The 63rd programme of the Edinburgh International Film Festival promises a rich variety of films from all corners of the world, including a strong showing of Scottish films.

Scottish Screen supported films feature highly in this year's programme with world premieres for Crying With Laughter, Wasted and Wide Open Spaces.

Crying the Laughter is the debut feature film from Glasgow-based production company, Synchronicity Films, who teamed up with Nottingham producers, Wellington Films (London to Brighton, Better Things) for director Justin Molotnikov's debut feature, which shot in Edinburgh in December 2008. The result is a darkly comedic revenge thriller about an abusive comedian Joey Frisk (Stephen McCole), heading for either a big break or a big breakdown. Just in time, old school pal Frank (Malcolm Shields) enters Joey's life and offers to help, but before long Joey finds himself on a bad trip down memory lane...

Wasted, is a compassionate and uplifting love story about two young lovers, Conor and Suzanne, both prostitutes, who find love in a harsh and uncompromising environment. Wasted, which also stars Kate Dickie (Red Road) and Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot), as well as showcasing newcomer cast in the form of Emma Hartley Miller and Neil Leiper, is produced by Glasgow-based production company, Raindog, and is written and directed by Stuart Davids and Caroline Patterson.

Also receiving its world premiere at EIFF is Scottish-Irish co-production Wide Open Spaces. Written by Arthur Matthews, the co-creator of Father Ted, and co-produced by Edinburgh-based production company, Mead Kerr, this comedy, set in a remote part of Ireland, tells the story of two slackers, played by Ewan Bremner (Trainspotting) and Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted), working to pay off a debt by helping build a Famine Theme Park for a dodgy local entrepreneur.

A number of short films, which have been produced under Scottish Screen funded talent development initiatives, are also included in this year’s programme. Glasgow Media Access Centre (GMAC) has a screening of four of their shortcuts films: Archive of Dreams by Tomas Sheridan; Saltmark by Robin Haig; Eyes on the Street by David Newbigging, Homecoming by Zak Hanif and Night School by Ben Soper. Another GMAC shortcut film, The Finger Trap, has also been selected for screening in the McLaren Animation strand.  Two Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap films have been selected for the Scottish Short Documentary Award: Peter in Radioland by Johanna Wagner and Sporran Makers by Jane McAllister.

Another short film made with support from Scottish Screen is Believe, appearing in the UK Shorts strand. Believe was written and directed by Paul Wright, who was behind BAFTA New Talent award-winning short film Hikikomori, and is produced by Rhianna Andrews of Young Films.

Carole Sheridan, Head of Talent and Creativity at Scottish Screen said:

“Scottish Screen is delighted to have been involved in these films showing at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival.

"When these films are screened at the festival, audiences from around the world will see that we really have a lot to celebrate in Scotland. We continue to produce and develop top quality talent, creating a diverse range of stories, styles and voices.

"Scottish Screen's support continues to provide opportunities for filmmakers to make their first features and first short films, and our support can also help them build on their previous experience, enhance their skills, and forge new alliances for the future. 

"I would like to congratulate all of the talent involved in the production of these films, our co-investors and collaborators.”

These are just some of the Scottish films showing at the 63rd EIFF. For more information and the screening schedule of all the films, please visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk.

Scottish Screen is a major funder of the EIFF, which forms part of Scottish Screen’s nationwide network of Cultural Cinema Hubs.

For more on Scottish activities at the EIFF, please download our brochure Scots Woo Hoo. 

Scottish Films at EIFF 2009 

British Gala

Crying with Laughter
Director – Justin Molotnikov
Producer – Claire Mundell (Synchronicity Films) Rachel Robey & Al Clark (Wellington Films)
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £152,000.

Rosebud

Wasted
Director – Stuart Davids and Caroline Paterson
Producer – Wendy Griffin
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £160,420

Wide Open Spaces
Director – Tom Hall
Producer – Clare Kerr
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £204,516

GMAC Screening

Archive of Dreams
Writer/Director - Tomas Sheridan
Producer – Lindsey Goodall

Eyes on the Street
Director – David Newbigging
Producer – Andrew Maas

Homecoming
Writer/Director – Zak Hanif
Producer - Yvonne Bray

Saltmark
Writer/Director - Robin Haig
Producers – Kat Hebden and David Hancock

Night School
Writer/Director - Ben Soper 
Producer - Katie Crook

These films are produced through GMAC shortcuts.
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £75,000

McLaren Animation 2

The Finger Trap
Writer/Director – Julia McLean
Producer – Shian Holt

This film is produced through GMAC shortcuts.
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £75,000

Scottish Short Documentary Award Screening

Peter in Radioland
Writer/Director - Johanna Wagner

Sporran Makers
Writer/Director – Jane McAllister

These films are produced through the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap.
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £75,000

UK Shorts 2

Believe
Writer/Director – Paul Wright
Producer – Rhianna Andrews
Scottish Screen National Lottery support: £50,000