EIFF presents a vibrant weekend of outdoor screenings taking place at the Old College Quad at the University of Edinburgh
Across Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August, Edinburgh International Film Festival presents a weekend of dreamy and eclectic outdoor screenings in the scenic surroundings of the Old College Quad at the University of Edinburgh.
This year the film festival mixes family-friendly titles with artists’ film, a live soundtrack to a classic, a wuxia-influenced double-bill, and some cracking new films, in a programme set to make your heart sing. Includes collaborations with Edinburgh International Festival, Alchemy Film & Arts and Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest).
All screenings are ticketed, and priced as Pay What You Can, £2, £4 or £6 per screening. Further information can be found on the EIFF website.
Kate Taylor, EIFF Programme Director, says “With Cinema under the Stars we welcome Edinburgh audiences to a weekend of gorgeous, imaginative and uplifting films.
“We’re particularly excited to present previews of new feature films Scrapper, surely the most charming UK film of the year, and Let The Canary Sing, a film infused with infectious New York punk pop energy.
“Additionally we’ve got Oscar®-winners, we’ve got cats, and we’ve got Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as lover assassins. Time to bust out the picnic blanket for a magical weekend.”
Lorna Brain, Head of Festivals at the University of Edinburgh said: “The University is proud to be part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, both as a venue partner and a supporter of their programming.
“We look forward to welcoming film fans to enjoy the delights of outdoor cinema in our iconic Old College Quad this August for the 76th iteration of the festival.”
Spotlight screening | Scrapper | Dir. Charlotte Regan | UK |
Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, Charlotte Regan’s highly-anticipated debut feature is a heartwarming drama about the reunion between a father and his young daughter.
Georgie is perfectly happy refusing to accept that her mom has passed away. She makes do by herself in her mum’s flat, with some light hustling and some help from the neighbours. That is, until her estranged dad Jason (Harris Dickinson; Triangle of Sadness) shows up to, like, take care of her or something. Slowly, tenderly, they find their footing with each other as they reconcile Georgie’s grief and Jason’s embrace of fatherhood.
Charlotte Regan is an alumna of the EIFF Talent Lab 2018, and we’re delighted to welcome her back to present the film.
Spotlight Screening | Let the Canary Sing | Dir. Alison Ellwood | UK, USA |
From the opening bars of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, this rousing documentary is a fascinating trip through the life and times of Cyndi Lauper, an immensely charismatic and constantly rebellious creative force. Over amazing footage of her working-class New York childhood and early downtown punk gigs,
Lauper talks frankly and thoughtfully about the whirlwind of 1980s success, as well as her AIDS activism and her subsequent creative renaissance as an award-winning writer of musicals. Alison Ellwood’s new documentary repositions the singer not as a pop culture artefact but as an artist in a state of constant reinvention, and a life-long feminist who has always stood up for others. Prepare to be charmed ‘Time After Time’.
Spotlight screening | The Wool Aliens (and other films) | Dir. Julia Parks | UK |
Four gorgeous short films by artist Julia Parks, each a 16mm portrait of community action and the natural environment, created during a residency in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. This screening – which includes the shorts The Wool Aliens, Tell Me About The Burryman, Burnfoot Grows and All Flesh Is Grass – will be preceded by a performance by musician Miwa Nagato-Apthorp. Presented in association with Alchemy Film & Arts.
Spotlight screening | Safety Last! ft. Live Accompaniment | Dirs. Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor |
On the centenary of its release, a classic of the silent era, presented with live musical accompaniment by acclaimed Scottish silent film pianist Mike Nolan. Featuring a nerve-rackingly funny performance by the “King of daredevil comedy” Harold Lloyd. This screening is presented in partnership with HippFest, Scotland’s first and only festival dedicated to silent film.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain | Dir. Will Sharpe | Benedict Cumberbatch plays the eponymous painter of wide-eyed cats, in this love letter to creativity and misunderstood genius. Director Will Sharpe’s magnificent ode to oddity will pull at the whiskers of your heart.
Everything Everywhere All At Once | Dirs. Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert | This multi-Oscar®-winning film creates an unclassifiable meld of action, sci-fi, drama, comedy and romance, with award-winning performances from Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Now outdoors!
Hero | Dir. Zhang Yimou | This big-screen action epic is a riot of colour and jaw-dropping fight sequences, and features a stirring soundtrack by Oscar®-winner Tan Dun – also composer of Buddha Passion, the opening concert of the Edinburgh International Festival.
The Lego Movie | Dirs. Christopher Miller, Phil Lord | Fighting the tyrannical hands of capitalism has never been so awesome!!! A host of stars build an homage to the creative power of imagination that is as inspirational as it is fun. Plus, it features one of cinema’s all-time catchiest songs.
