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Inspiring Edinburgh Blog...blogging about the 'inspiring capital'...


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  • EIFF 2011 Line-up Announced. What, No Steven Seagal?, Tuesday May 17 2011

    Are you a film aficionado? A bone-fide movie buff? Do you dream in glorious technicolor? If so, then you’ll want to know all about the line-up for the 65th Edinburgh International Film Festival, won’t you?

    Well, the line-up announced today includes the UK premiere of The Guard, starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle, Jack Goes Boating, Philip Seymour Hoffmann’s directorial debut and Ewan McGregor’s latest flick, Perfect Sense.

    But it doesn’t matter whether you can recite the cast of Pi to 20 places, or don’t even know your Stephen Baldwins from your Alec Baldwins, because there’s something for all tastes, with more than 90 features, more shorts than you can shake a rolled-up movie poster and 50 other events including workshops, talks and masterclasses, all taking place from 15-26 June.

    Tickets for all events go on sale this Friday (20 May), and you can download the full programme brochure to help you plan your viewing.

  • Student Insider's Guide - Winters Day Out - by Amy Shields, Friday January 28 2011

    It's 3 o clock in the afternoon. You're in Edinburgh, and it's late January. It's cold, but not freezing, and you don't want to put the heating on just yet. You forgot to buy milk. Damn. That means no tea. And you have this weird craving to watch the Emperor's New Groove. What do you do? You go to the Brass Monkey! A paradise for poor students in need of a decent movie, a nice cup of tea (or something stronger), and a wee cuddle on their wall-to-wall bed.

    This is the gigantic living room that is Edinburgh. The cafes and pubs are warm and welcoming, the shops unique and the nightlife eclectic. Sundays are about getting up to go to the car boot sale at the Omni centre, strolling up the Filmhouse Cinema for the film double bill and then having a good hearty dinner for less than a fiver in one of the trusty local pubs.

    The city is entirely walkable, and for those who can cope with the hills, also entirely cycleable. So get a flat in the old town if you can, but don't worry too much about being close to the centre. I thought that staying in Student accommodation (ie halls) would be a nightmare - I like to party but I don't always like to take the party home with me. But if you have the chance then go for it, because you'll make great friends as you ease into lif away from home.

    Amy Shields, Edinburgh College of Art

  • Leith Festival Underway. Non-Leithers Welcome, Sunday June 13 2010

    The citizens of the People’s Republic of Leith are extra lucky – not only do they get to share in all of theLeith Festival wonderful festivals that happen uptown, they also get their very own festival, which kicked off at the weekend.

    With 150 events in 50 different venues within a 1 mile radius, The Leith Festival, which runs until June 20th, features everything from comedy to sport, with theatre, music, film and a whole lot more thrown in.

    Highlights include a screening of the film Wedding Belles, written by one of Leith’s favourite sons, Irvine Welsh, a HipHop showcase presented by Pedro Solenoid and the intriguing period history theatre show The Siege of Leith.

    Don’t worry though – those lovely Leithers don’t keep all the goodness to themselves - they’re happy for the rest of us to venture down, so make sure you do just that.

  • It's Festival Time!, Saturday June 12 2010

    Dizzee RascalWoohoo! Can you smell that? Oh yeah, that’s Eau De Festival. No, it’s not Britney’s new fragrance, it’s actually the excitement generated by the launch of this year’s Fringe Festival, and it’s contemporary music strand, The Edge. Dizzee Rascal, Alan Cumming and Clark Peters, star of the joint-best TV show ever in the history of the universe ever, The Wire (tied with Eldorado, just in case you are wondering) are just some of the big-name acts who will be appearing at the 64th Fringe Festival.

    With almost 2,500 different shows to get through in just 25 days, you might struggle to see them all, so you’ll probably be looking for some tips on what to see eh? What’s that? Don’t look at us for cultural tips – we think Eldorado was fantastic. Oh, ok then.

    Our sources are telling us that two of the must see shows are some of the most hard-hitting dramas on the 2010 line-up; The Emma Thompson-produced Fair Trade about sex trafficking in Britain, and Unfinished Business, a one man play about the Lockerbie bombing. But you better get your skates on, because tickets won’t be available for long.

  • Film Festival Star Gets Knighted. Spurious Association Made., Monday June 07 2010

    EIFF

    For all you actors out there who aspire to join the ranks of the board-treading Sirs – Olivier, Kingsley and Attenborough et al - we reckon we’ve worked out how you can secure your knighthood – simply announce that you’ll be turning up at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

    It certainly worked for Patrick Stewart last week; one day it was revealed that he would be one of the star’s attending this year’s festival, the next he was down at the palace getting knighted off Her Maj. Alright, we guess his years of dedicated service to the acting profession might have contributed a little something in terms of the award, but you get the picture.

    Sir Patrick will be one of many stars taking to the red carpet from 16-27 June, with Sir Sean Connery (another one!), Tilda Swinton and Seamus McGarvey all set to join him at screenings, 22 of which will be world premieres, including the latest films from Werner Herzog and Steven Soderbergh.

    Last year saw The Hurt Locker premiered in Edinburgh before it went on to scoop Best Picture at The Oscars, so who knows, you might be able to catch the next big thing.

  • Hear, Hear - What a Great Idea, Saturday May 15 2010

    Social SphereAh, speech bubbles. Where would be without them? Favoured by everyone from Garfield to Batman, they’re the staple of comic strips the world over.

