… paying tribute to the capital’s big screen history
To celebrate the official opening of the Everyman Edinburgh at St James Quarter, four giant picture frames have popped up around the city centre – each in a location that featured on the big screen in famous movies including, Sunshine on Leith, Avengers: Infinity War, One Day and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
The Everyman Edinburgh frames can be found on the Royal Mile, Calton Hill, The Shore and George IV Bridge, for passers-by to capture their own selfies and redeem two free tickets to Everyman Cinema, #nofilter needed.
To enter, step into the frame, share your pic and tag @StJamesQuarter and @EverymanCinema on Instagram or Facebook along with the hashtag #FramedbyEveryman.
The first 500 people to show their posted content to the box office at Everyman Cinema on level 5 at St James Quarter will receive two free tickets to a movie screening of their choice.
The frames will be in place until Saturday 2nd April.
Everyman is redefining cinema. Bringing an innovative lifestyle approach to their venues, where you swap your soft drink for a nice glass of red wine and slice of freshly made pizza served to your seat.
There are currently 36 Everyman cinemas across the UK. Created to deliver a warm and friendly atmosphere, with an excellent food and drink selection and fantastic customer service.
About St James Quarter
St James Quarter is Edinburgh’s largest development in a generation.
A new 1.7 million sq ft masterplan in urban placemaking. Comprising 850,000 sq ft of retail space, St James Quarter will complement the luxury shopping offer of neighbouring retailer Harvey Nichols, which anchors the premium shopping street of Multrees Walk.
Completing the city centre’s retail circuit, it will also be home to John Lewis, Everyman Cinema, an enticing mix of new restaurants, cafés and bars; Scotland’s first W Hotel – W Edinburgh – which includes 244 stylish guestrooms, a destination bar, outdoor terrace, signature restaurant, chef’s table, and an AWAY® Spa; luxury aparthotel brand Roomzzz, comprising 75-rooms; New Eidyn residences that will provide 152 premium apartments with exceptional amenities, by developers Native Land, nine new public squares and 1,600 car parking spaces.
Leonardo DiCaprio officially has the most popular Academy Award acceptance speech of all time, with more than 47 million views.
Matthew McConaughey has the second most-viewed Oscar’s acceptance speech on record, with more than 21 million views.
Jennifer Lawrence’s fall up the Academy steps has more than 14 million views on YouTube.
New research reveals that Leonardo DiCaprio has the most-viewed Oscar’s acceptance speech of all time.
The study conducted by casino experts MapleCasino examined the verified Oscars YouTube account to reveal the most-viewed Acadamy Award acceptance speeches, to establish the Internet’s favourite Oscar speeches ahead of this year’s ceremony.
The research revealed that Leonardo DiCaprio has the most-viewed Oscar acceptance speech in history.
After multiple nominations, DiCaprio finally won his long-awaited ‘Best Actor’ Acadamy Award in 2016 for his role in The Revenant, attracting more than 47 million views on YouTube. The Hollywood actor used his speech to address critical issues, highlighting the threat of climate change and the damaging effects of big polluters, telling the audience to “not take this planet for granted.”
Matthew McConaughey has the second most popular Oscars acceptance speech, with more than 26 million views on YouTube. The Dallas Buyer’s Club actor won his ‘Best Actor’ award in 2014 – beating the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale – and delivered a passionate talk thanking God, his family and colleagues, before finishing his speech with his signature phrase, “alright, alright, alright”.
With more than 21 million views, the Internet’s third favourite Oscar acceptance speech goes to Heath Ledger. As one of the most emotional speeches of all time, the late Heath Ledger won ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in 2009 for his role as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Due to Heath Ledger’s sudden death the year before, his family accepted the award on his behalf, going down in history as one of the most memorable award acceptance speeches of all time.
Kate Winslet has the fourth most popular Oscar’s acceptance speech, in addition to the most-watched speech for a ‘Best Actress’ winner. Kate Winslet won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Reader in 2009, beating the likes of Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. The actress struggled to hold back her emotions during her evocative speech, which has now received more than 17 million views.
The findings revealed that Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar acceptance speech is the fifth most popular on record for her 2013 ‘Best Actress’ award for Silver Linings Playbook. Jennifer Lawrence will go down in Oscars history, sadly not for her speech, but for her fall up the Academy steps on her way to collect her award, which has now received more than 14.5 million views on YouTube.
Additionally, Marlon Brando’s acceptance speech also features as one of the Internet’s favourites, placing eighth overall, making it the oldest acceptance speech in the ranking.
Receiving the ‘Best Actor’ award for his role in The Godfather, Brando’s 1973 speech has more than 11 million YouTube views, despite him not making an appearance. During the iconic speech, actress and Native American civil rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather spoke on Brando’s behalf, protesting the treatment of Native Americans in the film industry.
A spokesperson for MapleCasino commented on the findings: “From Kate Winslet’s emotional speech to Leonardo DiCaprio’s political address, acceptance speeches can be used to not only celebrate wins but also as a vital platform to voice political and social change.
“The Internet celebrated when DiCaprio won his well-deserved Academy Award back in 2016, delivering such a powerful speech that it still sparks interest today.
