The Edinburgh International Film Festival’s open-air fest at St Andrew Square looks to be an absolute treat, with a mixture of classics, blockbusters, singalong opportunities and a unique celebration event for much-anticipated, upcoming 2021 film release, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Is there anything more easy breezy and summery than an open-air film screening? Edinburgh International Film Festival have returned this year to the prime location of St Andrew Square, where film fans can peruse a free programme of fabulous features, coinciding with the festival’s main programme of in-person and digital film premieres.
Running between 19th & 25th August, the special screenings will take place in a safe, outdoor environment with food & drink available on site, including beverages from Johnnie Walker, Innis & Gunn and Poco Prosecco. You can also bring your own cinema treats and picnic blanket or settle into one of the St Andrew Square deck chairs to enjoy your movie of choice.
Some of our top picks across the programme:
The Wizard of Oz
Who can resist the ruby-tapping shoes of Judy Garland and the teary but ultimately enjoyable notes of ‘Over the Rainbow’?
Clueless
A ’90s classic, there are some of us that still covet that revolving, outfit-matching wardrobe system that seemed like the teenage dream but was just pat of the everyday for Beverly Hills student, Cher.
Edinburgh’s Talking About Jamie
Tying in with the Festival Theatre preview of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – the film adaption of the West End musical – this event features drag queen entertainment, cocktails, and your chance to shine with your outfit choices (prizes for the best).
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
An EIFF Young Programmers selection, this is a comedic heartwarmer from director Taika Waititi, with a boy and his foster father wading through life’s trials and figuring out their relationship, amid antics in the New Zealand wilderness.
Frozen (Sing Along)
We appreciate it isn’t Christmas yet, but come on… whether you’ve had a child in your vicinity sing it on repeat or not, ‘Let It Go’ is an absolute belter of a song, and this award-winning Disney animation can’t fail to win you over.
Amélie
Making Paris look ever-delightful, Amélie’s gnome-thieving and well-meaning meddling, while finding love for herself along the way, became a French romantic hit.
Restless Natives
The politically-charged ’80s comedy-crime tale about Edinburgh teens Ronnie and Will, who become modern day highwaymen holding up tourist coaches, is a bonafide cult classic.
Murder on the Orient Express
We all love a good mystery! And who does a train snoop better than Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, played here by the fantastic Albert Finney.
Casablanca
Needs no introduction really, but Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman doing some of their finest and most famous work in this romantic classic, set during WWII, is surely a programme must-view.
The festival is free but ticketed. For full programme details, go to www.edfilmfest.org.uk. Tickets are available to Filmhouse Members on Wednesday 28 July, and will be on general sale from Thursday 29 July