Parasite | Dir. Bong Joon-Ho | A sharp commentary on class inequality neatly delivered as a skin-tingling thriller. Features a stirring soundtrack by Jang Jae-il – also composer of Trojan Women, which is being staged as part of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | Dir. Joel Crawford | Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) has just one of his nine lives left. Our hero embarks on a mighty quest to try restoring his feline privileges.
Cinema under the Stars is supported by the Platforms for Creative Excellence (PLaCE) programme funded by the Scottish Government (through Creative Scotland), the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.
The special 2023 edition programme for Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), which this year is hosted by Edinburgh International Festival, celebrates the work of exceptional local and global filmmakers, ensuring the flame of independent cinema burns bright for future generations of passionate film fans.
EIFF is funded by Screen Scotland; enhanced engagement activities are supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund and the Platforms for Creative Excellence (PlaCE) programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government (through Creative Scotland), the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.
Tickets are now on sale via https://www.eif.co.uk/edfilmfest
Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from Friday 18 to Wednesday 23 August.
#EdFilmFest
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Climate campaigners have reacted with outrage at the news that Norwegian oil giant Equinor has today announced pre-tax profits of £5.8 billion (US$7.5 billion) in JST THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
Campaigners said that with climate-induced fires sweeping Greece “the UK Government is helping the arsonists pay for the fuel” with a massive tax break for Equinor to develop a new oil field.
Equinor’s flagship project in the UK, the controversial Rosebank oil field, is in line to pocket a tax break of £3.75 billion from the UK Government to incentivise its development. This deliberate loophole in the Windfall Tax means that 91% of the cost of developing the 500 million barrel field will be covered by the public purse, despite Equinor’s massive profits and the fact that 80% of Rosebank’s oil will be exported.
Campaigners in Aberdeen yesterday delivered a giant ‘cheque’ to the Equinor offices to highlight the injustice of the tax break.
Last year, Equinor broke records with pre-tax yearly profits of £62 billion (US$74.9billion), benefiting from increased prices for oil and gas due to the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, energy bills for consumers skyrocketed and millions were pushed into fuel poverty.
There has been widespread opposition to the Rosebank field, with public protests across the UK, politicians including SNP MPs Tommy Sheppard and Mhairi Black and the head of the UK Government’s own climate advisory committee, Lord Deben, speaking out against the project.
A decision on Rosebank is rumoured to be scheduled for after the summer recess, following delays due to concerns that the project would not meet net zero commitments under the North Sea Transition Deal.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “These outrageous profits every quarter serve as a stark reminder that companies like Equinor have no intention of changing their ways.
“Fossil fuel giants are simply making too much money from upholding the climate-destroying status quo. Adding insult to injury is the massive tax break Equinor will receive should they go ahead with Rosebank, showing how the UK Government would rather hand out public money than say no to big polluters.
“Grant Shapps and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are blatantly ignoring the devastating impacts of climate breakdown, exemplified most recently in the terrifying wildfires in Greece.
“By cheerfully inviting oil companies to drill for yet more polluting fossil fuels, they are effectively denying the reality of the climate crisis. The world is burning and the UK Government is helping the arsonists pay for the fuel.
“The Scottish Government can no longer sit on the fence on this climate denial and must speak out against Rosebank and all other new fossil fuel projects. We need a just transition to clean, affordable energy now.”
BREAKING NEWS: British Gas parent company Centrica has just posted it’s highest ever profits – £969 million in first six months of this year. Shell, too, has just posted eye-watering profits.
No cost of living crisis for these companies …
In recent times working life has become much more flexible and hybrid working is offered as standard in many businesses across the country, so it’s vital that business owners fully equip their employees with the knowledge of how to upkeep good electrical practices when at home and on the move.
As an increasing number of homeworking homeowners seek to invest in renovating their home office space, NICEIC has stressed the importance of the safety of any electrical equipment being used in the work-from-home environment.
The standard office environment poses little obvious threat of danger if maintained correctly, but poor electrical management can result in damage to the property or physical injury.
Paul Collins, NICEIC’s Technical Director has compiled a list of top things to consider when working from home:
For many, home working setups can be somewhat haphazard, especially when it comes to electrical safety.
Recent research conducted by Electrical Safety First found that two-thirds of those working from home are using extension leads, and 38% of them admitted that homeworking means that they have more plugged into them than they normally would[1].
Not only should you avoid overloading extension leads, but you must also not daisy chain them. This is the process whereby several extension leads are connected to reach further or cater for more appliances / electrical equipment. This is highly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
Advising those to stay safe when working from home, Paul Collins, said: “It is crucial that safe electrical practice is maintained in people’s home working space. Many people are unaware of the importance of the surface on which charging appliances are kept. Electrical items such as phones and tablets should only be charged on non-flammable, hard surfaces, so leaving charging computers on top of a bed for example is a potential recipe for disaster.
