Edinburgh International Film Festival 2019: The Head Scratcher Recommends

The 73rd Edinburgh International Film Festival begins on the 19th June 2019 and there’s a rather daunting 84 page booklet out there with all the films screening over the following two weeks. When there’s so much on, some inspiration and guidance on what to see can be very welcome, so I’ve been through the full guide for you and picked out my own highlights from most of the categories. This list still contains more than 20 films, so a gold star goes to anyone who can fit them all in! Clicking the name of the film will take you straight to the info / booking page on the EIFF website. You’re welcome.

Best of British - a celebration of British film talent

Boyz In The Wood

This years’ Opening Night Gala is a black comedy where a group of boys get lost in the Highlands during a Duke of Edinburgh Awards excursion. Things quickly get out of hand when a pair of psychopaths begin hunting them down, motivated by a need to cleanse the countryside of ne’er do wells.

Uploaded by Material Pictures on 2019-03-10.

Schemers

Schemers is based on the true story of the writer’s experiences booking bands as a young lad in Dundee in the late 70s. Expect rough, biting banter set against bleak urban backdrops with a positive message reminding people that it’s OK to chase their dreams.

Dundee teens set about trying to book bands. Set in Dundee c. 1979, Schemers is based on writer-producer David McLean's early years in the music business. A fledgling promoter, he ambitiously booked bands with his friends John and Scot, all of them from the Dundee schemes.

American Dreams - stories from across the pond

The Dead Don’t Die

A zombie comedy starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny, TIlda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop…the list goes on. At this point does it even matter what the explanation for the dead coming back to life is? Probably not, but they’re back and terrorising the inhabitants of a sleepy American town.

Zombies rise from the grave. Jim Jarmusch's new comedy - the opener for this year's Cannes Film Festival - is set in the peaceful town of Centerville, which must battle a zombie horde when the dead start to rise from their graves.

The Vast of Night

The trailer really gives nothing away for The Vast of Night but the stylised 1950’s aesthetics and spooky sci-fi mystery soundtrack might just have you intrigued. What exactly was that sound played on the radio? It’s up for best international film, presumably for a reason.

Turn on, tune in and watch the skies. In 1950s New Mexico, a late-night radio presenter (Jake Horowitz) and a switchboard operator (Sierra McCormick) begin t...

European Perspectives - stories from across the channel

Ruben Brandt, Collector

Stunning looking Hungarian animation. Ruben Brandt is tormented by terrible nightmares involving 13 famous artworks. To get to the bottom of his problem he enlists Mimi to steal the paintings which cause him so much trouble. A stylish, unique and action packed experience.

Please note, this trailer contains brief animated nudity. An animated art-theft romp. An inventive, smart and thrilling animation aimed at adults and art lovers alike, this beautifully made Hungarian film swings between the worlds of cinema and art.

Volcano

A dark, bleak, surreal black comedy from Ukraine following Lucas who, abandoned by the rest of his government team, has to make his away home across an unfamiliar landscape, encountering a variety of interesting locals along the way. Do you really need to know more?

A surreal comedy set in the Ukrainian borderlands. This splendid black comedy brims with a gleeful sense of the absurd in the beautiful and resolutely wild backdrop of southern Ukraine. Director Roman Bondarchuk (Ukrainian Sheriffs, 2015) follows the misadventures of interpreter Lukas (Serhiy Stepansky), who is accidentally abandoned by a UN-like governmental team while on a mission to the border region near Crimea.

World Perspectives - tales from around the globe

Bodies at Rest

Pulsating action from Hong Kong (and the director of Die Hard 2 no less) which takes place in a morgue. It’s also set on Christmas Eve; could we be arguing over whether Bodies at Rest is a Christmas movie in years to come?

Bone-crunching Hong Kong action in a morgue. High-concept action-adventure thrills 'n' spills from top genre director Renny Harlin, Bodies at Rest pays homage to the 1990s action skills Harlin refined in such films as Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger.

