June 15 sees the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival kick off, celebrating all things cinematic. And to open the fest this year, the team has selected the Scotland-shot golf drama Tommy's Honour.
Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden are the father/son duo at the heart of the true story, which chronicles golfing pioneer Tom Morris and his turbulent relationship with son Tommy.
“It’s so exciting!" says director Jason Connery. "I remember standing in the middle of a field in Fife during the shoot and saying to Peter and Jack, Tommy’s Honour might get into the Edinburgh International Film Festival, not in our wildest dreams did we think it would be the Opening Gala opening.”
“We are proud to be staging the world premiere of Tommy’s Honour," says EIFF artistic director Mark Adams. "It is a beautifully made film packed with memorable moments and terrific performances and reflects perfectly our intention to keep on bringing great Scottish projects to our audience.”
In addition to the opening gala and the closing film (a remake of Whisky Galore!), the festival will have strands on the Cinema du Look wave that included work such as Betty Blue and La Femme Nikita and a look at live-action adaptations of comic strips (including Robert Altman's 1980 stab at Popeye.)
The festival runs from that June 15 kick-off until June 26.