“Electrical Safety First found that 28% of UK adults have bought and used a cheap, unbranded charger and this rises to 45% of 18-24-year-olds[2]. Workers, whether at home or in the office need to make sure they are using legitimate chargers to ensure they are certified as safe. Counterfeit chargers not only can damage your device but can also result in electrical fire or overheating.”
If the home office set up requires any type of electrical work or new installation, it’s important to assess your workspace and determine if you need any further sockets. If you do, it is advisable to speak to your nearest NICEIC certified business.
Not only can they make the alterations safely and in line with the required standards and regulations, thanks to their certification they can also sign the work off and notify building control (where applicable) on your behalf, saving you time and money.
To find your nearest NICEIC certified business, visit NICEIC.com.
Businesses and organisations across Edinburgh are being urged to take part in the first Scotland Loves Local Week.
The seven days of events – taking place from Monday, August 28th – will showcase great local people and enterprises, highlighting the critical need for residents to show them their support.
People in the region are being urged to take part by organising a celebration event, inviting a local politician to see all that they do and shining a spotlight on their work on social media using the hashtags #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ChooseLocal.
The week is being championed by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the organisation behind Scotland Loves Local.
Ideas for how people can take part and assets to promote local events are available to download at www.lovelocal.scot.
STV weatherman Sean Batty (below) is a campaign ambassador and is encouraging people to take part. He said: “This is your chance to shout about how great your area is.
“The team at STP will be working with people across the country to highlight some of the incredible work ongoing to create communities fit for the future.
“There are some great things happening and we are keen to showcase them.”
Scotland Loves Local is the drive for people to build stronger, more sustainable futures for their community by supporting the businesses in their area, potentially injecting millions of pounds into regional economies.
It is spearheaded by STP with support from the Scottish Government.
ANGER AND CONFUSION OVER MANSE ROAD SAFETY MEASURES
Council officers have responded to an incident at the weekend involving vandalism and graffiti to a controversial trial bus gate on Manse Road, which left a pylon in a precarious and dangerous position.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “There’s no excuse for dangerous criminal behaviour like this. We are lucky a member of the public reported it to us early on Sunday morning so that our crews could quickly attend and make the column safe, and I’d like to thank them for this.
“The trial road safety measures in Corstorphine aim to address the fact the majority of local residents (67%) feel there is an issue with vehicles in area. Ultimately, however, improving safety in the street does have some impact on vehicle use – primarily for traffic cutting through the area on the way to somewhere else.
“Given that context, this type of reckless criminal behaviour is shameful, and I know that local people both for and against the scheme are concerned about what’s happened. The damage to council property and the graffiti is completely unacceptable and all it achieves is disruption, expense and a damaging effect on the reputation of a great local community.
“We’ll be reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to Police this week, and I’d urge anyone who knows who may be responsible for this senseless criminal act to reach out to Police too.
“Given the risk the damage posed to the people in the adjacent retirement housing, I hope those responsible are promptly brought to justice.”
The design for Corstorphine Connections was approved by the Transport and Environment Committee in August 2021.
As part of the development of the designs for the project the Council carried out a significant amount of engagement with the local community, many of whom highlighted concerns about the volume and speed of traffic in the area.
Independent market research carried out showed that 67% of people living in the area thought vehicle traffic was a problem, and those with disabilities were more likely to be concerned about the situation.
By limiting through traffic and providing spaces to sit, relax and interact, Corstorphine Connections aims to create a much safer and more welcoming environment for people living there.
Cllr Arthur added: “I know already that many parents have enjoyed being able to walk and cycle more easily with their children in the area since the Council started implementing the scheme, particularly during the recent warmer weather.
“The Council retained access for all residents travelling by car too, alongside these changes, so that those who choose to drive can still do so. It is now much harder, however, for delivery drivers etc to cut through the residential area on the way to somewhere else.
“There are plenty safe and sensible ways to share your views on this trial which we are keen to listen to. I have now attended the local Community Council twice to listen to residents, and I’ve made sure a Council Officer attended every time it met over the past year to answer questions and collect feedback.
“I have also said I will return whenever they want. Additionally, I have done the school run with a local parent, met with a second resident and have a further meeting with a local resident in the pipeline.”
KIDS HOLIDAY CLUB CANCELLED
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are sad to share that our kids holiday programme has had to be cancelled.
Dear Editor,
Eating disorders and body image issues were the sixth most common concern brought up by children and young people in Scotland contacting Childline last year (April 2022 – March 2023), with 273 counselling sessions carried out on the issue.