“As a keen environmental activist, DiCaprio used his platform to call attention to the detrimental effects of climate change, which now has close to double the number of views of Matthew McConaughey’s speech.”
The study was conducted by Maple Casino – the premier authority for the best online casinos in Canada, devoted to connecting Canadian players with the top online casino reviews.
Top 10 most viewed Oscar acceptance speeches of all time
CINEWORLD DAY TO TAKE PLACE THIS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26th
TICKETS REDUCED TO £3 FOR ALL FILMS, ALL DAY, IN ALL FORMATS
OFFER VALID ACROSS ALL 101 CINEMA SITES IN THE UK & IRELAND
Cineworld, the UK’s leading cinema chain, has announced its first ever ‘Cineworld Day’ to take place this Saturday, February 26th, 2022.
A grand celebration of the nation’s love of cinema, the inaugural Cineworld Day will take place in all corners of the UK as Cineworld reduces its ticket prices to £3 for all films, all day, in all formats, including IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX and Superscreen, in addition to regular 2D.
Cinema-goers will have the chance to see all of the latest film releases for only £3, including: Cyrano, The Duke, Death on the Nile, Uncharted, Marry Me, Belfast and Sing 2.
As part of the Cineworld Day celebration, some of 2021’s biggest blockbuster favourites will also be brought back in IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX such as, Dune and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
As part of the Cineworld family, Picturehouse will also offer £3 tickets throughout Cineworld Day;
Additionally, as a limited time offer, customers can also receive 50% off their first month of Unlimited with the code BATMAN50 when you pay monthly or 10% off annual memberships with BATMAN10.
Stuart Crane, VP of Film for Cineworld Group, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome customers to our first Cineworld Day, where for one day only on Saturday February 26th, they can experience all of the latest movies in all of the Cineworld formats for only £3, including IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX and Superscreen.
“The last two years have been especially difficult for the cinema industry, but with the huge crowds returning through our doors for movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and with so many exciting movies to look forward to in 2022, like The Batman, Morbius, Top Gun: Maverick, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Jurassic World: Dominion, we wanted to celebrate everything that people love about cinema and everything that there is to look forward to at Cineworld, the best place to watch a movie.”
The event is sponsored by PepsiMax, IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX.
For more information on Cineworld Cinemas and to book tickets for Cineworld Day on Saturday February 26th 2022, please visit: cineworld.com
Ahead of the cinema release of video game adaptation Uncharted in the UK, new data has found the best video game movie, revealing Pokémon’s ‘Detective Pikachu’ to be a favourite across the globe.
Pokémon’s ‘Detective Pikachu’ scored the best video game adaptation with scores 53/100 on Metacritic and 68% via Rotten Tomatoes
Second is ‘Rampage’ seeing a box office of £350 million, Critic scores of 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and an IMDB rating of 6.1/10
‘Warcraft’ in third, this video game movie was the highest earner at the box office with £376 million
Gaming experts SolitaireBliss, analysed 34 video games made into movies looking at both critic and viewer ratings and box office income adjusted for inflation to find the most popular video game movie.
First is ‘Detective Pikachu’ from the Pokémon franchise. Released in 2019, the adventure game could be played on Nintendo, where players accompany Pikachu to solve mysteries. Starring Ryan Reynolds in the movie, the film took in £348 million at the box office, making it the third highest-earning video game movie adaptation.
The film received a Metacritic score of 53/100, and the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of all films in the list, at 68%.
‘Rampage’ is the second highest in the list, after placing second at the box office with £350 million. The video game was first created in 1986, made originally as an arcade game, and players control three monsters with aims to survive against the military. The movie claimed Hollywood stars Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris to play the lead roles.
The Third most successful movie based on a game is ‘Warcraft’. Starring Paula Patton and Dominic Cooper, the film scored 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32/100 on Metacritic, but ranked highly after being the highest earner at box office with £376 million. Warcraft is built up around five core games in the franchise, where opposing players order virtual armies to battle against each other.
The action-adventure game adaptation with Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley, ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’, ranked fourth in the listing with an average score of 51 in the viewer and critic score, the movie made more than £317 million at box office when it was released in 2010.
Released in February 2020, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ takes fifth place in the ranking. The movie featuring Jim Carrey received an IMDB score of 6.5/10 and 63% via Rotten Tomatoes. The series follows Sonic battling a mad scientist.
Sixth most popular is ‘Tomb Raider’ released in 2018, the film took in almost £225 million at the box office. ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’, the first instalment of this series of movies in 2001, placed eighth in the list. The game ‘Tomb Raider’ is an action-adventure which follows Lara Croft travelling the globe for lost artefacts, involving puzzle solving and fighting enemies.
The Resident Evil series with Kaya Scodelario placed twice in the top ten with ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ ranking seventh in the list, and ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’ in ninth. The Franchise is a survival horror series which includes zombies and puzzle solving.
Tenth in the list is the fighting, action-adventure game adaptation ‘Mortal Kombat’, the video game movie received a Metacritic score of 60/100 and IMDB rating of 6.1/10.