Extreme Job (Geukhan jikeop)

Farcical action comedy from South Korea. A police narcotics team decide to buy over and run a fried chicken restaurant they’ve been using to stakeout a suspected meth lab. Finger licking good (sorry).

A police narcotics team goes undercover in a fried-chicken shop. This South Korean blockbuster, blending crime drama and comedy, is packed with smart and funny dialogue and a series of action moments. A blundering police narcotics team, led by Captain Ko (Ryu Seung-yong, Kingdom), faces disbandment.

Documentaries - life documented

Memory: The Origins of Alien

Think you know everything there is to know about Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi horror? Think again. Memory delves deep into the origins of the classic film for its 40th Anniversary. In the movie theatre no-one can hear you scream…oh,wait.

MEMORY - THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN Director: Alexandre O. Philippe USA (2019)

Bludgeon

An entertaining and heartwarming film about a group of New Zealanders who take part in medieval combat (definitely not reenactments) in their spare time. We join the team as they prepare to attend their first international competition in Europe.

Please note, this trailer contains some profanity. The battles of the modern-day medieval knight. A delightful and uplifting tale about following your dreams, however odd your quest for glory might seem to some. Set against the backdrop of competitive medieval combat - a hobby that becomes a bruising obsession - Bludgeon is aptly titled, as men and women fight each other with swords, axes, maces and shields.

Night Moves - are you afraid of the dark?

Ever After (Endzeit)

A German adaptation of the zombie infested graphic novel. In Ever After, two women battle their way through the hordes and across the European countryside devastated by a catastrophic zombie plague.

An eco-orientated zombie-apocalypse road movie. Zombies ravage the landscape between fortified cities in a Europe of the near future, where two mismatched twentysomethings - tough zombie- killer Eva (Maja Lehrer) and traumatised Vivi (Gro Swantje Kohlhof) - embark on a dangerous trip across Germany.

The Furies

Horrifying masked men terrorise and hunt down women they’ve abducted for their cruel sport. A horrible, gory, frightening love letter to old-school slasher cinema. Hit up the late night showing for maximum fright.

No trailer for The Furies but this image tells you much of what you need to know.

Cage-a-rama 3D

An essential double bill of two of Nicolas Cage’s most ridiculous films in glorious 3D: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and Drive Angry. What better way to spend your weekend than in the presence of a screaming, bug eyed lunatic? I can’t think of a single one.

As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form. Development On February 9, 2007, Marvel producer Avi Arad announced the development of Ghost Rider 2 at a press event. Peter Fonda has also expressed a desire to return as Mephistopheles.

For more info on 'Drive Angry' visit: http://www.hollywood.com

Focus on Spain - putting the spotlight on the Kingdom of Spain

Losers, Werewolves, Murderers - Spanish Web Cinema

A free screening and Q&A delving into Spanish short films and online series from around the web. Did I mention it was free? Yeah, it’s completely free so grab your tickets before they’re gone.

Losers, Werewolves, Murderers - did I mention it’s free?

Notes for a Heist Film (Apuntes ara una Pelicula de Atracos)

A documentary film maker, who has always wanted to make a heist movie, is invited to meet ‘The Vallecas Robin Hood’, one of Spain’s most wanted robbers. It’s nominated for best documentary feature film so worth checking out.

4 Views On Scotland - a wee keek at our beloved Alba

The Acid House

Three drug fuelled short films written by Irvine Welsh, directed by Paul McGuigan and filmed on the streets of Edinburgh. Essential viewing for fans of Trainspotting and bizarre, harsh takes on Scottish life. Check out the mad trailer for a surreal taster.

A twisted adaptation of three Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting) short stories which reach into the hearts and minds of the chemical generation and casts a dark and unholy light into the hidden corners of the human psyche. Directed by Paul McGuigan (Gangster No.1, Sherlock), written by Irvine Welsh, and starring Kevin McKidd, Michelle Gomez, Ewan Bremner, Martin Clunes and Jemma Redgrave.

