Black Balloon floats to Edinburgh

The Black Balloon (d: Elissa Down) and Son of a Lion (d: Benjamin Gilmour) will have their UK premieres in the Rosebud section of the festival. Both films have had success on the international festival circuit with Son of A Lion screening at numerous festivals including The Berlin International Film Festival and the Pusan International Film Festival.

The Black Balloon also screened at this years Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Crystal Bear for best feature-length film in the Generation 14plus section.

Also having its UK premiere in the Directors’ Showcase section at Edinburgh is feature film Death Defying Acts (d: Gillian Armstrong) which had its world premiere at Toronto last year.

Two shorts have also been selected, Heartbreak Motel (d: Aaron McLoughlin) will screen in the Under the Radar program and Burley! (d: Dave Edwardz and Gareth Cowen) will screen in the International Animation section.

Film Festival Under the Stars is also returning in 2008. This outdoor event, which is open to the public and free will screen the Australian classic Strictly Ballroom (d: Baz Luhrmann) which was the festivals Opening Night film in 1992.

Traditionally held in August – Edinburgh‘s arts festival month the Edinburgh International Film Festival has had a change of date and will now run from 18 to 29 June 2008 for the first time.