Most Popular Video Game Movie
Rank
Movie Title
1
Detective Pikachu
2
Rampage
3
Warcraft
4
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
5
Sonic the Hedgehog
6
Tomb Raider
7
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
8
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
9
Resident Evil: Afterlife
10
Mortal Kombat
Commenting on their findings, a spokesperson from SolitaireBliss said, “With the release of the new video game movie adaptation, Uncharted, it’s fascinating to see how viewers and professional critics score the movies based on games, and comparing that with how each film performed at the box office.
“Movies based on video games have the advantage of a set of fans already familiar with the brand, and likely keen to see it. However, it can be a double-edged sword as those same fans are likely to have strong opinions and high expectations. This data shows that plenty of video game films have made good money, but many have struggled to impress fans and critics.”
This study was conducted by SolitaireBliss, which provides an online gaming service allowing users to play a wide array of card games and challenges.
‘Palm Springs’ is the UK’s favourite Romantic comedy
‘Juno’ and ‘Groundhog Day’ take second and third on the list
‘Amelie’ and ‘Love Actually’ also make the top ten
New research has revealed that 2020’s ‘Palm Springs’ is the UK’s favourite rom-com.
The research, conducted by PokerListings.com looked at the number of Google searches, review scores and Wikipedia page views of the most popular rom-coms, to determine which one came out on top.
It found that 2020’s ‘Palm Springs’, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, was the UK’s favourite. The film receives more than 193,000 searches a month, accompanied with a Rotten Tomatoes Audience score of 88%, which sees it sit at the top. Released digitally in 2020 in the US on Hulu where it broke the platform’s streaming records, it reached UK audiences via Prime Video in early 2021 to further appeal.
The coming-of-age movie ‘Juno’ sits in second place, with UK audiences searching the title more than 158,000 times a month. Starring Elliot Page and Michael Cera in leading roles, the film received praise from critics and audiences alike upon its release in 2007, also winning ‘Best Writing for an Original Screenplay’ at the 2008 Academy Awards. It arrived on Disney+ in December last year which introduced it to wider audiences nearly 15 years after its release.
The Bill Murray classic ‘Groundhog Day’ comes in third place, with more than 50,000 searches a month and with an 8/10 rating on IMDB, one of the highest on the list. It’s often spoken about as one of the most influential comedy movies of all time, with the common term ‘Groundhog Day’ referring to a day that keeps reoccurring, originating from the movie from its release in 1993.
Movie
RT Audience score
IMDB Rating
Number of monthly Google searches
Wiki Page daily average views
Palm Springs
88
7.4
193000
3,566
Juno
88
7.4
158600
3,369
Groundhog Day
88
8
50300
6,726
Love Actually
72
7.6
19200
10,068
Amelie
95
8.3
46300
4,507
Silver Linings Playbook
86
7.7
1550
8,123
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
91
7.6
5500
4,947
Some Like It Hot
94
8.2
2150
3,996
Notting Hill
79
7.1
28600
5,406
The Holiday
80
6.9
40100
4,897
‘Love Actually’ falls just outside the top three with the film not only being a popular rom-com but a fan favourite Christmas movie as well. The ensemble cast of stars like Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth makes it one of the most rewatchable British films.
In fifth place is the French movie ‘Amelie’ which was released in 2001. It’s the best-rated film in the list, with a Rotten Tomatoes Audience score of 95% and an 8.3/10 on IMDB. In the year it was released, it won ‘Best Film’ at the European Film Awards and was even nominated for five Academy Awards.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from PokerListings said: “With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s often that romantic comedies are the films couples turn to for their perfect combination of laughter and intimacy, and this list will hopefully provide some viewing inspiration. It’s fascinating to see how timeless films like ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’ are, with the classics competing with newer titles like ‘Palm Springs’ in the list.”
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‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘Home Alone’ take second and third respectively
‘Love, Actually’ and ‘Last Christmas’ also make the list
The 2003 comedy ‘Elf’ is the most popular film to watch this Christmas period, according to new research.
Research conducted by PokerListings.com analysed IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes scores, as well as Google search levels and Wikipedia page views to see which Christmas movie is the UK’s number one fan favourite.
‘Elf’ ended up taking the top spot, with more than 30,000 Google searches a month for the Christmas classic, as well as praise from audiences and critics alike.
The film is currently sitting at 7/10 on IMDB and a 79% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The Jon Favreau-directed comedy featured an ensemble cast with Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan and many more starring.
In second place is the animated musical ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. Released in 1993, the film is a high scorer with audiences sitting at an 8/10 on IMDB and a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s the biggest scorer for Wiki page views on the list, with more than 1.1 million visiting in the past month alone. The fantasy title was the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
‘Home Alone’ sits in third place in the list as another audience favourite, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 80% and a 7.6/10 on IMDB. It’s widely considered one of the greatest festive films ever, and the effect the film has is clear, with its success influencing the making of six sequels since its release in 1990.