My Name is Joe

Set on the crumbling streets of Glasgow, My Name is Joe follows the titular recovering alcoholic keeping himself on the straight and narrow whilst becoming involved with a new love interest. Soon he has to make a difficult decision to save an old friend from a harsh retribution. I love how cheesy this old trailer is.

Once Upon A Time in Spain - more spanish stories

Birdboy: The Forgotten Children (Psiconautas, Los Ninos Olvidados)

A nightmarish and complex adaptation of the post apocalyptic graphic novel of the same name. The animation is beautiful and the often darkly comic story is enthralling. “There is light and beauty… even in the darkest of worlds.” It screens alongside the short film Decorado.

Birdboy: The Forgotten Children US Release Trailer (2015): Check out the new trailer starring Lauren Weintraub, Sofia Bryant, and Jake Paque! Be the first to watch, comment, and share Indie trailers, clips, and featurettes dropping @MovieclipsIndie.

The Last Circus (Balada Triste de Trompeta)

“A sad clown goes to war with a happy clown” is the short tagline from EIFF…sounds fun. The Last Circus is ridiculous, brutally violent and exceptionally horrific; everything you want from a late night screening. Another insane trailer which, if you’re on the fence, will make your mind up for you. See also: Accion Mutante from the same director.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to source a trailer with English subtitles for this title. A sad clown goes to war with a happy clown. A superb black comedy/horror extravaganza from acclaimed director Álex de la Iglesia, featuring a wonderful cast led by Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre (Marshland, The Fury of a Patient Man, Abracadabra) and Carolina Bang.

Special Events - very special screenings

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut

There’s not much more to be said about Apocalypse Now at this point but this Final Cut has been lovingly restored and remastered for the 40th Anniversary of the original release. The definitive version and a must see on the big screen.

Book your tickets now: https://www.apocalypsenowfilm.co.uk To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Oscar-winning Vietnam cult war epic, Studiocanal will release in cinemas this summer a special, never-before-seen cut restored with breathtaking realism by Coppola himself to the highest and finest audio and visual standards, for a truly visceral cinema experience.

Retrospective LIVE! - Black Wax

A wonderful blend of documentary and concert film that casts the spotlight on the legendary ‘bluesologist’ Gil Scott Heron. Expect poetry, hip-hop, reggae, politics and comedy throughout a perfectly restored version of the classic 1982 original. Prepare to have a bloody good time.

BLACK WAX is a musical-political entertainment film produced and directed by Robert Mugge. It centers on the late African American poet-singer-songwriter Gil Scott-Heron - the man Melody Maker called the most dangerous musician alive and many dubbed the forefather of rap music - and his Midnight Band. The entertainment is political.

Phenomenal Women - a celebration of women in front and behind the camera

Laila at the Bridge

A fascinating look at the country of Afghanistan through the eyes of Laila ‘the mother of addicts’. We follow her as she cares for the locals in a crumbling society where 11% of the population is an addict. A free ticketed event.

Laila Haidari survived child marriage and her own traumatic past to battle one of the deadliest problems in Afghanistan: heroin addiction. Known as 'the mother of the addicts', Laila must prevail over a crisis of addiction and corrupt government in a country on the verge of collapse.

Phenomenal Shorts: Syrian Stories, Female Voices

A series of seven short films focusing in on the perspective of Syrian women who have survived in, and escaped, a country suffering from constant conflict. An honest and heartbreaking look at the experiences and plight of refugees. A free ticketed event.

This list is just a small selection of some of the fantastic films The Edinburgh Film Festival has to offer in 2019. I hope you make it to see some of these films and please let me know what you think. Please also comment with your own picks.

On top of this there are a tonne of events and workshops planned celebrating everything in film so make sure you head over to edfilmfest.org.uk to see what’s happening.

Peace.