    But thanks to an enterprising Product Design student at Edinburgh Napier, (which was recently ranked in the top ten Universities in the UK for Design) soon it might not just be our cartoon friends using them. 23 year-old Elaine McLuskey has come up with an interesting new way to make yourself heard above the din in busy public spaces, and her acoustic ‘social spheres’ wouldn’t look out of place in the city’s trendiest nightspots.

    It’s just one of the many new products on show this at the university’s School of Arts and Creative Industries Degree Show. Featuring projects by Design, Photography and Film and Creative Advertising students, there’s a whole host of innovative work on show, including a sensory table, flat pack lights, a dinosaur which monitors the amount of time children spend on their computer and a bottle which can be split into a beer and wine glass.

    You can pop along and see them all for yourself, as the Degree Show takes place at the Merchiston Campus until 23rd May.

  • Sir Anthony Hopkins Exhibition Exclusive. Best Viewed With a Nice Chianti, Tuesday March 02 2010

    Edinburgh was home to an exclusive from one of the film industry’s most celebrated directors this weekend past, and now it’s playing host to another exclusive, this time from one of the industry’s most celebrated actors. Only this time, the celeb in question, Sir Anthony Hopkins, is displaying work of a different kind. 

    The Oscar-winning actor is probably best known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, but also for films such as Remains of the Day and Shadowlands. Ok, so he also did Alexander too, but surely we can forgive him that, especially given that he probably easily qualifies as a ‘national treasure’, along with the likes of Sir Terry Wogan and Stephen Fry.

    But what you might not know though is that he is also an artist, and a pretty good one by all accounts. And from today, Auld Reekie is the setting for the first ever UK exhibition of his paintings, taking place at The Dome until Saturday 6th March.

    You can get a sneak preview here, but we’d recommend that you pop along in person to take it in – art is always much more impressive when you can see it first-hand. Plus, with it being an art exhibition, there’s always a chance of free drinks and nibbles - you know what these gallery parties are like. Just be sure to avoid any canapes containing fava beans...

  • Spike Jonze Film Gets Exclusive Edinburgh Screening. Contains Robots., Saturday February 27 2010

    Ok, so the weather isn’t supposed to be that great this weekend. But that means its perfect conditions for being inside watching a film. Just as well then we’ve got wind of something a little bit different that might interest you.

    I'm Here Still

    Celebrated film director/producer/actor/whatever Spike Jonze (you know, Adaptation, Where The Wild Things Are, the famous Fatboy Slim video and like, you know, just about every other cool music video and commercial, like ever) has directed a 30-minute short film called I’m Here. It’s a robot love story. About robots. In love. We imagine it’s a bit like Shakespeare in Love. But with robots. And without Gwyneth. And actually good. And why are we telling you this? Well, there are exclusive screenings in Edinburgh this weekend before it gets its public release.

    The film, which was shown at the prestigious Sundance and Berlinale film festivals over the last few weeks, will be shown tonight at Sovereign House on Young Street. There are two showings – one at 7pm, and one at 8.45pm.

    There are a handful of free tickets left – and you can sign up for a pair here(as long as you’re over 18), but be super-quick as it’s bound to be popular.

  • Dying To Meet You! Edinburgh Welcomes Stars as Burke and Hare Filming Begins, Monday February 22 2010

    Lights. Camera. Action! John Landis’ latest movie, Burke and Hare, starts filming in Edinburgh today. As the name suggests, it’s based on the true story of William Burke and William Hare.

    For those unfamiliar with the tale, they were two grave robbers who were partial to a bit of murder, plying their victims with alcohol, and selling the cadavers to Robert Knox, who ran an anatomy college in Edinburgh's Surgeon's Square. Just the sort of chaps you’d like to pop out for a pint with.

    Landis is famous for Blues Brothers and Animal House, as well as Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, and has compiled an all-star cast for his new flick, including Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Tom Wilkinson and Isla Fisher, as well as Sir Christopher Lee, Reece Shearsmith, Jessica Hynes, Tim Curry, Bill Bailey and Ronnie Corbett.

    There’s been a whole host of films and TV shows shot in Edinburgh recently, which is not surprising really, given that the capital’s streets and buildings provide such a fabulous backdrop.

    Apparently, they’ll be filming on the Royal Mile tonight, so if you like that sort of thing, why not pop along. Who knows, they might even need extras. Just don’t agree to go for a drink with them…

  • Blood, Guts and Goo - It's Almost Science Festival Time!, Thursday February 18 2010

    The world’s oldest science festival, the Edinburgh Science Festival, announced its programme this week, and it’s stuffed full of intriguing prospects. From 3-17 April, there’ll be over 200 events at 35 different venues across the capital.

    Science Festival Programme Cover

    Blood, guts and goo all play a major part in proceedings – experts from Edinburgh Zoo will be conducting a live autopsy on a cow, participants will be able to make their own scabs and blood milkshakes, and there will also be a lecture exploring and explaining attempts to create fake blood. Unfortunately though ladies, Robert Pattinson is unlikely to make an appearance. Richard Dawkins, however, is one of the star guests on show this year. And he’s a lot less likely to bite your neck too.

    From learning how to make computer games, trying your hand at being a CSI-style forensic detective, or making your very own monster, there are also plenty of hands-on activities for kids and adults alike.

    Amongst all the weird and wonderful happenings, this year’s festival will also a feature a game of football played entirely by robots. Apparently Craig Levein is already investigating the possibility that some of them might have Scottish grannies.