Rank
Movie title
RT Audience score
IMDB Rating
Total Searches per month
Wiki Page Views (Past Month)
1
Elf
79%
7
30800
159,484
2
The Nightmare Before Christmas
91%
8
1070
1,100,610
3
Home Alone
80%
7.6
2450
530,980
4
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
90%
8
1920
75,212
5
Last Christmas
81%
6.5
11900
230,285
6
Love, Actually
72%
7.6
2050
335,226
7
Santa Claus: The Movie
66%
6.3
36900
38,795
8
It’s a Wonderful Life
95%
8.6
800
672,539
9
Love Hard
94%
6.3
30
699,162
10
The Snowman
91%
8.2
4400
93,672
‘Love, Actually’ also features in the top ten, sitting in fifth place. The film is one of the most prominent UK rom-coms set in the Christmas period, and features a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson and many more. It had a charity short film sequel, Red Nose Day Actually, which aired in 2017 on BBC One with the same cast.
The 2019 Romantic Comedy ‘Last Christmas’ makes an appearance in seventh place. Inspired by the music of George Michael, it stars Emilia Clarke in the leading role, with Emma Thompson and Henry Golding also starring.
It’s an example of a Christmas movie that divided critics and fans, with a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 81% and only a 44% score from critics, with a 6.5/10 on IMDB. It’s also one of the most Googled entries on the list with more than 11,000 searches a month.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for PokerListings said: “It’s great to see how diverse the market for Christmas movies is, with a variety of genres included on the list.
“Despite many new additions every year to the festive line up, many entries in the top ten are more than 20 years old now, which really emphasizes how timeless movies like ‘Elf’ and ‘Home Alone’ are and how they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
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Taiwan Film Festival Edinburghreturns for its second edition between 25 and 31 October with a fantastic range of Taiwanese cinema gems, many of them UK premieres, dating from the 1930s up to 2020, presented through in-person screenings and digital talks at Glasgow Film Theatre and Summerhall in Edinburgh and a free digital programme of films.
With the theme of Disruptions and Transformations, inspired by the fast-changing and unsettling world in the past few years, the Festival explores both the monumental historic shifts the Taiwanese society experienced over the decades but also portrays the seemingly small disruptions of the everyday.
Featuring the work of legends such as Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang, and exploring topics such as war, urban life and the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, the free programme of digital screenings is now available to pre-book on the Festival’s digital platform. Access is limited to a specific number of viewers per film so audiences are advised to book early.
For the first time, the Festival also presents a range of in-person screenings. As part of their special climate-focused strand in the run up to COP26, Glasgow Film Theatre will host a screening of two environmental documentaries showing how Taiwanese filmmakers address environmental transformations caused by economic and industrial progress – after all, the climate emergency is the ultimate change and interruption we all must respond to together.
On 25 October, Sacred Forest (2019) will delve deep into the majestic cypress forest in Taiwan and on 30 October, Whale Island (2020) will explore how the ocean might become our home one day. Tickets on sale soon.
Sounds in Silence is a double bill of silent cinema gems offering an extraordinary glimpse into the everyday lives of Taiwanese people in the early and mid-20th century, presented at Summerhall on 27 October and featuring new score from acclaimed composer and musician Lim Giong and live music by Glasgow-based experimental musician Rory Green. With contemporary film scoring featuring on the archive films from decades ago, the event is going to take audience on a trip through time to Taiwan in the 1930s and 1960s.
Liu Kuan-Ping, Chief Curator at the Festival, said: “I am really excited that for the first time, Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh is bringing three in-person screenings taking place at two fantastic arts institutions: Glasgow Film Theatre and Summerhall – all exploring Disruptions and Transformations on a macro and micro scale.
“I cannot wait to meet our audience face to face, with facial masks on of course. We are also pleased to be back with an inspired programme of free digital screenings this year available to nationwide audiences.
“We would like to thank the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan, our generous sponsor, as well as our partners Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute who have been instrumental in securing some of the cinematic gems we are now able to share with our UK audiences.”
Telling us the inspiration of the theme, one of theco-curators, Chiu Yi-Chieh said: “On 23 March 2020, all of our lives were interrupted in unimaginable ways by the global pandemic- it was precisely at that time that the Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh was born.
“It made us reflect on how changes and interruptions are always present in our daily lives. When we were making the selection, we wanted to encourage audiences to look beyond the canons and fall in love with films that are overdue the world’s applause.
“We welcome audiences’ own interpretative grouping by putting all films under the theme of Disruptions and Transformations without the conventional curatorial classification.”
Head of Taipei Representative Office UK Cultural Division, Dr Chen Pin-Chuan said: “It is great to see Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh continuing the great work. Through these wonderful films from Taiwan, we hope to establish connections with Scottish audiences, and will introduce more cultural and arts programs to Scotland in the near future.”
2021 TAIWAN FILM FESTIVAL EDINBURGH PROGRAMME
IN-PERSON SCREENINGS in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Sacred Forest 神殿| Ke Ching-Yuan| 2019 | 60 mins
In-person screening on 25 October at Glasgow Film Theatre; tickets on sale soon.
Sacred Forest takes an eco-philosophical approach to introduce the deeply unique nature of Taiwan’s cloud enveloped cypress forest ecosystems and to explore the nation’s oldest forests, tallest tree species, and priceless, multi-millennial stands of giant ‘sacred trees’. Sacred Forest follows six separate groups, each with different interests and field specialties, as they experience the raw majesty of the forest from multiple facets ranging from the analytically intellectual to the introspectively emotional and spiritually uplifting.
