A film based in the Highlands that stars Eddie Izzard as a menacing hunter is to open the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year.
Boyz in the Wood, described as a social satire, will have its European Premiere at the 73rd festival on June 19.
The film is described as “an anarchic cocktail of generational politics, hip-hop loving farmers, and hallucinogenic rabbit droppings”.
The plot tells how four city boys try to escape a mysterious huntsman played by Izzard.
Rising stars Rian Gordon, Samuel Bottomley, Viraj Juneja and Lewis Gribben lead a cast including Scottish greats Kate Dickie, EIFF Honorary Patron James Cosmo and Kevin Guthrie.
Boyz in the Wood is the debut feature of music video director Ninian Doff, who also wrote it. Edinburgh-born Doff was one of the first graduates of film group SKAMM (Scottish Kids Are Making Movies).
Doff says: “It’s hard to put into words what a huge honour it is for me to have Boyz in the Wood open the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2019. It’s been an incredible journey for me and real tribute to the amazing start I got all those years ago at this very festival. I’m from Edinburgh and for my debut film I really wanted to make a film that captured a very particular Scottish joy, madness and humour; and that was also modern, political and forward looking. Everybody, both cast and crew, brought so much passion and energy to make this film and it’s going to be very special for it to have its European Premiere, not only in my hometown, but also at such an important festival.”
Mark Adams, Artistic Director of Edinburgh International Film Festival added: “We are thrilled to be opening this year’s festival with this vibrant, energetic and wonderfully raucous new film that showcases a wide range of Scottish talent, from rising stars to established performers. Boyz in the Wood is a blast from start to finish and will start EIFF perfectly.”