Video: Edinburgh film fest unveils diverse slate of 142

This year's lineup includes the latest animated blockbuster from Pixar, Shane Meadows' Somers Town, Errol Morris's Standard Operating Procedure and festival closer, Brit rom-com Faintheart

Xan Brooks
Wednesday May 7, 2008
guardian.co.uk

The British comedy Faintheart has been confirmed as the closing night gala at this summer's Edinburgh international film festival. Directed by Vito Rocco, the picture stars Ewen Bremner, Jessica Hynes and Eddie Marsan and is billed as "a romantic comedy set in the world of battle re-enactments".

The complete lineup for the festival, announced this morning, makes room for 142 features, including 15 world premieres. The films on offer run the gamut from Wall.E, the latest animated blockbuster from Pixar, through Brad Anderson's Transsiberian, Shane Meadows' Somers Town and Terence Davies' Liverpool documentary Of Time and City. Controversy is likely to be provided by Errol Morris's Standard Operating Procedure, focusing on the US military's actions in Iraq.

We have a terrifically exciting programme this year, which is the happy result of a very enthusiastic response from distributors and filmmakers," said artistic director Hannah McGill. "I think this is a festival that reflects an active, vibrant world film culture - and suits the diverse and daring tastes of our audience."

The 62nd Edinburgh film festival runs June 18-29, the first time it has been separated from the wider festival that runs through August. Patrons Sean Connery and Tilda Swinton are expected to attend the event.

http://film.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh2008/story/0,,2278320,00.html