The screening will also feature a special introduction from the film director, Ke Ching-yuan.
Whale Island 男人與他的海 | Huang Jia Jun| 2020 | 108 mins | UK Premiere
In-person screening on 30 October at Glasgow Film Theatre; tickets on sale soon.
Taiwan is an island. Although it is surrounded by the sea, its people fear the sea since the history and the religious beliefs held on this island make people turn their backs to the sea. Oceanic literature author Liao Hung-chi and underwater photographer Ray Chin lead the audience out to the sea and into the water. They prompt us to understand the sea and to think about the possibility that the ocean might become our lives and the future of our living land.
The screening will also feature a special introduction from the film director, Huang Jia-jun
Sounds in Silence double bill at 6.30pm on 27 October in Summerhall, Edinburgh; also online 28-31 Oct on Festival website.
A Morning in Taipei 臺北之晨 | Pai Jing-jui | 1964 | 20 mins | UK Premiere
Director Pai Jing-jui’s 1964 short documentary depicts a modern, industrious Taipei full of diverse and determined individuals as they perform their morning routines. People begin their workday, actors prepare for a theatrical performance, and children play in the schoolyard; the day is full of wonder and possibility.
A pre-recorded conversation between Chen Chia-Huei (co-creator of the new score and sound for A Morning in Taipei and the art consultant and Head of Education at the Taiwan Sound Lab) and musician Rory Green will be screened after A Morning in Taipei.
Deng Nan-guang’s 8mm Movies 鄧南光8mm家庭電影| Deng Nan-guang| 1935-1941| 57 mins| UK Premiere
Deng Nan-Guang’s 57-minute collection of intimate home-style videos, filmed between 1935 and 1941, captures an overlooked side of Taiwanese life under Japanese occupation. The films serve as a well-preserved time portal to a bygone era, offering a glimpse of life in Taiwan under colonial rule in the lead up to the Second World War. Screened to a live music score from a Glasgow-based experimental musician Rory Green.
DIGITAL SCREENINGS on the Festival website between 25 and 31 October
The Best Secret Agent 天字第一號 | Chang Ying | 1964 | 102 mins
The first Taiwanese-language spy film produced in Taiwan; The Best Secret Agent is a remake of the 1945 movie of the same name that caused a sensation in Shanghai. During the Sino-Japanese War, Tsui-Ying flees with her father from the Japanese occupation. She meets a young man, Ling-Yun, and falls in love. In the meantime, Special Agent 001 leads the resistance against the Japanese.
Foolish Bride, Naive Bridegroom 三八新娘憨子婿| Hsin Chi | 1967 | 101 mins
The parents of two young lovers meet to discuss the possibility of their marriage, only to discover that they themselves were lovers 30 years ago.
Dangerous Youth 危險的青春 | Hsin Chi | 1969 | 95 mins
Khue-guan (Shi Ying), a penniless delivery boy for a cosmetics company, meets Tsing-bi (Zheng Xiao-fen), a young and charming waitress, in awkward circumstances just as his girlfriend leaves him for a wealthy suitor. Khue-guan is intrigued by Tsing-bi and tries to get her another job after meeting Giok-sian (Gao Xing-zhi), who runs a cabaret. Eventually, she finds out that her new job is as an escort to a lonely, elderly millionaire named Mr. Tshi.
The Homecoming Pilgrimage of Dajia Mazu 大甲媽祖回娘家| Huang Chun-ming | 1975 | 27 mins | UK Premiere
Viewers are transported back in time to 1974 to see the annual Taoist celebration of the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage. Thousands of participants accompany a statue of the goddess Mazu on a 9-day, 8-night procession, stopping at several prominent temples along the way.
Taipei Story 青梅竹馬 | Edward Yang | 1985 | 115 mins
A headstrong and financially-secure woman, Chin (played by Chin Tsai), is anxious to move forward in life and escape from the dissatisfaction and pain caused by family troubles, urban alienation, a lack of job security, tumultuous friendships, and a distant past of baseball glory to which her boyfriend, Lung (Hou Hsiao-hsien), so desperately clings. Chin thinks moving to America may be the solution, but as time goes by, it becomes increasingly clear that may not fix all her problems.
Dust in the Wind 戀戀風塵 | Hou Hsiao-Hsien | 1986 | 109 mins
Dust in the Wind is a coming-of-age love story about two young individuals, Wan and Huen, from the Taiwanese mining village of Jio-fen. Their hope is to make enough money to be able to get married one day, believing like everyone else that they are meant for each other. Despite what fate may seem to have in store for them, they cannot help but care deeply for one another.
Peony Birds 牡丹鳥 | Huang Yu-shan| 1990 | 107 mins | UK Premiere
A multi-generational story about the troubled relationship between a mother and a daughter: from when she was a young child to adulthood and her joining her mother in the busy Taipei of the 80s and 90s and pursuing a career of her own.
Also available on the Festival’s digital platform will be a Q&A session with director Huang Yu-shan.
