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Mendes movie opens film festival Mendes movie opens film festival
(30 minutes later)
The 63rd Edinburgh International Film Festival has opened with the world premiere of Away We Go, the new movie by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes.The 63rd Edinburgh International Film Festival has opened with the world premiere of Away We Go, the new movie by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes.
The 43-year-old director said he chose to take his movie to the Scottish festival for a good reason. The 43-year-old film-maker said he chose to take his movie to the Scottish festival for a good reason.
"I particularly didn't want to take this film to Cannes; I think the scale of that festival is overpowering." "I particularly didn't want to take the film to Cannes; I think the scale of that festival is overpowering."
The filmmaker, who is married to Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, said he was "happy" to be in Edinburgh. The filmmaker, who is married to Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, said he was "delighted" to be in Edinburgh.
He added: "I think that's an issue with a lot of festivals now. There are so many movies and there's so much going on it can swamp and dwarf smaller films. Mendes, famed for directing such box office hits as American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, said Edinburgh was a "fantastic" place to be.
"So when they suggested it go to Edinburgh I said 'Yes' right away. It's a fantastic place to be." He suggested that his film was well-suited to the festival.
He added: "I am delighted it gets to be here rather that at some giant red-carpet event where the whole thing is dwarfed by the publicity machine." "I love Edinburgh. I've been here many times as a student and afterwards on the Fringe and it just seemed like a great match," he said.
"I'm just happy to be here and delighted that its British premiere gets to be here rather than in some giant red carpet event where the whole thing is dwarfed by the publicity machine, as it were, of the festival as a whole.
"Maybe movies like this get a better look-in in a place like this and I'm very happy to be here."
Away We Go, with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, will open the festival In pictures: Edinburgh FilmsAway We Go, with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, will open the festival In pictures: Edinburgh Films
The 11-day festival will show 135 films, including 23 world premieres. The film follows an expectant couple's journey across the US as they search for the perfect place to raise their family.
The festival's artistic director Hannah McGill told the BBC Scotland news website: "Edinburgh has an intimacy that is very special: geographically it's really manageable, and we try very hard to break down barriers between the audiences and the filmmakers. It stars Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal and John Krasinski, who appears in the US version of The Office.
"Of course there's a glamour element and respect for the visiting talent, but we want the audience to really feel part of it. Mendes paid tribute to his wife at a media conference in the Scottish capital, saying "the movie could not have been made without her".
"Also we have the advantage of being in one of the most beautiful cities in the world - Edinburgh is really a very special and particularly cinematic setting." "She supports me in everything I do," he said.
The festival will host 23 world premieres, including 16 international premieres, and 135 films from 33 countries - from now until June 28.
Highlights include the world premiere of Le Donk, the new Shane Meadows movie, which features the Arctic Monkeys, and the European premiere of Steven Soderberg's The Girlfriend Experience.Highlights include the world premiere of Le Donk, the new Shane Meadows movie, which features the Arctic Monkeys, and the European premiere of Steven Soderberg's The Girlfriend Experience.
Director of The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky, will be hosting an In Person session during the festival, as will legendary B-movie maker Roger Corman and elusive Scottish filmmaker Bill Forsyth.Director of The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky, will be hosting an In Person session during the festival, as will legendary B-movie maker Roger Corman and elusive Scottish filmmaker Bill Forsyth.
Art film
BBC Radio Five Live's Simon Mayo and film critic Mark Kermode will present their own brand of Wittertainment during a live audience event on Friday.BBC Radio Five Live's Simon Mayo and film critic Mark Kermode will present their own brand of Wittertainment during a live audience event on Friday.
Ms McGill said it was difficult to choose the highlights from such a packed programme, however, she admitted The Crimson Wing, a portrait of the life cycles of flamingos in Tanzania, was a personal favourite. Artistic director Hannah McGill said it was difficult to choose the highlights from such a packed programme, however, she admitted The Crimson Wing, a portrait of the life cycles of flamingos in Tanzania, was a personal favourite.
Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo will bring Wittertainment to Edinburgh
She added: "I'm thrilled to be bringing two of my favourite actors, Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, to Edinburgh for the UK premiere of Carlos Cuaron's Rudo & Cursi.She added: "I'm thrilled to be bringing two of my favourite actors, Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, to Edinburgh for the UK premiere of Carlos Cuaron's Rudo & Cursi.
"I'm yet more thrilled that the great Joe Dante, director of Gremlins and Innerspace and Matinee, and now 3D pioneer, is going to be on hand - that's my 80s childhood coming out."I'm yet more thrilled that the great Joe Dante, director of Gremlins and Innerspace and Matinee, and now 3D pioneer, is going to be on hand - that's my 80s childhood coming out.
"Then there's Sharmila Tagore, one of the legends of both arms of Indian cinema: Bengali art film and commercial Bollywood cinema."Then there's Sharmila Tagore, one of the legends of both arms of Indian cinema: Bengali art film and commercial Bollywood cinema.
"She was the glamour girl of Indian cinema in the 60s.""She was the glamour girl of Indian cinema in the 60s."
"And I'm overwhelmed that Mary Sweeney, the genius who edited the vast bulk of David Lynch's films, has given us the world premiere of her directorial debut, Baraboo.""And I'm overwhelmed that Mary Sweeney, the genius who edited the vast bulk of David Lynch's films, has given us the world premiere of her directorial debut, Baraboo."
Controversial film Antichrist, by Danish director Lars von Trier, has been added to the festival programme at the last minute.
The dark thriller featuring graphic scenes of sex and mutilation received a mixed reaction at the Cannes festival.