUS), from the original script by comedy genius and French cinema legend Jacques Tati (MR HULOT’S HOLIDAY; PLAYTIME). A delightful fairy-tale depiction of Scotland, the film has been described as a “love-letter to Edinburgh” (Variety).

EIFF Artistic Director, Hannah McGill, said: “The landscapes of Scotland and Edinburgh have never looked more beautiful than they do in The Illusionist. This is a truly spellbinding work of art by a unique talent who we are delighted to welcome back to the Festival. We are looking forward to a terrific opening night that will draw the eyes of the world and showcase Scotland as the perfect stage for international cultural events.”

To honour the film, the UK premiere will take place at the spectacular Festival Theatre on Wednesday 16 June, the inaugural premiere at this recently announced new venue – Scotland’s largest cinema. Sylvain Chomet will attend, heralding his return to the EIFF: his visit to the Festival in 2003 inspired both his relocation to Edinburgh and the setting for THE ILLUSIONIST.

The evening’s events will include a red carpet extravaganza dedicated to the art of illusion and entertainment, against the magnificent façade of this historic theatrical and cinematic building.

THE ILLUSIONIST director Sylvain Chomet said: "Things have come full circle for me. I first discovered Edinburgh during a visit in 2003 when my film The Triplets of Belleville had its UK premiere at the Film Festival. I moved here shortly afterwards to set up my studio with my wife Sally and make another movie. During my time living in Scotland I travelled widely around the country by boat and by train and drew inspiration from the breathtaking landscape. Over the past five years this inspiration has been painstakingly poured back into the picture and the soundtrack of The Illusionist and I am delighted today that the fruits of our labour will be the opening film of this year's EIFF."

THE ILLUSIONIST is a story about two paths that cross. The first belongs to an outdated, ageing magician, who travels to Edinburgh from Paris via Glasgow and the Western Isles in search of a venue to perform his act. The second belongs to Alice, a young Scottish girl whose capacity for childish wonder remains intact. Their destinies will collide and send them on a voyage of discovery that nothing – not even magic or the power of illusion – can stop.

THE ILLUSIONIST is eligible for the Standard Life Audience Award which is chosen by audience votes from the Gala and British Gala Sections of the EIFF.

THE ILLUSIONIST is a Pathe presentation of a Django Films (UK) in association with Cine b (France) production.

THE ILLUSIONIST will be released in the UK later in 2010.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival 16 - 27 June 2010

The full EIFF 2010 Programme Launch is on Tuesday 1 June

EIFF Box Office opens at 12 noon, Thursday 3 June

About the Edinburgh International Film Festival:  Since 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival has devoted itself to discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and to embracing, celebrating and debating changes and developments in the global film industry. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to expose the cutting edge of new film talent, in a setting steeped in history.

Notable films premiered in recent years have included: THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, FISHTANK, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, SOMERS TOWN, MAN ON WIRE, WALL-E, CONTROL, KNOCKED UP, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, TSOTSI, BILLY ELLIOT, AMORES PERROS and AMÉLIE.

The EIFF is supported by:  The UK Film Council through its Lottery supported Film Festival Fund.

The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK. They aim to make sure that the UK has a dynamic film industry fit for the digital age and to help UK audiences enjoy the best of British and world cinema.

Scottish Screen – the national development agency for the screen industries in Scotland.

Event Scotland - working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations.

City of Edinburgh Council, Culture and Sport Division, Corporate Services Department.

Cineworld is proud to be a sponsor of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Standard Life are delighted to continue their partner sponsorship of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

 

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