Hill of no Return 無言的山丘 | Wang Tung | 1992 | 175 mins
This 1992 drama, set in 1927, tells the tale of two brothers, Chu and Wei, who leave home following the death of their parents to work at a Japanese-occupied gold mine in the remote, poverty-stricken town of Jiou-fen in the northeast of Taiwan. The brothers dream of one day becoming rich and owning their own land and, taken in by the gold rush, they endure back-breaking labour for little reward. They then both fall deeply in love with partners that risk to complicate their lives even further.
Also available on the Festival’s digital platform will be a Q&A session with director Wang Tung.
The Personals 徵婚啓事 | Chen Kuo-Fu | 1998 | 105 mins
Du Jia-zhen is a 29-year-old eye doctor at a hospital, who decides to quit her job and find a husband. She places a personal ad in the newspaper, searching for a potential match to distract herself from recent heartbreak. The film depicts the urban dating scene of Taipei in the 1990s in all of its absurdity and hideousness, conveying humour through humiliation and evoking sympathy for the strangest people.
Splendid Float 豔光四射歌舞團 | Zero Zhou | 2004 | 73 mins
An aesthetically stunning, lightly humorous, and dramatic film that confronts traditional gender roles and explores the themes of conformity, grief, acceptance, personal struggle, and identity. A Taoist priest named Xiao Qiang-wei (James Chen) doubles as a drag queen by the name of Rose that performs at various nightlife venues.
Closing Time 打烊時刻 | Nicole Vogele | 2018 | 116 mins
Swiss filmmaker Nicole Vogele’s documentary Closing Time captures the calm after the storm of midnight living. The film draws attention to the quiet, fatigued period that follows the hustle and bustle of Taipei’s vibrant city life and the night shift workers that keep the city awake well into the early hours of the next day.
Sunday 29 August also marks the launch of the ultimate Mark Cousins collection on Filmhouse @ Home
Edinburgh Filmhouse hosts a special screening of Mark Cousins’ latest film The Story of Looking on Sunday 29 August at 7.30pm, followed by an in-person Q&A with director Mark Cousins.
The Story of Looking is being released UK-wide on Friday 17 Sept by Modern Films.
Scottish premiere of The Story of Looking at Filmhouse on Sunday 29 August marks the launch of the ultimate Mark Cousins collection on Filmhouse @ Home
Described by Variety as “An uplifting meditation on the power of looking”, Mark Cousins explores the role that visual experience plays in our individual and collective lives as he prepares for surgery to restore his vision.
In a deeply personal meditation on the power of looking in his own life, he guides us through the riches of the visible world, a kaleidoscope of extraordinary imagery across cultures and eras.
At a time when we are more assailed by images than ever, he reveals how looking makes us who we are, lying at the heart of the human experience, empathy, discovery and thought. He shares the pleasure and pain of seeing the world, in all its complexity and contradiction, with eyes wide open.
As the Covid-19 pandemic brings another dramatic shift of perspective, he reaches out to the other lookers for their vision from lockdown, and travels to the future to consider how his looking life will continue to develop until the very end.
“A rich cinematic journey into the art of seeing and how it connects us with culture, ourselves and each other” Time Out
The ultimate Mark Cousins collection on Filmhouse @ Home includes 13 films:
The First Movie (w/d/dp, 81 m, 2009)
The Story of Film: An Odyssey (w/d/dp, 930 m, 2011)
What is this Film Called Love? (w/d/dp, 75 m, 2012) a personal film about Mexico City and Sergei Eisenstein
Here be Dragons (w/d/dp 76 mins, 2013) About Albania
A Story of Children and Film (w/d/dp, 101 m, 2013)
Life May Be (co-w/co-d/co-dp with Mania Akbari, 80 m, 2014) Cine-letters
6 Desires: DH Lawrence and Sardinia (w/d/dp, 83 m, 2014)
I am Belfast (w/d/co-dp, 86 m, 2015) A city film, co-shot by Christopher Doyle
Atomic (d, 72 mins, 2015) A montage film, with a new score by Mogwai
Stockholm My Love (w/d, co-dp 2016) City musical, with Neneh Cherry
The Eyes of Orson Welles (w/d/dp, 100 mins, 2018)
Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (w/d 15 hrs, 2020)
The Story of Looking (w/d/dp, 87 mins, 2021)
Mark Cousins said: “For 36 years, Filmhouse has been my local cinema, my education, my escape and consolation, so I LOVE the idea that it will host my movies on Filmhouse at Home.
“I’ve been a passionate filmmaker for three decades. Many of my films have been influenced by what I’ve seen in Filmhouse. Now, for the first time, many of them are in one place. I’m humbled, as are my many collaborators – editor, producers, sound designers, composers and graphics artists – in Edinburgh, Scotland and further afield. Thank you from all of us.”
Rod White, Head of Programming at Filmhouse said: “What a twin pleasure it is to have Mark with us once again in person to discuss his latest film, The Story of Looking, ahead of its national release, AND be instrumental in bringing together all his feature film work to date in the one place – that being our streaming site Filmhouse @ Home – for new audiences to enjoy.