Childline, the counselling service run by the NSPCC, has also revealed that 40 per cent of counselling sessions with children across the UK about these issues took place in the summer months (June to September).
There are number of factors that make the summer holiday a particularly tricky time for young people struggling with their body image or relationship with food.
For some, the prospect of wearing clothing which shows more of their body can make them feel under pressure to look a certain way, lose weight or change their appearance.
This pressure can be reinforced by content they are exposed to online that makes them feel negatively about the way they way look.
At Childline, there is always someone to talk to. Our counsellors are there to listen and offer support and advice every day of the year on 0800 11111 or at www.childline.org.uk
Kind regards,
Lauren Burke
Childline Team Manager, Glasgow
More medical training posts have been accepted at this stage of the recruitment year than ever before – exceeding last year’s record by 100 posts.
NHS Education for Scotland data as of 25 July 2023 shows that 1,061 posts have been filled so far this year from 1,137 advertised.
This includes 100% fill rates at entry level in General Practice, Psychiatry, Anaesthetics, Radiology and Emergency Medicine.
These trainee doctors will take up post in August 2023. Another recruitment round will be held before the end of the year for those taking up post in February 2024.
Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto said: “I am delighted to see that Scotland continues to be recognised as a highly desirable place both to live and pursue a career in medicine.
“This is testament to our world-class medical education and training system as well as those working hard to prepare the next generation of doctors who will look after us in the future.
“These results show that NHS Scotland continues to grow accordingly to meet the needs of its patients and I look forward to welcoming these new doctors into the health service.”
NHS Education for Scotland Medical Director Dr Emma Watson said: “As of today, 93% of posts advertised for August 2023 start dates in Scotland are filled.
“Many programmes have filled at 100% and in programmes which have not filled, we are working to understand why. There has also been a significant expansion of training posts across Scotland, particularly in General Practice which has a current fill rate of 100%.”
The government has confirmed that all state-funded schools in England now have a life-saving defibrillator, drastically increasing the chances of surviving cardiac arrest for all state school pupils in England.
Following the government’s £19 million rollout, over 20,000 defibrillators have successfully been delivered to almost 18,000 schools since January.
In June, the Department for Education oversaw the successful completion of deliveries of defibrillators to secondary schools. Now, all eligible primary, special and alternative provision schools who did not already have a defibrillator have received deliveries, boosting their numbers in communities across the country.
Today’s milestone marks another step in the government’s commitment to delivering stronger, safer communities across the country.
In July 2022, the government committed to delivering these devices before the end of the 2022 to 2023 academic year to ensure that all state funded schools in England had access to a defibrillator, following the campaigning from Mark King of the Oliver King Foundation to ensure all schools have a defibrillator.
Mark tragically lost his son, Oliver, after he suffered sudden cardiac arrest at school during a swimming lesson when he was 12-years-old.
Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan said: “Having access to defibrillators in schools drastically increases the chance of pupils, teachers and visitors surviving a cardiac arrest.
“Thanks to the tireless campaigning of Mark King, Jamie Carragher and Nicola Carragher we are proud to say that every state-funded school in England now has access to a defibrillator.
“Teachers and pupils across the country can now be reassured that they will have access to one on school grounds should tragedy strikes.”
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, said: ““Having access to defibrillators in schools drastically increases the chance of pupils, teachers and visitors surviving a cardiac arrest.
“Thanks to the tireless campaigning of Mark King and Jamie Carragher we are proud to say that every state-funded school in England now has one of these potentially life-saving machines.
“So however rare these events are, teachers, parents and pupils across the country can now be reassured they will have access to a defibrillator on school grounds, should the worst happen.”
Oliver King Foundation founder, Mark King: “We as a family and foundation will continue to strive for change so no other family has to suffer as we are.
“We would like to say a massive thank you to Nadhim Zahawi, Lord Stuart Polak, Jamie Carragher and the DfE for helping us aim for legislation. Oliver’s memory will live on and lives will be saved.”
Large schools have been provided with 2 or more defibrillators so that they can be strategically placed in areas of the schools where a cardiac arrest is more likely, such as sports halls.
A defibrillator is a machine that is placed externally on the body and is used to give an electric shock when a person is in cardiac arrest i.e. when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Prompt defibrillation can help save a person’s life.
The government is also supporting schools in making defibrillators available to the community, with 1,200 external heated defibrillator cabinets being provided to primary and special schools by the end of 2023 in areas of deprivation, where provision is generally lower.
The rollout will build on existing requirements for schools to teach first aid as part of the curriculum, with secondary school pupils being taught life-saving methods such as CPR and the purpose of defibrillators. This rollout will help protect schools and their local communities against cardiac arrest, delivering wider access to these devices.