“We’re especially pleased and proud to be able to support a filmmaker who’s been such a strong supporter of Filmhouse over the years.”
The Story of Looking is supported by the National Lottery via Creative Scotland.
The 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival takes place at the heart of Edinburgh’s festival season, between 18 and 25 August, and presents a fantastic programme of feature and short films celebrating the long-awaited return to cinema.
This special programme of in-person and digital screenings includes 31 new features and 73 shorts – with 18 marking their world and 3 international premieres at the Festival – and with 50% of the new features in the EIFF 2021 programme from a female director or co-director.
The majority of Festival screenings take place at the Festival’s home, Filmhouse, with the Opening Gala and Special Preview at Festival Theatre and special screenings at partner venues across Scotland, along with introductions, Q&As, in person events and more screenings being available through a dedicated, accessible streaming platform Filmhouse at Home.
EIFF is supported by Screen Scotland, the PLACE Programme (a partnership between the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals), the Scottish Government through the Festivals Expo Fund, the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and the British Film Institute (BFI) using funds from the National Lottery.
EIFF 2021 PROGRAMME
Reflecting the diversity of stories and storytellers from across the world, EIFF’s 2021 programme includes two hugely anticipated musicals: hot from Cannes where it won the Best Director award, the UK premiere of Leos Carax’s Annette starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, co-written by pop legends Sparks and a Special Preview screening of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Festival Theatre with a starry cast including Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant, and newcomer Max Harwood in the title role.
The Festival opens with the European Premiere of Michael Sarnoski’s Pig with Nicolas Cage as a reclusive truffle hunter and closes with the UK Premiere of Here Today from the comedy legend Billy Crystal, also featuring Tiffany Haddish.
Following in the footsteps of Whisky Galore! which premiered at EIFF in 2016, two Scottish films exploring island life receive their World Premieres at EIFF: a documentary Prince of Muck following the continuing battles of elderly patriarch Lawrence MacEwen and Hebridean feature drama The Road Dance based on a best-selling book by STV News presenter John MacKay who also stars in the film.
Determination in the face of adversity and addressing the social issues permeating societies around the world are strongly represented in this year’s programme. The UK premiere of Haider Rashid’s Europa starring British-Libyan Adam Ali as a young Iraqi refugee sees him fighting to survive in the wilderness and with ‘Migrant Hunters’ on his trail while Oscar-nominated Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Man Who Sold His Skin focuses on a young Syrian refugee who agreed to having his back tattooed in exchange for a better life in Europe.
Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Ballad of a White Cow sees a wife fighting against the broken justice system in Iran after her husband is executed for a crime he did not commit and New Zealand’s The Justice of Bunny King tells the story of a troubled single mother trying to get the custody of her children back.
In documentaries, Walk with Angels offers a visceral look at South Africa’s legacy of Apartheid and child trafficking and Rebel Dykes explores the underground lesbian community in London in the 80s and the country’s lack of response to the AIDS crisis.
Two very personal documentaries, Radiograph of a Family from Firouzeh Khosrovani centres on the director’s parents and uses them as a lens to look at Iran’s society split between secular and Islamic beliefs and Alicia Cano Menoni’s Bosco focuses on the director’s grandfather living in Uruguay and his ancestoral roots in a small Italian village.
Highlighting contemporary social issues, documentary The Gig Is Up shines light on the forgotten gig economy workforce, from Deliveroo to Amazon, and the European Premiere of Jennifer Ngo’s Faceless centres on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Continuing the theme of the gig economy and its recent struggles, Laurent Garnier: Off The Recordtells the little-known story of the legendary French DJ and the political response to rave culture.
This year’s programme also showcases the best of horror from two EIFF-returners: impeccable Rebecca Hall in The Night House from the genre innovator David Bruckner and Martyrs Lane from Ruth Platt reinventing the classic ghost story. In animation, the legendary Academy Award-winning director and animator Phil Tippett presents the second instalment of his Miltonesque Mad God.
The quirky French feature comedy Mandibles sees two friends trying to train a giant fly to make money off of it and Norway’s Ninjababy beautifully blends animation and live action to tell the story of a young cartoonist and her unexpected pregnancy.
An ambitious programme of short films – fiction, animation, documentary and experimental aka Black Box – divided into 7 strands by theme, explore a fantastic range of topics and issues: in short animation, Imaginings delve into the recesses of the human mind and Family Values look at how our lives are shaped by values that are handed down to us; in short fiction and documentary, One Step at the Time is rooted in the present moment, showing snapshots from all around the world, Visions project forward, imagining our future lives or alternative realities; and in Black Box we find Interconnections exploring the themes of collaboration and interrelation and Interruptions, a diverse programme playfully confounding the aesthetic expectations of the audience.
Some of the highlights include Ba, about growing up in Soviet Kazakhstan, a child seeking refuge from his stark reality in Romanian Candy Can, animated Hangman at Home exploring the awkward intimacy of humanness and Keith Water, a stop motion animation made from found materials during the 2020 lockdown.
The shorts programme also includes SHORTCUTS – Views From The Four Nations, presented in Edinburgh and France through a partnership with the Dinard Festival of British Film, led by Artistic Director Dominique Green. DFBF and EIFF are twinning to show together a selection of the best of recent British shorts.
All short films are available to audiences digitally on Filmhouse at Home. EIFF Shorts and Experimental films are sponsored by Innis & Gunn, with support from the Culture & Business Fund Scotland, managed by Arts & Business Scotland.
Tickets go on sale at 12 noon TODAY (Wednesday 28 July) for Filmhouse Members, and then on general sale at 12 noon on Thursday 29 July.
Festival audiences will have a chance to vote for their favourite film which will receive the 2021 Audience Award.
For more information and a full schedule of physical and digital screenings please visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk.
Edinburgh International Film Festival is delighted to announce that it will screen the World Premiere of Prince of Muck – set on the tiny inhabited island of Muck, off Scotland’s west coast, Cindy Jansen’s cinematic and haunting documentary explores how difficult it is to change the habits of a lifetime.
On Thursday 19 August the World Premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival will simultaneously see the film screened in around 12 locations across Scotland from Edinburgh to Lerwick, Tiree to Tobermory and Inverness to Glasgow.
Lawrence MacEwen, who turns 80 years old this weekend, has farmed the Isle of Muck since the late 1960s. With his family he has created a rural retreat, perhaps out of time with the rapid transformations of the world around it. Revered for his eco-conscious stewardship in the 1970s, Lawrence now finds himself stubbornly battling to preserve his vision of the island for the next generation.
Dutch filmmaker Cindy Jansen captures a uniquely cinematic portrait of a place and a person haunted by the past and struggling to maintain their relevance for the future.
Prince of Muck is one of three films which will screen simultaneously at locations across Scotland as part of EIFF’s vision to play an active role in bringing cinema audiences back together across the country.
Partnering with independent cinemas and working in partnership with Film Hub Scotland, INDY Cinema Group and Regional Screen Scotland, fantastic films secured as part of EIFF will be shown in local cinemas including the opening film, the European Premiere of Pig starring Nicolas Cage at his melancholy best, and the Festival’s closing film, the UK Premiere of Here Today, directed and starring the disarmingly charming Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish.
Full details of screening locations will be released with the programme on 28 July but include Mareel Shetland, Tiree Isle of Tiree, Screen Machine Tobermory and Fort Augustus, Glasgow Film Theatre, Oban Phoenix, Macrobert Arts Centre Stirling, Eden Court Inverness, DCA Dundee, Heart of Hawick, Belmont Filmhouse Aberdeen, Birks Cinema Aberfeldy – and the home of EIFF, Filmhouse in Edinburgh.
Prince of Muck and the Scotland wide screenings of these three EIFF films is supported by the Scottish Government’s Festival’s EXPO Fund.
Filmmaker Cindy Jansen said:“I first went to the Isle of Muck with an open curiosity, but quickly became fascinated by the complex nature of the way in which everyone on the island is interdependent.
“It made me think deeply about my own society, here in Holland, but I knew that in Muck, I had the opportunity to study the fragile balance between tradition and modernity in an entire ‘micro society’.
“In Lawrence MacEwen, I found an engaging character, who is not only deeply embedded in the community, but who transcends the history of the island, as he struggles to accept that intergenerational change is profoundly challenging, but inevitable.
“It is wonderful that the film will premiere at EIFF in Scotland, close to its home ground. I feel it is a great compliment to the people in the film and the team who made it happen, in Scotland and here in The Netherlands.”
Rohan Crickmar, Documentary Programme Consultant for EIFF said: “Quite simply it is a celebration of the Scottish landscape and its people that focuses on the need to renew and evolve heritage and tradition to preserve a sense of community.
“It will allow you to see a part of Scotland rarely documented, and in a strikingly different way which highlights cultural commonalities across Europe’s northlands.”
Ken Hay, CEO of EIFF said: “EIFF is delighted to be working with partner venues across Scotland in our celebration of the communal cinema experience with the simultaneous screening of Prince of Muck, along with our opening film, Pig and our closing film, Here Today.
“These will be special moments for the festival and the filmmakers, but most importantly for audiences across the country. Huge thanks to the Scottish Government and the Festivals Expo Fund for supporting this initiative.”
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The Edinburgh International Film Festival excels in showcasing Scotland, and this year is no exception.
“The World Premiere of Scottish-made documentary Prince of Muck – one of three films to be simultaneously screened in locations across Scotland during the festival – will bring audiences back together to see our nation through different eyes, celebrating its landscapes, its people and the importance of community.
“I am pleased that £50,000 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund has contributed to the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s innovative development of this communal cinema experience, so that these films can be enjoyed nationwide.”
Screen Scotland’s Mark Thomas said: “This beautifully cinematic portrait of an island and a family in transition is the result of a strong European co-production between Scotland-based production company Faction North and Dutch company De Productie, coming together to realise director Cindy Jansen’s vision.
“Thanks to the Festival’s work with venues and cinemas, it’s fantastic that audiences across Scotland will have the opportunity to see the film simultaneously this summer.”
Prince of Muck was supported by The National Lottery and the Scottish Government through Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund.
